Effects of sustainable and traditional building systems on indoor environmental quality and occupant perceptions

Abstract

This study examines the effects of both sustainable and traditional building systems on the indoor environmental quality (IEQ) and occupant perceptions in an open-plan office floor of a high-rise building located in Chicago, IL. The office evaluated had sustainable daylighting features as well as a more traditional variable air volume mechanical system. Different measurement locations and techniques were investigated to quantify the indoor environmental conditions (i.e., acoustics, lighting, and thermal conditions) experienced by the building occupants. The occupant perceptions of the indoor environmental conditions were assessed via survey questionnaires administered to the building occupants. The relationships between the IEQ measured in the office and the occupant perceptions were examined. The occupants were generally satisfied with their lighting and acoustical environments, although many were dissatisfied with the speech privacy. The thermal conditions were the largest source of dissatisfaction for the occupants in this study.