Where does perceived control come from? A survey of a dormitory building across different operation modes in summer

Prior studies have attributed the heightened positive thermal response during summer to perceived control. The process through which perceived control is cultivated in the built environment has been scarcely explored. A field study was conducted in a dormitory building operating successively in natural ventilation and mixed-mode in the cold region of China. A total of 922 valid samples were obtained. The data analysis indicated that the building’s operation mode impacted both perceived control and its influencing factors. In natural ventilation mode, occupants perceived less control than in mixed-mode, and perceived control was shaped by both thermal stimulus and exercised control. Conversely, in mixed-mode, the occupants’ perceived control was solely influenced by exercised control. Reflecting on this result, this study is the first to suggest a method for determining ‘perceived effectiveness’ by assessing occupants’ thermal sensations and preferences. Only air conditioning was perceived as effective, amplifying occupants’ perceived control, while other controls diminished it. In mixed-mode, control combinations incorporating air conditioning were judged to have perceived effectiveness. On this basis, further combining psychological adaptation with behavioural adaptation, active and passive technology was used to play the role of behavioural adaptation, and the upper limit of acceptable temperature for occupants was increased to 31.1°C.