A framework for analysis affecting behavioral factors of residential buildings’ occupant in energy consumption

In recent years, the use of technological solutions and passive architectural design has been developed to form energy-efficient buildings, however, reduction in energy consumption in buildings are not as it is expected. One main reason for this is the lack of comprehensive understanding of the complex nature of occupant behavior in energy consumption, which causes significant difference between the predicted performance and actual performance of energy consumption in buildings. This research sought to define and describe the occupant behavior and its effect on energy consumption, identify the factors affecting it, and provide a framework for explaining the process of forming occupant behavior based on identified factors to motivate occupant of residential buildings in saving energy. This was a descriptive-analytic paper which reviewed the literature of occupant behavior in residential buildings and energy consumption in two areas related to environmental studies (built environment, natural) and behavior, social psychology. The results showed the residents’ behavior was affected by various factors in the physical (built environment, natural) and socio-personal environment; therefore, this papers combined theories related to the physical environment (framework of drivers - needs - actions - systems), socio-psychology (social cognitive theory, theory of planned behavior) and social cognitive theory (to link environmental, personal and behavioral factors), the physical environment factors and personal-social environment factors identified in a unified framework.