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NATL INST OF STANDARDS & TECH R.I.C.

A1 11 009931 22

Rubin, Arthur I/Energy conservation In b TA435 .U58 V88;1976 C.I NBS-PUB-C 1976 NBS BUILDING SCIENCE SERIES

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE / National Bureau of Standards

Energy Conservation in BuildingsA Human Factors/Systems Viewpoint
The Building Science Series

The Building Science Series disseminates technical information developed at the National Bureau of Standards on

building materials, components, systems, and whole structures. The Series presents research results, test methods, and performance criteria related to the structural and environmental functions and the durability and safety characteristics of building elements and systems. These publications, similar in style and content to the NBS Building Materials and Structures Reports (1938-59),

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please contact the Program Planning and Liaison Unit, Center for Building Technology, Institute for Applied

Technology, National Bureau of Standards, Washington, D.C. 20234.

[See mailing list announcement on last page]
National Bureau of - - n -I J- NOV i J 1976

Energy Conservation in BuildingsA Human Factors/Systems Viewpoint ^ nSST^VW^ -''^x-x-^-^ ^o,v ^

Arthur I. Rubin

^ •''^

Center for Building Technology

Institute for Applied Technology

National Bureau of Standards

Washington, D.C. 20234

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, Elliot L. Richardson, Secretary

Edward O. Vetter, Under Secrefary

Dr. Betsy Ancker-Johnson, Assistanf Secretary for Science and Technology

NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS, Ernest Ambler, Aciing D/recfor

Issued November 1976
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 76-600058

National Bureau of Standards Building Science Series 88

Nat. Bur. Stand. (U.S.), Bldg. Sci. Ser. 88, 19 pages (Nov. 1976) CODEN: BSSNBV

U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE

WASHINGTON: 1976

For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402 (Order by SD Catalog No. C13.29/2:88). Stock No. 003-003- Price 65 cents (Add 25 percent additional for other than U.S. mailing).
Contents

Page

1. Introduction 1 2. Criteria Which Can Be Used in Selecting Among Possible

Design Options 4

3. Approaches to Energy Conservation 5 4. Design and Technology 5 5. Management and Operations 5 6. Systems/Performance Approach 5 7. Systems Analysis and Human Factors (Ergonomics) 6

8. Interactions Between Man and the Built Environment 7 8.1: Building Design 8

8.2. Permanence of Design Features 9

9. Building Operators/Occupants and Energy Conservation 10

10. Encouragement of Energy Conservation Practices Among

Building Users 11

11. Conclusion 11

12. References 12

iii

ENERGY CONSERVATION IN BUILDINGS ~

A HUMAN FACTORS /SYSTEMS VIEWPOINT

Arthur I. Rubin

The current emphasis on energy conservation in buildings must

be balanced by a careful consideration of how proposed approaches

affect building occupants. A headlong rush toward building

designs which conserve energy at the expense of the quality

of buildings as judged by occupants, would be a very shortsighted

approach. There must be a continual awareness and sensitivity

of the consequences on people when selecting among alternative

"technical" options designed as a result of energy conservation

needs. We need an increasing understanding of such factors

as thermal comfort and illumination needs in buildings, as decisions likely to influence these requirements are made by

designers

.

Another area of concern which should not be overlooked is the

interactions of people with their environments. "Hardware"

approaches to energy conservation problems are often defeated

by building occupants. Tight seals around doors and windows

are useless if doors and windows are kept open. Building occupants

have no choice but to turn all of the lights on or off if these are the only control options available to them. Building managers,

operators and occupants have an important, though not well

understood role to play in any energy conservation program.

This problem deserves serious attention.

Key Words: Energy conservation; human factors; people in buildings.

1. Introduction

Buildings have been identified as being major consumers of energy.

Furthermore, a good deal of the energy used in buildings is said to

be wasted because of inefficient design and practices. As a result

of these factors, it is reasonable to expect that future building

designs are likely to be more sensitive to energy usage than those

developed in the past. However, it is still necessary to determine

how the needs for energy conservation are to be met.

In the past few years, this problem has been addressed repeatedly and

with increasing frequency by policy makers, designers and researchers.

A number of conferences have addressed this issue; studies have been

initiated, and in some instances decisions were made which modified

traditional design practices — (removing light bulbs in Federal

office buildings)

.

1
Most of these activities were conducted in response to the "crisis"

nature of the energy problem. As a result, it should not be too surprising

that near term goals have been stressed, questions concerning what should

be done to conserve energy have the implications of immediacy (what

should be done now?) . As a result, many of the proposals which have

emerged from such discussions seem to be in the nature of "quick fixes"

to problems which might well be more complex than they appear to be.

Furthermore, the proposed solutions have implications associated with them

which might not have been given the thoughtful consideration that they

deserve.

Let us consider some of the suggestions put forward to conserve

energy in buildings:

- A frequently mentioned one is to permit buildings to be warmer in

the summer and cooler in the winter. The relaxation of environmental

criteria will be offset by having occupants modify their dressing

habits to suit their own needs for thermal comfort [l]"^.

- Another popular approach (which has been put into practice in some instances) is to remove some proportion of the lighting fixtures in

buildings thereby reducing energy consumption associated with lighting

and cooling [2]

.

- The reduction of ventilation in buildings is another modification

advocated by some people trying to reduce energy usage.

The suggestions mentioned share a number of characteristics.

- They appear to be "engineering" solutions to the problem in their

focus on hardware.

- They appear to address short term goals without appropriate consideration

to long range implications.

- They are directed toward modifying building design parameters but

do not pay sufficient attention to the possible effects on occupants.

All in all these particular suggestions appear designed to rather

arbitrarily modify the human based design criteria developed slowly over

the years in ways that are likely to compromise the quality of the

building environment from the standpoint of building users.

Is the design profession so bankrupt of ideas that some proposed

"solutions" to problems of energy conservation require building occupants

to "bear the brunt" of building environments which do not conform to

present day criteria for acceptable buildings?

Figures in brackets indicate the literature references at the end of

this paper.

2
It is especially Ironic at this time that suggestions are made which

may produce building environments which are less acceptable to occupants.

Within the past few years there is evidence of an increased awareness

by architects of the need to become more responsive to user requirements

in building design [3]. This awareness is probably an outgrowth of the

increased emphasis of many people throughout the world on environmental

quality. Now, as with many environmental problems, a choice is being

posed between environmental quality or energy conservation.

Is this either/or choice, a necessary approach?

Does it have to be made immediately?

Our answer to both questions is NO . Let us first address the question of timing.

There appears to be substantial agreement among experts that the energy

shortage is a real, not a contrived one [4]. As to the scope of the

problem there is less of a consensus concerning the dimensions of the

problem today and its progression in the near term and long term

future [5]. In any event, the research and other programs being devised

to deal with energy issues can readily be placed into "short term" and

"long term" categories.

For purposes of simplification, we might consider building modifications

as typifying a short term approach. Under this heading, options such as increased insulation and adding storm doors and windows are often

mentioned

.

The longer term options might include an examination of criteria

now used in building design such as illumination levels and ventilation

requirements —• with a view toward modifying them in order to conserve

energy.

We think that it is premature (at the very least) to down—grade

requirements associated with occupant satisfaction as a first step

in a program to conserve energy. Rather, in our view, design criteria

associated with user requirements ought to be modified "downward"

only when other possibilities are not feasible.

We do not mean to infer that such design features as illumination and

ventilation criteria should not be examined — only that any proposed

modifications should be considered hypotheses to be tested experimentally.

Furthermore, great care has to be taken in determining what response

variables are to be measured, how measurements are to be made, and the

state-of-the-art associated with making such measurements. For example,

modification of ventilation requirements might result in an "odor"

problem. Our ability to evaluate the nature and extent of this potential

problem is governed by the state-of-the-art of measurement methodology

associated with the response of people to odors of various types and

concentrations. Unfortunately, the state-of-the-art of performing such

measures is quite primitive as compared with that dealing with such

factors as illumination and acoustics.

3
Another consideration which should not be overlooked when examining

existing human response based criteria for buildings is the possible

cumulative effects of environmental "contaminants." For example, there

is considerable evidence that the effects of noise exposure should

be considered on a cumulative long term basis if these effects are to

be evaluated properly [6]. As a result, studies of odor (using the same example) might have to be extended over a considerable time

period rather than perhaps collecting data for a given person in a single day.

Now that we have explored the question of timing, let us consider

whether environmental quality must be degraded if energy conservation

in buildings is to be achieved.

The remainder of this report is designed to provide a response to

this apparent dilemma. In addressing this issue, a number of questions

will be explored:

- Criteria to select among alternative design options

- Approaches to energy conservation

- Hardware

- Management and Operations

- Systems/Performance Approach

- Experiences to date - energy conservation and people

- Some current programs

- Recommended research

It is evident that these topics cover a broad range of subject

matter and therefore cannot be treated at any great depth in the present

paper. Our goal is a much more modest one — merely to suggest a few of

the factors which might be considered when addressing issues of energy

conservation in buildings.

2. Criteria Which Can Be Used in Selecting Among Possible Design Options

We have already expressed our belief that the maintenance of the present

quality of the environment is an important criterion to consider at

the outset. Additional criteria which merit attention are:

- The number and/or type of buildings affected

- The availability of resources to implement program.

- The initial/long term costs.

- The "difficulty" of implementation.

- The time-lag between implementation and meaningful results.

- The degree of participation by people —- occupants, managers, maintenance

personnel.

- The probable degree of acceptance by those responsible for implementation.

4
3. Approaches to Energy Conservation

Even a cursory review of the "literature" recently generated on the

topic of energy conservation reveals a preponderant emphasis on the "hardware" aspect of the subject.

4. Design and Technology

A sample of the recommendations generated recently by designers, engineers,

policy makers and researchers, derived from recent studies and conferences

[7-10] are mentioned below:

- Improve the efficiency of energy utilization equipment.

- Reduce heating and cooling loads on buildings.

- Select appropriate equipment to heat and cool buildings.

- Tighten air leakages.

- Optimize the combined use of thermal insulation, heat capacity of

building, and glass area.

- Develop and use heat recovery and heat storage techniques

.

The topic of building usage, though not dealt with in as much detail as design, has not been disregarded in the reports cited. The following

approaches are among those mentioned.

5. Management and Operations

- Schedules for turning off lights, fans, heating/cooling systems.

- Automatic timing controls for heat, lighting.

- Scheduling of building usage to concentrate activities.

- Emphasis on need for routine maintenance — changing, filters, cleaning

light fixtures.

- Scheduling of janitorial services to avoid lighting entire building

at night for this purpose.

- Training for maintenance and operations people to sensitize them to

practices which are wasteful and not conserving of energy.

- Preparation of material (check lists) to be used routinely to identify

potential problem areas.

- Turning off lights by individual occupants.

6. Systems/Performance Approach

We have mentioned only a small number of the many design and operations

procedures recommended as energy conservation measures to be implemented

in buildings. Our primary purpose in this review was to suggest that a large variety of approaches are possible — and that they were not

limited to "hardware" solutions. The task then is one of using (or

developing) a methodology which facilitates the examination of energy

conserving options in a systematic way. Furthermore, many of the

options to be considered are closely tied to tasks which might be

performed by people.

5
The complexity and size of the problem, the need to consider from

many and varied approaches the importance of the "human factor" and

the ability to clearly define an objective — energy conservation

in buildings — are all characteristics of problems which have been

successfully attacked in the past using systems analytic procedures.

Furthermore, the performance approach to design seems to be an ideal

vehicle to employ when formulating an attack on the problem. A

review of the recommendations made earlier indicates that a number of

options are specified in performance terms (as opposed to prescriptive)

e.g. eliminate wasteful practices; optimize the use of thermal insulation,

heat capacity of buildings, glass area.

The first benefit available from a systems approach is the need to

provide an overview of the problem. Without such a comprehensive

scheme it is possible for designers, engineers and policy makers to

pursue individual piecemeal solutions without taking into account the

possible interactions between their approaches or determining whether

more fruitful paths might be pursued — viable alternatives might not

even be considered.

7. Systems Analysis and Human Factors (Ergonomics)

A major strength of the systems analysis procedure is that it can be used

for the identification of tasks which can readily be performed by people.

As a result, the designer can consider the tradeoffs associated with

automated systems, manually operated systems and perhaps most important

of all — systems combining man and "machines^ ". It is the contention

here that many of the energy conserving schemes with high potential for

payoff fall in this category. Consequently, the remainder of this

paper will be concerned with this subject.

*The use of the word machines is used in the sense of the ability to

control an important aspect of the environment, e.g., modifying the

position of a Venetian blind, varying the illumination on a task

surface, changing the setting of a thermostat.

6
Table 1

Example : Analysis of some man/machine aesxgn uraaeor r s in the control of the thermal environment of ,a room

System rion t" vn 1 Requirement s Sensing Evaluation v/p L. J-Uilo r eeu DacK

Man Qon o o "f" "1 rwy o uecxuxng Change Sensation of

\j 1. Wclx.lUL.ll) wrietner any Lnermos cat comfort

,

L.UXU. • action is setting, discomfort

iicucfabairy , ana activate fan

if so , what upen VOL

should be done. O n C CI 1 T.7T n /*\T.T t-J-Uoti wj-nuow

Options

Machine Sensor Go /no go Activate (or Same as capable of decision based deactivate) Temperature

detecting a on design fan and heating Sensing

range of factors system

temperatures

with specified

tolerances

8. Interactions Between Man and the Built Environment

The interactions between people and buildings were explored by the author

of the present paper during a roundtable discussion conducted in May 1972

[12]. Unfortunately, the understanding of the subject is no better

today that it was at that time.

It is difficult to answer with any degree of certainty, a question

concerning *the importance of the role of the people who actually use buildings in any overall program of energy conservation. The absence

of a body of directly applicable empirical data compels us to make

assumptions based largely on opinions, attitudes and generalizations

from subject areas which appear to be relevant to the present one. Obviously, our assumption is Yes , the activities of people in buildings

are important determinants of energy usage and therefore should be

carefully considered as a factor when programs associated with energy

conservation in buildings are being formulated.

*See tables 2, 3 (pages 13, 14)

7
Let us first consider the design phase of buildings in some detail to

identify some of the effects of design decision on energy related

activities of people in buildings.

8.1 Building Design

One of the major design decisions impacting energy usage by people in

buildings concerns the control systems available.

- Are controls to be centalized or decentralized?

- Are they to be operated manually, automatically or by a system combining

both operations?

- What criteria are used to select among alternative options?

Design options can be reformulated in terms of the degree of control

(flexibility) available in a given space and a determination of how

this control is to be exercised. A variety of possible approaches

are available ranging from totally automatic systems to those which

place heavy reliance upon people.

Let us consider an example where the design goal has been to make

effective use of natural and artificial sources of illumination in an energy conserving design. One proposed approach to the solution of this

problem is the use of a computer to control both artificial illumination

and the amount of daylight permitted to enter a room, depending on the

amount and characteristics of daylight available. This system is a fully

automatic one. At the other extreme is an approach which provides occupants

with individually controlled task lighting and the opportunity to control

the daylight entering a room, possibly by making adjustments on Venetian

blinds. A system which combines aspects of the two mentioned previously

might consist of two sets of controls associated with artificial illumination.

Assuming a large office, one switch could be a primary one — governing

all of the overhead lighting, while a secondary switch would control

the lights positioned near windows. In this way, when sufficient

daylight is available, the indoor illumination can be controlled on a selective basis.

Still another intermediate approach might be based on a timing system

which may be controlled manually or automatically. For instance, all

office lights might be turned out at the end of a working day. Anyone

who works "after hours" would have to turn on the lights in his own

space.

Although we have only dealt with the example of lighting, it is evident

that analagous systems are possible when dealing with the thermal

environment

.

Another aspect of environmental flexibility is in terms of the permanence

of design features, i.e., how difficult and/or costly would it be to make

changes in the initial design?

8
8.2 Permanence of Design Features

If we again consider the fully automated lighting system described

above, it is evident that any flexibility to be provided will have to

be "programmed" in advance — not only in terms of the computer itself

but with respect to the design features capable of being controlled

by the computer. The permanence (or modif lability) of design features

can extend to many aspects of design — addition of controls (lighting,

heating/cooling) , "hardware" (light fixtures, air conditioning units),

modification of spaces (partitions), manipulation of building features

(ability to open windows), etc.

Perhaps the strongest argument for advocating flexible designs — those

capable of being readily modified — is the current state of knowledge

concerned with energy conservation in buildings. It is evident that

the more uncertain we are about the relationship between the design

and operations of buildings and energy conservation, the greater the

need to enable modifications to be made in the future when more information is available.

The maintenance of a building and its elements and subsystems may be

considered a link between design and operations. In the previous listing

of energy conservation recommendations, the need for appropriate maintenance procedures was noted. However, anyone who has had any experience

performing "routine" maintenance knows that there is a close relationship

between the difficulty of this task and the willingness to undertake

this activity at periodic intervals. The major decisions governing

routine maintenance are made by the designer. The question is: what

are the impacts of such decisions on energy conservation? For example,

in the purchase of luminaires, how much time and effort should be

placed on the need to clean them periodically? VOiat trade-offs are associated with this activity?

With respect to modifying the environment as well as performing

maintenance functions, the activities which are required range from the

complex to the simple. As noted earlier, mechanical equipment must be

"tuned" properly if it is to perform efficiently. Trained personnel are required to accomplish this task. In contrast, such activities as turning on lights can be performed by any building occupant.

In summarizing the points made in the paper cited earlier [11], the

energy related problems associated with people and buildings has at

least two distinct components:

- Determining what people can and should do to save energy in buildings.

- Devising methods which are effective in encouraging people to perform

the desired activities.

9
9. Building Operators/Occupants and Energy Conservation

The consideration of energy conservation in buildings from a systems

analysis viewpoint including human factors appears to be a very logical,

though neglected, approach. One of the primary benefits to be derived

is likely to be a vastly increased number of design options available —

primarily because of the flexibility of people. In the "classical"

human factors literature [13,14] when man is considered as part of a complex

system, strengths and weaknesses have been carefully assessed. Among

the advantages that man has when compared with machines is versatility,

flexibility and adaptability. That is, people can perform a wide

variety of functions and are capable of adjusting rapidly to unforeseen

circumstances when required. These abilities were the primary reasons

for having manned lunar space flights.

In dealing with the interactions of people and buildings we will consider

both occupants and operators/managers, without making any distinctions

between them. (Although an exploration of this subject area is thought

to be necessary when devising energy conservation programs)

.

The fact that people are so versatile enables designers to devise

energy conserving systems which do not have to be in the either/or

category — fully automated or manual. Instead, based on tradeoffs

associated with costs for example, combined man/machine systems might

provide optimal solutions. Again, daylight control provides an illustration. Systems have been devised which automatically control the

amount of daylight penetrating a building — perhaps the control might

be more cost-effective if it were manual rather than computer based.

Similarly, the assignment and design of control functions to "man" or "machine" should be reviewed from the standpoint of energy related

tradeoffs before a solution is devised.

Our discussion thus far has been primarily concered with design and

energy conservation in the context of the activities of people in

buildings which are related to these issues. We have not considered

the day-to-day operations of buildings and will not have the opportunity

to do so in any detail because such a discussion will increase the length

of the present paper substantially beyond the established guidelines.

The treatment of the subject will be limited to a listing of some of

the frequently cited activities which merit study:

- Use of thermostats.

- Identification of energy wasteful practices.

- Use of energy intensive appliances (freezers)

.

- Use of lighting controls.

- Opening of doors and windows.

- Control of light, heat, ventilation during times of occupany and vacancy.

- Devising appropriate maintenance procedures.

10
A number of these issues are currently explored in an experimental

program being jointly performed in Twin Rivers, New Jersey by Princeton

University and the National Bureau of Standards. (A more detailed

treatment of this investigation is provided in another research paper

appearing in this symposium.) This study is of special relevance to

the present paper since the initial findings of a program designed to

retrofit buildings for energy conservation purposes, highlighted the

importance of understanding the interactions of people with the buildings.

The "hardware" modifications included under the retrofit study could not

be readily related to energy usage in buildings without a better understanding of the "human factors" components.

10. Encouragement of Energy Conservation Practices Among Building Users

If we conclude that the actions of people are a critical determinant

of energy conservation in buildings, we are still faced with the task of

attaining the necessary cooperation from those whose actions are required.

This is by no means an easy objective to accomplish — but deserves

research attention just as serious as that accorded to the solution of

technological problems. In this instances (as was the case of the

day-to-day operations of buildings) there will be no attempt to do

more than mention a number of topics which should be investigated.

The reason is the same — the subject is a very complex one and merits

a detailed examination.

- Highlighting the importance and need for energy conservation (an

energy conserving ethic)

.

- Specifying the relationships between activities and energy usage.

- Specifying the relationship between energy usage and monetary costs.

- Determining means for "rewarding" energy conserving activities.

- Determining what type of feedback information is required, how to

provide such information, and how frequently it should be provided.

11. Conclusion

Energy conservation in buildings is a relatively new concern among

building designers, operators and users — as well as for policy makers

whose decisions might well determine the quality of a "generation"

of buildings. Before making firm "hardware" design recommendations

which in some instances will sacrifice the quality of buildings (based on current criteria) to be used for many years, other options ought

to be carefully explored. A systems analytic approach should be employed

to identify these options — which should take into account the capabilities

of building users to play a major role in energy conservation programs.

Furthermore, the need to perform research on this topic should receive

far greater attention than has been the case in the past where its

importance has been noted and then ignored. The systems/human factors

approach is likely to greatly increase the number and type of design

possibilities that merit consideration and increase the design

alternatives available to modify built environments during the lifetimes

of buildings. This flexibility would provide the opportunity to

respond to new information, technology and other developments which

might impact the current "energy crisis" situation.

11
12. References

1. Technical Options for Energy Conservation in Buildings, NBS Tech

Note 789, 184 pages, July 1973.

2. Scientific American Roundtable on Energy Conservation in Buildings,

Jan. 1974.

3. Lang, J., et. al., ed.. Designing For Human Behavior; Architecture

and the Behavioral Sciences, Dowden, Hutchinson and Ross, Stroudsburg,

Pa., 1974.

4. Berg, C. A., Energy Conservation through Effective Utilization

Science, Vol. 18, pp. 128-138.

5. A Special Issue on the Problem of Energy, Skeptic, Feb. 1975.

6. Report to the President and Congress on Noise, Report of

Administrator of EPA, Govt. Printing Office, Washington, D.C.,

Feb. 1972.

7. Energy Conservation for Office Buildings, GSA/PBS, January 1974.

8. Technical Aspects of Efficient Energy Utilization, Summer Study

Report 1974 of the American Physical Society.

9. Roundtable - Toward a Rational Policy for Energy Test in Buildings.

Architectural Record, McGraw Hill, New York, Mid-August 1975.

10. Energy Conservation: A Study of Energy Consumption in Buildings

and Possible Means of Saving Energy in Housing, BRE Working Party

Report, June 1975.

11. The Performance Concept: A Study of its Applications to Housing,

Vol 1, NBS Report 9849, June 1968.

12. E = MC^, NBS/GSA Roundtable on Energy Conservation in Public

Buildings, May 1972.

13. McCormick, E. J., Human Engineering, McGraw-Hill, New York, N.Y., 1957.

14. Woodson, W. E. and Conover, D. W. , Human Engineering Guide for

Equipment Designers, U. of Cal. Press, Berkeley, Cal., 1970.

12
Table 2

LEVELS OF ANALYSIS AND SOME RELATED TECHNIQUES

Level of

Analysis Purpose Applicable Technique

System To determine effectiveness of system in

performing a specified mission

Operations-research

methods

Subsystem To determine best way of meeting a specified requirement of the missionSystem analysis

Integration matrix

Function To determine best combination of com- ponents required to make up subsystem

Man-machine system

analysis

Function analysis

Task To determine best allocation of man's

capabilities to perform required functions

Task analysis

Time-line analysis

Logic models

Information theory

Subtask To determine best method of utilizing

man's capabilities to perform the

assigned tasks

Operator load

analysis

Operator sequence

diagrams

Decision theory

Information-flow

analysis

Element To determine best method of utilizing

man's capabilities to perform assigned

subtasks

Time-and-motion

analysis

Elemental task

analysis

13
Table 3

MAN VS. MACHINE

Man Excels In

Detection of certain forms of very

low energy levels

Sensitivity to an extremely wide

variety of stimuli

Perceiving patterns and making

generalizations about them

Detecting signals in high noise

levels

Ability to store large amounts of

information for long periods —

and recalling relevant facts of

appropriate moments

Ability to exercise judgment

where events cannot be completely

defined

Improvising and adopting flexible

procedures

Ability to react to unexpected lowprobability events

Applying originality in solving

problems: i.e., alternate

solutions

Ability to profit from experience

and alter course of action

Ability to perform fine manipulation,

especially where misalignment

appears unexpectedly

Ability to continue to perform

even when overloaded

Ability to reason inductively

Machines Excel In

Monitoring (both men and machines)

Performing routine, repetitive, or very precise operations

Responding very quickly to control

signals

Exerting great force, smoothly and

with precision

Storing and recalling large amounts

of information in short time-periods

Performing complex and rapid

computation with high accuracy

Sensitivity to stimuli beyond the

range of human sensitivity (infrared,

radio waves, etc.)

Doing many different things at one time

Deductive processes

Insensitivity to extraneous factors

Ability to repeat operations very

rapidly, continuous, and precisely

the same way over a long period

Operating in environments which are hostile to man or beyond human

tolerance

<'U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1976 240-848/30 1-3 14
i*BS-n4A (REV. 7-73)

U.S. DEPT. OF COMM. BIBLIOGRAPHIC DATA

SHEET

1. PUBLICATION OR REPORT NO. NBS BSS-88

2. Gov't Accession

No.

3. Recipient's Accession No.

4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE

Energy Conservation in Biiildings

A Human Factors/Systems Viewpoint

5. Publication Date November 1976

6. Performing Organization Code

7. AUTHOR(S)

Arthur I. Rubin

8. Performing Organ. Report No.

9. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME AND ADDRESS

NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20234

10. Project/Task/Work Unit No. 'fOoD'tUo n. Contract/Grant No.

12. Sponsoring Organization Name and Complete Address (Street, City, State, ZIP)

National Bureau of Standards

Department of Commerce

Washington, D.C. 20234

13. Type of Report & Period Covered December 1975

14. Sponsoring Agency Code

15. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES

Libraiy of Congress Catalog Card Number: 76-6OOO58

16. ABSTRACT (A 200-word or less factual summary of most significant information. If document includes a significant bibliography or literature survey, mention it here.) The current emphasis on energy conservation in buildings must be balanced by a careful consideration of how proposed approaches affect building occupants. A headlong rush toward building designs which conserve energy at the expense of the quality

of buildings as judged by occupants, would be a very shortsighted approach. There must

be a continual awareness and sensitivity of the consequences on people when selecting

among alternative "technical" options designed as a result of energy conservation

needs. We need an increasing understanding of such factors as thermal comfort and

illumination needs in buildings, as decisions likely to influence these requirements

are made by designers.

Another area of concern which should not be overlooked is the interactions of

people with their environments. "Hardware" approaches to energy conservation

problems are often defeated by building occupants. Tight seals around doors and

windows are useless if doors and windows are kept open. Building occupants have no choice but to turn all of the lights on or off if these are the only control options

available to them. Building managers, operators and occupants have an important,

though not well understood role to play in any energy conservation program. This

problem deserves serious attention.

17. KEY WORDS (six to twelve entries; alphabetical order; capitalize only the first letter of the first key word unless a proper name; separated by semicolons

)

Energy conservation; human factors; people in buildings

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