Occupant behavior and impact of the HVAC system on occupant comfort in two-person offices in a mediterranean climate in the south of France

The Mediterranean climate of the south of France is characterized by a long and hot summer season. Under these conditions, it is important to understand the impact of the HVAC system on the comfort of office occupants as well as their adaptive behaviors to create a comfortable indoor thermal environment. The objective of this study is to understand the effects of occupants’ air conditioning switching behavior on thermal satisfaction in two-person offices of building located in Montpellier in the south of France and equipped with air-water heat pump HVAC system. Indoor temperature and indoor relative humidity were collected (10 mins intervals), occupancy, age, gender and weather data (outdoor temperature, relative humidity and wind speed) were also collected over a period of time. 5 months (June-October). The air conditioning status has been determined (off or on). The air conditioning usage schedule, comfort temperatures and factors impacting the switching on or not of air conditioning were analyzed. The thermal tolerance of occupants before and after switching on the air conditioning was studied using measurements and a questionnaire survey. Air conditioning switch-on models were developed using logistic regression.
Initial results from this study reveal that air conditioning can be a source of discomfort for some occupants. Occupant behavior is influenced by factors such as indoor relative humidity, indoor air temperature and occupancy. In addition, the study demonstrates that the behavior of occupants varies throughout the period studied and different profiles have been identified. The results of this study can be used in HVAC system control strategies and the efficient choice of air conditioning.