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Updated: May 17, 2025

Measuring Light-Switching Behavior Using an Occupancy and Light Data Logger
Published on: January 16, 2020
Dataset on occupant behavior, indoor environment, and energy use before and after dormitory retrofit
Pratik Raj Pandey1, Yapan Liu2, Nina Wilson3
1Built Environment Science & Technology (BEST) Lab, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York, USA.
Abstract:
This paper presents a comprehensive 2-year-long dataset capturing Occupant Behavior (OB) of students living in residential dorms, collected both before and after a complete building envelope and energy retrofit. The dataset is categorized into three data sets: OB, Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ), and detailed energy usage. OB data includes window and door status, while IEQ data comprises measurements of indoor CO₂, Total Volatile Organic Compounds (TVOC), temperature, relative humidity, and lighting levels. Energy data spans 16 electrical channels in the building, covering stove usage, exhaust hood, lights, refrigerator, plug loads, HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning) energy consumption by zone, water heater, and Heat Recovery Ventilation (HRV) units (post-retrofit). The study revealed a 77.81% reduction in total HVAC energy usage, 57.70% decrease in infiltration Air Changes per Hour (ACH), and 57.78% reduction in average TVOC concentration. Enhanced thermal comfort during the late summer and early fall transition period led to a 12.33% decrease in window opening frequency and a 34.51% reduction in window opening duration. The building resilience improved significantly as the 'Extreme Caution' hours were reduced by 93.00%. This dataset offers significant value by enabling researchers to quantify key relationships among OB, building energy efficiency, and IEQ, acknowledging the influence of behavior on these outcomes.
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