The effect of indoor environmental quality on occupants' perception of performance: A case study of refurbished historic buildings in Malaysia

• Published in: Energy and Buildings
• Main Author: Kamaruzzaman S.N.; Egbu C.O.; Zawawi E.M.A.; Ali A.S.; Che-Ani A.I.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: 2011
• Online Access: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-78651448662&doi=10.1016%2fj.enbuild.2010.10.003&partnerID=40&md5=93d22a29a1376e57b887e38eb9a6680f

This paper presents an assessment of occupants' opinion of the internal environment of buildings, based upon their responses to questions relating to a range of discrete factors. The survey considers many aspects of the internal environment and seeks to gain occupants responses to each of these in terms of "User Satisfaction" and "Degree of Importance". The questionnaire utilised a seven-point bi-polar scale to score these responses against each of the factors. In addition, the questionnaire elicits a 'fingerprint' that combines up to 22 factors relating to satisfaction with the building. The study documents and considers aspects of the building environment for which the users noted that they were least satisfied as well as those that are considered by the occupants as being of most importance. It is critical that sustainable development results not just in resource conservation, but also in increasing productivity and occupant well-being within buildings. This study hopes to provide insight for the design community on the perceptions of occupants in relation to building performance based on indoor environmental quality (IEQ) criteria. It also seeks to add to the growing body of research on sustainable design and occupants' perception of IEQ. © 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.