A national survey of window‐opening behavior in United States homes

Abstract

Air exchange is among the most important building parameters influencing indoor air quality and energy use. Over 18-month period we surveyed over 3800 individuals to generate a contemporary, nationwide measure of window-and door-opening behavior. We also identified influences of demographics, climate, and region. For the entire survey, including all seasons and geographic regions, 43.9% of respondents said that at least one window was open the day prior to taking the survey. Greater windowopening frequency was associated with having a lower income, living in attached homes or apartments, renting, lack of air conditioning, or being Asian or Hispanic. People living in the west and north open windows considerably more frequently and longer than those in the southeastern US. Window-opening frequency and duration increases with outdoor temperature until a maximum occurs at 18-21°C. At temperatures greater than this, window frequency decreases. The pattern roughly holds, by region, with the peak occurring at a lower temperature in the NW (12°C), and a higher temperature in the SW and SE. The frequency of door opening is roughly half that of window opening with similar, but not identical, demographic, regional, and climate associations.

The Changing Climate and Pregnancy Health

“…In addition, meteorological conditions such as extreme temperatures can facilitate the formation of pollutants such as ozone and fine particles. In certain areas, warmer temperatures may also enhance exposure due the increased likelihood of outdoor activities and infiltration of outdoor air into homes as a result of people leaving doors and windows open [ 111 , 112 ]. Unless effectively mitigated by emission reduction strategies, air pollution levels will increase as environmental conditions become more conducive for air pollution emission and formation [ 113 ].…”

A systematic review of building energy sufficiency towards energy and climate targets

“…People all over the world have the habit to open windows. Glenn et al conducted a national survey of 3800 individuals in the United States which showed that, including all seasons and geographic regions, 43.9% of the respondents said that at least one window was open [74]. Similar surveys have been conducted in China [23], and revealed that opening windows is a traditionalized behavior to maintain a suitable indoor temperature and air quality across climate conditions [75].…”

Linking Occupant Behavior and Window Design through Post-Occupancy Evaluation: Enhancing Natural Ventilation and Indoor Air Quality

“…A literature review revealed that previous studies investigating resident behavior employed questionnaires with different types of questions depending on the project's scope and elements under investigation [24,40,42]. A total of 250 distinct questions were gathered from previous surveys, with redundant questions yielding similar responses being removed.…”

“…The literature has demonstrated that window design, encompassing shape, orientation, and size, significantly affects a building's energy performance, plays a critical role in a building's energy efficiency, and is influenced by occupants' preferences for larger windows and views, as well as demographic factors like age and gender [35][36][37][38]. Surveys conducted in different geographic regions highlight how outdoor conditions and personal concerns impact window usage, suggesting a need to align window design with natural ventilation and lighting to enhance energy efficiency and comfort [39][40][41][42][43]. However, while research has shown occupant behavior and spatial factors significantly influence the actual performance of windows and facades, this is not yet well reflected in practical design guidelines and tools, especially for the early stages [44][45][46][47][48].…”