Net ZEB Design Processes and Tools - Modeling, Design, and Optimization of Net-Zero Energy Buildings - page 218

window shade use patterns revealed that most researchers have attempted
to correlate occupant actions with weather conditions; but without detailed
knowledge of the building envelope, these conditions do not necessarily
translateintoindoorconditions(thelikelymotivatorofoccupants)(O'Brien,
Kapsis, and Athienitis, 2013).
Figure 4.20 shows the data flow in BPS with more advanced occupant
modeling. Instead of assuming that occupants should tolerate discomfort,
BPS models should incorporate the effect of adaptive actions on energy use.
Fig. 4.20 Conventional and future occupant-building interaction models
Robust Design
An emerging area in the field of BPS-supported design is robust design
(Hoes et al. , 2009; O'Brien, 2013). The concept is that buildings should not
simply aim to achieve high targets (e.g., net-zero energy), but should also do
so with higher certainty. In practical terms, that means the building design
should be resilient to a variety of occupant behaviors, weather conditions,
climate change, and other operating conditions. For example, manual
window shade control is notoriously uncertain and difficult to predict using
BPS.NRELRSFavoidedthisuncertaintybyimplementingfixedlouversand
overhangs that do not require occupant interference to function properly
(i.e., admit daylight while minimizing glare) ( Figure 4.21 ) . Mitigating
uncertainty played a significant role in this Net ZEB design, since one of the
major objectives was to achieve an absolute performance target.