A Review on the Importance of Windows Behavior and Its Impact on Indoor Thermal Comfort for Sustainability

Windows are crucial for indoor thermal comfort, influenced by occupant behavior, passive design, and advanced technologies, significantly contributing to sustainable building practices. This systematic review, synthesizing peer-reviewed studies, assesses the impacts of window design - encompassing geometric configurations, glazing systems, and shading; operational strategies - manual to artificial intelligence (AI) driven controls; and technologies - passive to smart systems on thermal comfort, energy efficiency, and occupant behavior. Using bibliometric and scientometric analyses, the review focuses on four primary research clusters: thermal comfort and occupant behavior; window strategies for natural ventilation and passive cooling; windows behavior and its impact on energy performance; and sustainability along with emerging trends. The review highlights that window behaviour, glazing technologies, shading systems, and design strategies significantly influence thermal comfort. Despite advancements in adaptive design and occupant-centric strategies, critical gaps remain in understanding multi-climate adaptability, the complex interrelations between window operation and occupants' behavior, and the integration of occupant roles in energy-related window design strategies. This review addresses these gaps by providing a comprehensive framework linking window operation, occupant behavior, and sustainable design practices. It also traces the historical evolution of thermal comfort and offers climate-specific, occupant-centric considerations with future research aligned with SDGs 3, 7, and 11 to promote affordable, energy-efficient, and healthy building practices for sustainable communities.