One of the nagging issues in using discrete choice models is how softer attributes, such as attitudes and perceptions, that are not explicitly manipulated within the context of the choice experiment can be accommodated. In many cases, it is reasonable to expect that the choice of a particular alternative may be influenced by non–product-related attributes. For example, latent attitudes and perceptions may play as much of a role in shaping choice as the attributes that have been manipulated and used to define the alternative offerings. In this article, the authors present several full information models that can accommodate latent variables such as attitudes and satisfaction within the context of binary and multinomial choice models. The models proposed are particularly useful when the focus is on understanding how softer attributes can influence choice decisions. The authors accomplish this by integrating structural equation models within the basic framework of binary and multinomial choice models. Two empirical applications are provided. In addition to illustrating the proposed models, these applications provide insights into the circumstances under which the simultaneous factor–choice modeling approach makes a difference.

Hybrid ventilation can be employed to precool thermally massive buildings, reducing energy consumption for cooling the following day, particularly at night when the outdoor temperature is lower, and especially when its operation is done in a predictive manner by incorporating weather forecasts. An important requirement is defining the temperature low limit for admitting exterior cool air into a building through transition spaces, to ensure thermal comfort. This paper uses a case study of a 17-story high institutional building with a hybrid ventilation system. To develop a strategy for the admission of outside air into the building, this study focuses on the corridors as generic transition zones/buffer spaces with flexible thermal comfort limits and with the motorized façade openings to determine how the air temperature evolves with distance from the inlets. A developed thermal model, calibrated from a fullscale test, calculates the amount of heat removed from the 0.4 m thick concrete floor. Through 4 hours of night cooling with an average local exterior temperature of 8.3 °C, the air temperature rises to about 12 °C in the transition corridor region at a time when occupancy in that area is expected to be nearly zero. Taking into consideration the flexibility in thermal comfort in the corridor transition spaces, control strategies are developed, based on exterior temperature and humidity. Using humidity ratio instead of relative humidity as criterion for admitting outdoor air potentially results in the system being active for 49% -180% more hours during the year.

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