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Monitoring and modelling of manually-controlled Venetian blinds in private offices: a pilot study by Vorapat Inkarojrit

This study presents results from a window blind usage survey and field study that was conducted in California, USA during a period spanning from the vernal equinox to the winter solstice. A total of 113 office building occupants participated in the survey. Twenty-five occupants participated in the field study. In this study, 83 measurements of physical environmental conditions were cross-linked with participants’ window blind controlling preferences. A total of 13 predictive window blind control bivariate and multivariate logistic models were derived. As hypothesised, the probability of a window blind closing event increased as the magnitude of physical environmental and confounding factors increased (p < 0.01). The main predictors were window/background luminance level and vertical solar radiation at the window. The confounding factors included MRT, direct solar penetration and participants’ self-reported sensitivity to brightness. The results showed that the models correctly predict between 72-89% of the observed window blind control behaviour. This research extends the knowledge of how and why building occupants manually control window blinds in private offices, and provides results that can be directly implemented in energy simulation programs.