Julius Piwowar

Mr. Julius Piwowar

Researcher at Wuppertal Institute | Research Unit Innovation Labs
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Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

7Years (2020-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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26 August 2020 in Sustainability
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
CBCarolin Baedeker
Carolin Baedeker
Julius PiwowarJulius Piwowar
Julius Piwowar
PTPhilipp Themann
Philipp Themann
VGViktor Grinewitschus
Viktor Grinewitschus
BKBenjamin Krisemendt
Benjamin Krisemendt
JGJustus Von Geibler
Justus Von Geibler
Many technical solutions have been developed to enhance the energy efficiency in buildings. However, the actual effectiveness and sustainability of these solutions often do not correspond to expectations because of the missing perspective of design, user’s real needs, and unconsidered negative side effects of their use (rebounds). With the aim to help address these challenges, this paper presents results of a longitudinal living lab study and proposes a user-centered building management system (UC-BMS) as a prototype for office buildings. Based on mixed methods, UC-BMS was co-developed, tested, and evaluated in Germany in up to six office buildings, 85 offices, and within two heating periods. The results demonstrate that such user-oriented approach can save up to 20% of energy while maintaining or even improving comfort and work productivity. The findings show three main areas of intervention and elements of UC-BMS: (1) How interactive design and feedback systems (e.g., air quality) can stimulate ventilation practices and energy efficiency in offices and (2) supporting heating system optimization e.g., by better understanding office behavior. (3) Finally, an office comfort survey was conducted to enable communication between facility management and office users and thus limiting complaints and adapting the heating system towards actual office user needs.