The evaluation of building performance in relation to users’ behaviour: overcoming the division between objective parameters and subjective perceptions

"Considering that buildings are responsible for more than 40% of energy consumption, energy situation is critical and European legislative framework is more and more restrictive, a good way to reconcile economy logics with sustainability ones seems to be the “bearable” management of the existing building estate. This is possible by monitoring building performances and energy consumptions, and by evaluating management strategies and users’ behaviours. This paper presents a methodology that aims to dissolve the separation between the architectural design, building management and occupants end-use; this methodology is based on the creation of a web platform apt to operate such procedures. This tool created as part of an International Project between Roma Tre University and foreign partners; it started from the English CarbonBuzz, elaborated by Aedas and University College of London, and evolved into a new version apt to meet the Italian situation and detect “proofs” of the actual effectiveness of design solutions. This platform is created with a simple and very user-friendly design which allows various types of users to use it: designers, facility managers but also students and researchers who want to approach these issues.. In fact the environmental degradation and life quality low standards signal that the well-balanced relation between building and dwelling is jeopardized. If dwelling represents the aim (according to Heidegger, literally the way men live), building is the artificial action men take to transform natural environment in relation to life demands (Losasso, 2005). A new operational approach considers that reliable data are combined with the attention paid to the evaluations given by users (Gupta e Chandiwala, 2010). The study of users’ perceptions and behaviours supplies designers, and then producers, with meaningful feedback that enable them to detect solutions meeting users’ requirements better and reducing the gap between expected and actual building performances. The users’ participation to the process takes them to build a stronger link with the premises, a sense of belonging and consequently to feel responsible and keep congruent behaviours (Risser et al., 2006). Italy, compared to other countries such as the UK, lacks a suitable benchmarking, aimed at monitoring comparative performances, and Post Occupancy Evaluation protocols, apt to evaluate building performances after a time from their occupancy. The real transition to a green building economy can become effective only overcoming the mere sustainable design (a necessary but not sufficient condition) and aiming for a sustainable dwelling (Dall’O’, 2011).. Starting from the English platform, the Italian version modified and implemented some aspects that were different. Though they both respected the general principles in accordance with European directives, some peculiarities regarding: national rules, climatic and geographic conditions, building and equipment systems, management and way of living buildings took to elaborate specific parameters for the design and in use phase (towards a specific year of reference). A methodology for collecting the data was devised and applied to some buildings of Roma Tre University, in order to test the first version of the platform. A technical classification, based on some building aspects and on the energy certifications at design stage, was made. These data were confronted with effective energy consumptions bills, enquiries involving managers and users: in fact, data detections were organized with test, surveys and focus group involving students, teachers, maintenance workers, and facility managers.. An early database of the case studies was created; morphology, technology, system and management variety allowed to carry out a double control: on the one hand to compare parameters of consumption with CO2 emissions in a sample of buildings with the same end use; on the other hand to compare design and in use data, concerning the monitoring of effective bills for the single building. By these analyses, in a more in depth phase, it is possible to distinguish the energy end uses and to understand where and how to take action in order to improve buildings efficiency, as well as to involve actively users by crowd sourcing procedures, complementary to other interview methods. . The research enables both teams, English and Italian, to draw conclusions regarding the methodology to detect energy consumptions systematically, the implementation of environmental mitigation measures, the consideration of needs and behaviours of users, just for their being at the core of the design and evaluation process. . . Reference. Ciribini G., “Della cultura tecnologica della progettazione”, in V.Gangemi e P.Ranzo, a cura di, Il governo del progetto, Luigi Parma, Bologna 1987, p.15. Davis III James A., Nutter Darin W., Occupancy diversity factors for common university building types, in “Energy and Buildings 42, 1543–1551, 2010. Gupta R. e Chandiwala S., Understanding occupants: feedback techniques for large-scale low carbon domestic refurbishments , in “Building Research & Information”, 38:5, 530-548, 2010. Losasso M., “La dimensione sostenibile nel progetto architettonico”, in Losasso M., a cura di, Progetto e innovazione, CLEAN 2005, p.30. 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