Abstract

Summary

This critical review examines simulation tools and methods used to model occupant-centric building design, highlighting how indoor environmental conditions — including lighting — affect both building performance and occupant wellbeing. Practical implications include better integration of human factors into building design workflows to optimize environments for health, comfort, and productivity.
Abstract

Key Findings

  • Review identifies gaps in simulation tools for accurately capturing occupant behavior and its bidirectional relationship with indoor environmental quality.
  • Highlights that occupant-centric design approaches can improve both energy performance and occupant wellbeing outcomes, though quantitative effect sizes are not the primary focus of this review.
  • Calls for greater integration of health and comfort metrics — including lighting quality — into standard building performance simulation frameworks.
Categories

Categories

Workplace Performance: Reviews simulation tools that model occupant behavior and indoor environmental quality including lighting conditions affecting productivity and comfort.
Sleep & Circadian Health: Discusses indoor environmental conditions including light exposure patterns that influence occupant wellbeing and circadian health.
Authors

Author(s)

E Azar, W O'Brien, S Carlucci, T Hong, A Sonta
Publication Date

Publication Year

2020
Citations

Number of Citations

93
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