The higher energy consumption in the building industry requires from current companies to developed nearly zero-energy buildings. To evaluate design options, the architects quite often use the simulations tools. However, they still need improvement in the area of the users’ behaviour that currently is mimicked in a very static way (Hoes, Hensen, Loomans, De Vries, Bourgeois, 2009).
This project was provided by company Velux that seeks to improve their simulation programs. One of the important element in energy efficient design is shading – because according to the Dubois (1997) use of shading can affect power consumption by reducing solar gains and by modifying losses through the windows. Therefore, the company, to improve the tools, needs understand behaviour of individual household members.
The aim of this project is a closer examination of the inhabitant practices related to use of the shadings. Focusing on how the inhabitants adjusted their domestic thermal and visual environments by using the shadings to suit their needs and requirements.
The data for analyses was collected through different methods, such as an online survey, activity map and semi-structure interviews. Then, it was analysed through the Practice Theory that allows me to distinguish some common pattern of shading use, among users from Poland and Denmark.