This study explores the critical role of building renovation in achieving energy transition goals, emphasizing the importance of not only enhancing energy performance but also addressing occupants' influence on indoor performance. While the trend in the industry involves making buildings 'user-proofed' through automation, limited user control options may lead to dissatisfaction and negative consequences for energy performance. The research investigates comfort preferences and behaviour in renovated and non-renovated homes in the Netherlands, aiming to design buildings supporting energy transition while ensuring occupant comfort. Findings reveal that occupants desire control over home systems, necessitating more information and feedback from new systems. Flexible systems that align with thermal comfort preferences are crucial. Noise issues from ventilation systems persist in both renovated and non-renovated homes, impacting air quality. Mental models play a role, with renovated homes requiring new models, especially for ventilation systems. The study underscores the need for occupants to modify their indoor environment and advocates for user-friendly interfaces, improved guidelines, comprehensive inductions, and better support to empower users and potentially decrease energy use while enhancing comfort in new and renovated buildings.
Guerra-Santin et al. (Mon,) studied this question.