People spend a significant portion of their lives indoors. Nowadays, windows are the essential architectural element that allows users to have contact with the outside world. This contact has an important impact on our physiology, psychology, well-being, and indoor environment. Understanding the physical and behavioral (social) characteristics of this element in the Palestinian residential building is still insufficiently explored. A cross-sectional survey of 272 respondents was conducted to investigate the openings’ characteristics and user’s behavior to assess their influence on residents’ satisfaction and indoor performance. This assessment was based on the concept that residents’ satisfaction with their homes is a measure of buildings’ performance in meeting users’ needs, expectations, and aspirations. The findings show that the physical properties (i.e. Window wall ratio, Window floor ratio, position, orientation, etc.) of windows do not meet the minimum threshold of sustainable and energy-efficient values (i.e. Daylight, thermal comfort). In addition, the survey analysis determines the driving parameters and their corresponding variations influencing window operations in different periods of the day and season. The culture plays a central role in the Palestinians’ window operation behavior.

People spend a significant portion of their lives indoors. Nowadays, windows are the essential architectural element that allows users to have contact with the outside world. This contact has an important impact on our physiology, psychology, well-being, and indoor environment. Understanding the physical and behavioral (social) characteristics of this element in the Palestinian residential building is still insufficiently explored. A cross-sectional survey of 272 respondents was conducted to investigate the openings’ characteristics and user’s behavior to assess their influence on residents’ satisfaction and indoor performance. This assessment was based on the concept that residents’ satisfaction with their homes is a measure of buildings’ performance in meeting users’ needs, expectations, and aspirations. The findings show that the physical properties (i.e. Window wall ratio, Window floor ratio, position, orientation, etc.) of windows do not meet the minimum threshold of sustainable and energy-efficient values (i.e. Daylight, thermal comfort). In addition, the survey analysis determines the driving parameters and their corresponding variations influencing window operations in different periods of the day and season. The culture plays a central role in the Palestinians’ window operation behavior.