Eine Plattform für die Wissenschaft: Bauingenieurwesen, Architektur und Urbanistik
Eine Plattform für die Wissenschaft: Bauingenieurwesen, Architektur und Urbanistik
A Case Study on the Effect of Energy Efficient Design Features on Building Occupant’s Comfort Level
Occupant behavior is the weakest link in the attainment of energy efficiency goals set during high-performance building designs. Environmentally responsible behavior (ERB) could be the answer to improving daily operations of these buildings. ERB is described as any action from an individual directed toward remediation of environmental issues. Previous studies suggest that ERB and perceived behavioral control (PBC) are positively correlated. This study aims to gain an understanding of energy efficient design features such as open floor designs, centralized temperature control, and radiant heating in an academic high-performance building and their relationship to building occupants’ personal comfort. A case study approach focusing on qualitative analysis was used in the present study. First, a survey, based on a pre-existing survey, containing both open- and close-ended questions was distributed to approximately 85 building occupants. Second, follow-up interviews were conducted with three facility managers to inquire about the original purposes behind building design features. The lack of control experienced by the building occupants over the thermostat posed challenges to adequately studying the correlation between ERB and PBC in this case study. The results indicate that the design features of the building were chosen to provide the highest operation capacity, but they fall short in maximizing the comfort level of building occupants in terms of temperature and acoustics. These findings confirm the complexity in combining various design features of a building into a harmonious unit for maximum functionality and comfort level of its occupants and reveal the even greater challenge when designing high-performance buildings.
A Case Study on the Effect of Energy Efficient Design Features on Building Occupant’s Comfort Level
Occupant behavior is the weakest link in the attainment of energy efficiency goals set during high-performance building designs. Environmentally responsible behavior (ERB) could be the answer to improving daily operations of these buildings. ERB is described as any action from an individual directed toward remediation of environmental issues. Previous studies suggest that ERB and perceived behavioral control (PBC) are positively correlated. This study aims to gain an understanding of energy efficient design features such as open floor designs, centralized temperature control, and radiant heating in an academic high-performance building and their relationship to building occupants’ personal comfort. A case study approach focusing on qualitative analysis was used in the present study. First, a survey, based on a pre-existing survey, containing both open- and close-ended questions was distributed to approximately 85 building occupants. Second, follow-up interviews were conducted with three facility managers to inquire about the original purposes behind building design features. The lack of control experienced by the building occupants over the thermostat posed challenges to adequately studying the correlation between ERB and PBC in this case study. The results indicate that the design features of the building were chosen to provide the highest operation capacity, but they fall short in maximizing the comfort level of building occupants in terms of temperature and acoustics. These findings confirm the complexity in combining various design features of a building into a harmonious unit for maximum functionality and comfort level of its occupants and reveal the even greater challenge when designing high-performance buildings.
A Case Study on the Effect of Energy Efficient Design Features on Building Occupant’s Comfort Level
Jebackumar, Swaetha (Autor:in) / Valdes-Vasquez, Rodolfo (Autor:in) / Nobe, MaryEllen C. (Autor:in) / Cross, Jennifer E. (Autor:in)
Construction Research Congress 2018 ; 2018 ; New Orleans, Louisiana
Construction Research Congress 2018 ; 634-643
29.03.2018
Aufsatz (Konferenz)
Elektronische Ressource
Englisch
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