Evaluating Occupant Preferences with Building Control Interfaces: Towards Personalized Interaction Strategies
Pedro de la Barra (TU Delft - Building Design & Technology)
Pablo Martinez-Alcaraz (TU Delft - Building Design & Technology)
Eleonora Brembilla (TU Delft - Environmental & Climate Design)
Alessandra Luna-Navarro (TU Delft - Building Design & Technology)
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Abstract
The integration of smart control systems in office buildings often neglects individual expectations and preferences, especially when occupants do not have personal control over their environment. While existing research has advanced personalized comfort models, simulated energy-use behaviors, and quantitative methods for occupant-centric building design, it often overlooks the critical role of personalized control interfaces. These interfaces are essential for integrating occupants into the operable building systems. This study investigates occupant preferences for personal control after experiencing different building control interfaces for lighting and roller shades in an office environment. Using a usability testing approach, 20 participants were involved in brief interaction sessions to evaluate how interface type (digital vs. analogue), position (wall-mounted vs. desk-mounted), and level of information influence occupants’ satisfaction. Additionally, we explored whether participants’ preferences for indoor environmental quality conditions correspond with their reported satisfaction with building control interfaces. Results show that interface placement significantly influences user preference, beyond ease of access. While participants initially favored analogue controls and manual operation, exposure to digital and automated systems led to greater acceptance, particularly when these systems provided clear information and maintained personal control. These findings underscore the importance of actual experiences with system interfaces in understanding occupant preferences and acceptance with building technologies, which is key for occupant-centered design in building control.