Newton, S; Shirazi, A and Christensen, P (2023) Defining and demonstrating a smart technology configuration to improve energy performance and occupant comfort in existing buildings: A conceptual framework. International Journal of Building Pathology and Adaptation, 41(1), pp. 182-200. ISSN 23984708
Abstract
Purpose: To achieve the building and property by 2050, decarbonisation goals will now require a significant increase in the rate of improvement in the energy performance of buildings. Occupant behaviour is crucial. This study seeks to guide the application of smart building technology in existing building stock to support improved building energy performance and occupant comfort. Design/methodology/approach: This study follows a logical partitioning approach to the development of a schema for building energy performance and occupant comfort. A review of the literature is presented to identify the characteristics that label and structure the problem elements. A smart building technology framework is overlaid on the schema. The framework is then applied to configure and demonstrate an actual technology implementation for existing building stock. Findings: The developed schema represents the key components and relationships of building energy performance when combined with occupant comfort. This schema provides a basis for the definition of a smart building technologies framework for existing building stock. The study demonstrates a viable configuration of available smart building technologies that couple building energy performance with occupant comfort in the existing building stock. Technical limitations (such as relatively simple building management control regimes) and pragmatic limitations (such as change management issues) are noted for consideration. Originality/value: This is the first development of a schema to represent how building energy performance can be coupled with occupant comfort in existing building stock using smart building technologies. The demonstration study applies one of many possible technology configurations currently available, and promotes the use of open source applications with push-pull functionality. The schema provides a common basis and guide for future studies.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | building energy performance; indoor environmental quality; internet of things; post occupancy evaluation; smart buildings |
| Index terms: | smart building technology, post-occupancy evaluation, comfort, indoor environmental quality, energy performance, internet, implementation, future study, occupant behaviour, building management, functionality, building stock, change management, smart building, methodology, configuration, conceptual framework |
| Subjects: | research design and methodology, construction type, computing systems, health behaviours and lifestyles, design features, building innovation, evaluation methods, contractual arrangements, energy systems, research methods, theoretical framing, management, asset management, occupational health and safety management, systems engineering, environmental health |
| Topics: | Sustainability, Construction Technology, Procurement, Health and Safety, Business Strategy, Engineering Principles, Research Practice, Organizational Design, Digital Applications, Design Practice, Quality Management |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCTA |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here