Automatic vs manual control strategy for window blinds and ceiling lights: consequences to perceived visual and thermal discomfort

Nicola Lolli; Alessandro Nocente; Johannes Brozovsky; Ruth Woods; Steinar Grynning

doi:10.15627/jd.2019.11

Author(s)

Nicola Lolli SINTEF Community,Trondheim,Norway

Alessandro Nocente SINTEF Community,Trondheim,Norway

Johannes Brozovsky Department of Architecture and Technology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology,Trondheim,Norway

Ruth Woods Department of Interdisciplinary Studies of Culture, Norwegian University of Science and Technology,Trondheim,Norway

Steinar Grynning SINTEF Community,Trondheim,Norway

Abstract

A case study to evaluate the occupants' satisfaction in relation to two different control strategies (fully automatic and manual) for blind and ceiling lights use in cell offices was carried on in Trondheim, Norway. A group of 11 participants with varying age, gender, and ethnicity, used two test cells of a laboratory as a workspace primarily carrying out office tasks at a personal computer for a total of 19 calendar days. The participants were asked to answer a computer-based questionnaire for reporting their perceived thermal and visual comfort. Concurrently, measurements of the indoor operative temperature, illuminance level, and operation of windows, blinds, and ceiling lights were registered. Results shows that the use of the automatic control strategy led to a higher visual discomfort, which in addition led to a higher thermal discomfort, despite this last not caused by a higher average operative temperature.

Publication Details

Page(s) 112-123

DOI 10.15627/jd.2019.11

Published Journal: Journal of Daylighting, Volume: 6, Issue: 2, Year: 2019

Request the full text from PASTIC

Keywords

Window blind use, Thermal discomfort, Visual discomfort, Control strategy

References

Aarts M.P.J.,Stapel J.C.,T.A.M.C. Schoutens J. van Hoof .2018 .Exploring the impact of natural light exposure on sleep of healthy older adults: A field study. Journal of Daylighting, 5 : 14-20.

Webb A.R. .2006 .Considerations for lighting in the built environment: Nonvisual effects of light. Energy and Buildings, 38 : 721-727.

Veitch J.A. .2008 .Investigating and influencing how buildings affect health: Interdisciplinary endeavours. Canadian Psychology, 49 : 281-288.

Veitch J.A. .2005 .health: Issues for consideration. Leukos, 2 : 85-96.

Boyce P.R. .2010 .. Review: The Impact of Light in Buildings on Human Health, Indoor and Built Environment, 19 : 8-20.

Vine E.,Lee E.,Clear R. .1998 .Office worker response to an automated Venetian blind and electric lighting system: a pilot study. Energy and Buildings (2), : 205-218.

Reinhart C.,Voss K. .2003 .Monitoring manual control of electric lighting and blinds. Lighting Research and Technology, 35 : 243-258.

Grynning S.,Lolli N.,Wågø S.,Risholt B. .2017 .Solar Shading in Low Energy Office Buildings - Design Strategy and User Perception. Journal of Daylighting, 4 : 1-14.

Karlsen L.,Heiselberg P.,I. Bryn P. .2015 .Occupant satisfaction with two blind control strategies: Slats closed and slats in cut-off position. Solar Energy, 115 : 166-179.

K. Van Den Wymelenberg .2012 .Patterns of occupant interaction with window blinds: A literature review. Energy and Buildings, 51 : 165-176.

Rea M.S. .1984 .Window blind occlusion: a pilot study. Building and Environment, 19 : 133-137.

Inkarojrit V. .2005 .Balancing comfort: Occupants' control of window blinds in private offices. , : .

Rubin A.I.,Collins B.L.,Tibbott R.L. .1978 .Window blinds as a potential energy saver-a case study. NBS Build. Sci. Ser, : .

Pigg S.,Eilers M.,Reed J. .1996 .Behavioral aspects of lighting and occupancy sensors in private offices : A case study of a university office building. , : .

Mahdavi A. .2009 .Patterns and implications of user control actions in buildings. Indoor and Built Environment, 18 : 440-446.

Day J.,Theodorson J.,Van Den K.,Wymelenberg K. .2012 .Understanding controls, behaviors and satisfaction in the daylit perimeter office: A daylight design case study. Journal of Interior Design, 37 : 17-34.

Nicol F.,Chiancarella C. .2006 .Using field measurements of desktop illuminance in European offices to investigate its dependence on outdoor conditions and its effect on occupant satisfaction, and the use of lights and blinds. Energy and Buildings, 38 : 802-813.

J.-H. Kim Y.-J.,Park S.,Yeo S.,K.-W. Kim S. .2009 .An experimental study on the environmental performance of the automated blind in summer. Building and Environment, 44 : 1517-1527.

Haldi F.,Robinson D. .2010 .Adaptive actions on shading devices in response to local visual stimuli. Journal of Building Performance Simulation, 3 : 135-153.

W. O'Brien K.,Kapsis A.K.,Athienitis A.K. .2013 .Manually-operated window shade patterns in office buildings: A critical review. Building and Environment, 60 : 319-338.

Galasiu A.D.,Veitch J.A. .2006 .Occupant preferences and satisfaction with the luminous environment and control systems in daylit offices: a literature review. Energy and Buildings, 38 : 728-742.

Bodart M.,Herde A.D. .2002 .Global energy savings in offices buildings by the use of daylighting. Energy and Buildings, 34 : 421-429.

Yu X.,Su Y. .2015 .Daylight availability assessment and its potential energy saving estimation -A literature review. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 52 : 494-503.

.2017 .A facility for characterization of building envelope systems under real outdoor conditions. 11th Nordic Symposium on Building Physics, : .

Nabil A.,Mardaljevic J. .2005 .Useful daylight illuminance: a new paradigm for assessing daylight in buildings. Lighting Research and Technology, 37 : 57-58.

Nabil A.,Mardaljevic J. .2006 .Useful daylight illuminances: A replacement for daylight factors. Energy and Buildings, 38 : 905-913.

Roche L.,Littlefair P. .2000 .. Lighting Research and Technology, 32 : 119-126.

Sadeghi S.A.,Karava P.,I. Konstantzos P.,Tzempelikos A. .2016 .Occupant interactions with shading and lighting systems using different control interfaces: A pilot field study. Building and Environment, 97 : 177-195.

Nagy Z.,Yong F.Y.,Schlueter A. .2016 .Occupant centered lighting control: A user study on balancing comfort, acceptance, and energy consumption. Energy and Buildings, 126 : 310-322.

Meerbeek B.,Kulve M.,Aarts M.,Loenen E.,Aarts E. .2014 .Building automation and perceived control: A field study on motorized exterior blinds in Dutch offices. Building and Environment, 79 : 66-77.

Shahzad S.,Brennan J.,Theodossopoulos D.,Hughes B.,Calautit J.K. .2017 .Energy and comfort in contemporary open plan and traditional personal offices. Applied Energy, 185 : 1542-1555.

C.B. Danielsson .2009 .Difference in satisfaction with office environment among employees in different office types. Journal of Architectural and Planning Research, 26 : 241-256.

W. O'Brien H.B.,Gunay H.B. .2015 .Mitigating office performance uncertainty of occupant use of window blinds and lighting using robust design. Building Simulation, 8 : 621-636.

Haldi F.,Robinson D. .2009 .A comprehensive stochastic model of blind usage: theory and validation. , : .

J.-H. Kim Y.-J.,Park S.,Yeo K.-W.,Kim K.-W. .2009 .An experimental study on the environmental performance of the automated blind in summer. Building and Environment, 44 : 1517-1527.

Bülow-Hübe H. .2000 .Office worker preferences of exterior shading devices: a pilot study. , : .

Jain S.,Garg V. .2018 .A review of open loop control strategies for shades, blinds and integrated lighting by use of real-time daylight prediction methods. Building and Environment, 135 : 352-364.

Yun G.,Yoon K.C.,Kim K.S. .2014 .The influence of shading control strategies on the visual comfort and energy demand of office buildings. Energy and Buildings, 84 : 70-85.