Page 43 - ZEB Final Report 2009-2017

The Myth Busters & Inluence of Occupant Behaviour | 43

Inluence of

Occupant Behaviour

Usman Ijaz Dar now makes use of all
the research he carried out in ZEB in

his work as an energy consultant in
Sweco Norge.

Usman Ijaz Dar, Energy Consultant, SWECO (ZEB PhD).

Usman has applied research results in residential buildings. the heating system so that a heat pump
Net-Zero emission building projects The wide diversity in occupant shows better performance for houses
and urban districts, such as the first behaviour and their interaction with with higher heating needs and vice-versa.
Norwegian hybrid solar project at Varden the building’s systems is a challenge in Greater consumption of hot water has a
School, the plan evaluation report for behavioural modelling and its application clear influence on the heating systems.
ZEB-COM hospital in the municipality of to building simulation tools. The study recommends considering
Gjøvik, and the plan evaluation report to − A state-of-the art occupancy model the family-size variation of households
achieve the highest level of self-supply for was adjusted to reproduce occupant already in the design phase in order to
the Spelhaugen area (ca. 400 000 m²). behaviour in residential buildings, optimize system design strategies.
− I have been given the chance to and that behaviour was coupled to the
work within my field of interest. I now building simulation models in order to 4. Research revealed interesting results
work as energy consultant in Sweco Norge study the effect on the performance of the in the context of zero emission buildings
and make much use of all the research I building, Dar says. and neighbourhoods. The study showed
have done in ZEB. I thoroughly enjoy my that household variations would lead
work and look forward to contributing Research Highlights: to gaps in zero emission targets at the
positively to the construction industry in 1. The occupant behaviour model showed building level, but an analysis at the
the future. interesting temporal variations in cluster level identified several synergies.
In the work on his thesis Influence of internal gains for households and their Research closely investigated different
occupants’ behaviour on the performance hot water use profiles. The model showed correlations between photovoltaic energy
of Net-Zero Emission Buildings, he found a large diversity in annual energy use generation and building vs cluster level
that: and thereby heat emission in a household energy use.
− Accurate prediction of energy due to different choices of appliance and
use in buildings is a crucial factor in lighting use. 5. Finally, research looked into
realizing the national targets for energy flexibilities which could be achieved at
and CO2 emission reductions. However, 2. In the research, the realistic occupant the building level using local hot water
scientific studies and statistical data behaviour was integrated into the storage tanks and investigated increased
point towards significant gaps between building model, and its influence on the self-consumption of photovoltaic energy
the (model) predicted and actual energy net heating demand was investigated generation and grid exchange parameters
use in buildings. Scientific investigation using different levels of insulation. The using various control strategies. The
finds that occupant influence on a investigation confirmed the increased study reveals the possibility of almost
building’s energy use is one of the major importance of occupant behaviour 50% relative increase in self-consumption
causes of this gap. The research therefore within the building envelopes. compared to standard control but
focused on employing realistic occupant identifies degradation in heating system
behaviours in the building models and 3. Internal heat gains have direct performance and thereby more energy
thereby quantifying their influence in influence on annual performance of use at the building level.