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Occupants try to adjust or adapt to the indoor environment to improve the indoor environment quality (IEQ). However, the impact of these occupant behaviours is overlooked in building energy modelling. Furthermore, there is no general agreement on the factors that drive occupants’ decisions and reflect their energy behaviour. A comprehensive literature review and a subsequent desk study of journal articles and fifty (50) theses highlight the impact of occupant behaviours on the energy consumption of buildings based on the relationship to IEQ and influential factors. Accordingly, the most prominent behaviours that drive the energy consumption of buildings are the operation of plug-ins and equipment, opening/closing windows, turning lighting on/off, adjusting thermostats, lowering blinds, and occupant presence. Amongst, interaction with opening/closing of windows to improve IEQ operation of plug-ins and adjusting thermostat as a response to thermal discomfort, and turning lighting on/off and lowering blinds to improve visual conditions directly affect the building’s energy use. Also, indoor environmental conditions, climate, building characteristics, building systems and devices, user- centred design, and building elements are recognized as important influencers. Overall, this study highlights the importance of incorporating occupant comfort related parameters and significant influential factors to recognise the dynamic nature of occupant energy behaviours.

Keywords: Occupant energy behaviours; IEQ; influential factors; review.

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