- As buildings become more energy efficient, the impact of occupants on energy consumption increases — from everyday behaviors and purchasing decisions to how they interact with buildings and respond to extreme events. The energy transition affects not only residents but also all stakeholders involved in the building lifecycle, such as designers and operators. Modern trends like remote work, co-working, and home sharing have changed occupancy patterns, requiring a reassessment of the human role in building design and operation. The project proposes four main areas of study: 1) individual human-building interactions; 2) community-scale interactions; 3) (re)design of buildings; and 4) building operation. While there is overlap with other IEA TCP projects, this one stands out due to its central focus: humans. The goal is to generate new knowledge, technologies, and policy recommendations to design and operate buildings that support human adaptation to climate change and the global energy transition. More information about Annex 95 can be found by clicking here.
- Lab members participating in the Annex:
- Prof. Roberto Lamberts
- Prof. Ana Paula Melo
- Dr. Mateus Bavaresco
- Researchers' involvement in the activities:
- Postdoctoral researcher Mateus Bavaresco is involved in Subtasks 1, 3, and 4. In Subtask 1, the focus is on understanding individual differences regarding comfort and well-being criteria in buildings. In Subtask 3, the main activity involves proposing design strategies focused on resilience to climate change. In Subtask 4, the focus is on understanding building operation, with activities involving strategies to help users operate buildings efficiently, as well as understanding buildings with mixed-mode ventilation (natural and mechanical).