This paper examines the effects of occupants’ behaviour on the thermal environment in air-conditioned rooms. Typical occupants’ behaviours were determined from survey results in the hot summers and cold winters region of China. The temperature setpoint, intermittent operation and door opening were determined as influencing factors in a theoretical model for maintaining thermal comfort with minimal energy consumption. The concepts of the temperature change index and characteristic temperature were introduced to predict the relationship between the indoor thermal environment and occupants’ behaviour. The model was validated with empirical experiments and numerical simulations. The results indicated that continuous opening of doors and windows in air-conditioned rooms would increase the energy consumption that is needed to maintain a desirable indoor thermal environment. The average indoor temperature at 25°C setpoint heating temperature with the door open at 90° was found equal to the average indoor setpoint temperature of 22°C with the door open at 45°. The relative effects of the tested occupants’ behaviours were also evaluated.
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