The human factor in energy use in buildings (Fact sheet on energy-related behaviour in the context of buildings)

The energy consumption in buildings is determined by diverse factors, one of which is energy-related occupant behaviour. Currently, occupant behaviour is not well understood which leads to its inadequate representation (standard occupancy profiles) in building energy modelling (BEM), facilitating the performance gap regarding the energy performance of buildings (EPB). Therefore, this fact sheet aims to increase our understanding about energy-related occupant behaviour. Also, this fact sheet seeks to provide us with information on the development of user profiles for a more accurate integration of the user dimension in the ePANACEA methodology. For this, a desktop research was conducted, encompassing a review of different types of occupant behaviour, factors influencing it, existing occupant behaviour models and user profiles for the integration in building energy assessment. The literature review was framed by a focus on everyday energy behaviour, taking all building uses into account and considering building-related (e.g. space heating) as well as occupant-related (e.g. DHW; appliances) energy use. Regarding factors influencing energy behaviour, the focus is on occupant-related factors. Despite the focus on everyday energy behaviour, the literature review also covers behavioural interventions that can motivate behavioural change, in order to acknowledge the fact that behaviour is subject to change and can contribute to increase the energy efficiency of buildings. This fact sheet presents the processed information from the literature review and derives the conclusions for the ePANACEA methodology from it. Furthermore, this fact sheet includes a draft user profile interface, representing the information that constitutes the user dimension regarding energy-related occupant behaviour in buildings