Exploring factors influencing occupant behavior and thermal perception in apartment buildings: Irbid/Jordan as a case study

This study explores factors affecting occupant behavior and thermal perception in apartment buildings, specifically examining window status, curtain use, cooling system functionality, thermal sensation, and timing patterns. These elements were combined into a new composite measure, the Summer Thermal Comfort Factor (STCF), to assess their combined effect on energy consumption and thermal comfort. Data was collected through a detailed field study in Irbid, northern Jordan, where participants maintained eight-hour daily journals over three consecutive days in July, August, and September, recording adaptive behaviors and thermal sensations using the ASHRAE scale in conjunction with environmental monitoring. Principal Component Analysis was used to develop the STCF framework, while energy simulations under consistent cooling loads evaluated the predictive performance of the metric. The research reveals that thermal perceptions and control behaviors form complex, interdependent relationships best captured through the STCF latent factor. Major findings indicate a clear hierarchy in adaptive behaviors, where occupants preferentially employ immediate, convenient adjustments—such as curtain closure—before resorting to mechanical cooling. While most indicators were significantly associated with thermal sensation, window operation remained weakly related, suggesting it is often influenced by non-thermal constraints like noise and privacy. Statistical analysis identified significant correlations between STCF scores, outdoor conditions, and specific architectural features, notably finding that apartment views and balcony presence significantly influence behavior, whereas spatial dimensions and shading elements have negligible effects. Furthermore, energy simulations demonstrated that incorporating these STCF-derived behavioral patterns revealed a 12-18% variation in energy consumption for similar thermal loads. By introducing STCF as a standardized metric, this study enhances building energy modeling by quantitatively connecting occupant behavior clusters to energy outcomes.