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User perceptions and feedback from the ”best” sustainable buildings in the world.

Author(s) : BAIRD G., CHRISTIE L., FERRIS J., et al.

Type of article: Article

Summary

During the past four years the authors investigated the performance in practice of a range of commercial and institutional buildings worldwide. Around 30 buildings in 11 countries have been studied – in all cases either recipients of national awards for sustainable design or highly rated in terms of the relevant building sustainability rating tool. These investigations included a questionnaire survey seeking the users’ perceptions of a range of factors: operational (space needs, furniture, cleaning, meeting room availability, storage arrangements, facilities, and image); environmental (temperature and air quality in different climatic seasons, lighting, noise, and comfort overall); personal control (of heating, cooling, ventilation, lighting, and noise); and satisfaction (design, needs, productivity, and health). This paper presents the users’ overall perception scores for the following aspects: lighting, noise, temperature and air quality in summer and winter, comfort overall, design, needs, health and productivity, together with comfort, satisfaction and summary indices compiled from these factors. Most buildings had average scores above the mid-point of their respective scales, performing particularly well in terms of lighting overall, design and needs. When these scores were compared with a dataset of ”conventional” buildings it was found that the users’ perceptions of the performance of these ”sustainable” buildings were significantly better. Possible reasons for this improvement are explored and the environmental control systems of some of the better case studies are outlined.

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Pages: 30-37

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Details

  • Original title: User perceptions and feedback from the ”best” sustainable buildings in the world.
  • Record ID : 30002314
  • Languages: English
  • Subject: Figures, economy, Environment
  • Source: EcoLibrium - vol. 10 - n. 5
  • Publication date: 2011/06

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