Importance of Indoor Environmental Quality in Green Buildings

Abstract

One of the primary aims of green buildings is to minimize negative impacts on their occupants by creating a healthy, comfortable and productive indoor environment. The performance of indoor environment is described as indoor environmental quality (IEQ). The quality indoor environment can result in increased occupant satisfaction, enhanced performance and productivity, reduced liability, marketing advantage and lower operations and maintenance costs. The objective of this paper is to study and discuss IEQ and its parameters and effect on green buildings. Building characteristics such as location, climate, design and construction contribute significantly to the IEQ. Thermal, visual and acoustic comfort and existing levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) help to measure the IEQ of a green building.