Behavioral Adaptation in Villas and Apartments of Rasht during Summer

Resident behavior is one of the main factors influencing energy consumption and building design. Since residents spend most of their time indoors, it is both important and necessary to have sufficient knowledge of their adaptive behaviors and interactions with building systems in order to improve thermal comfort and reduce energy consumption. This research aims to investigate the adaptive behaviors of people in conditions of thermal discomfort in villas and apartments of Rasht. The data was prepared during the summer of 2021 from the selected dwellings based on field studies and through questionnaires, and bivariate and multivariate regression models were used for data analysis. The findings show that 48% and 57% of the residents of villa and apartment dwellings had neutral thermal sensations, and according to the ASHRAE standard (+-1), thermal comfort was determined as 84% and 80%, respectively. The thermal comfort range for the residents was higher than the standards. Among the foremost passive solutions of residents to achieve thermal comfort were taking off clothes, drinking cold beverages, opening windows, and changing places. The most influential variables in the multiple regression equation were indoor temperature, outdoor air speed, number of indoor spaces, thermal preference in villas, building area, and thermal preference and satisfaction in apartments. Knowledge of the thermal comfort range being at higher temperatures than the standards and the reactive and interactive behaviors and seasonal habits of residents helps to properly design for thermal comfort and energy efficiency.