The impact of indoor environmental quality on work productivity in university open-plan research offices

2017 ◽  
Vol 124 ◽  
pp. 78-89 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shengxian Kang ◽  
Dayi Ou ◽  
Cheuk Ming Mak
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Quality ◽  
Work Productivity ◽  
Indoor Environmental Quality ◽  
Open Plan ◽  
The Impact

scholarly journals Factors Affecting Occupants’ Satisfaction in Governmental Buildings: The Case of the Kingdom of Bahrain

Buildings ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 231
Author(s):  
Noora Albuainain ◽  
Ghaleb Sweis ◽  
Wassim AlBalkhy ◽  
Rateb Sweis ◽  
Zoubeir Lafhaj
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Quality ◽  
Working Hours ◽  
Indoor Environmental Quality ◽  
Air Conditioner ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Open Plan ◽  
Central Air Conditioning ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Visual Privacy ◽  
The Impact

Satisfaction is a very important factor in improving productivity and performance in the work environment. This study aims to investigate the levels of occupants’ satisfaction with the indoor environmental quality (IEQ) in the governmental buildings in the Kingdom of Bahrain and to investigate the impact of occupants’ demographics and building attributes (non-IEQ factors) on these levels. For these purposes, the study used a questionnaire that has 17 indoor environmental quality (IEQ) factors in addition to a group of non-IEQ factors. The questionnaire was distributed by hand or using email to 279 employees in the Bahraini governmental sector. The findings of the study revealed that occupants in the Bahraini governmental buildings are not strongly satisfied with IEQ factors, especially with sound privacy, followed by visual privacy and amount of space, and then noise levels. The findings also showed that for most IEQ factors, men are more satisfied than women are, those who work in enclosed private offices are more satisfied than those who work in open-plan offices, and those who have central air-conditioning at their workplace are more than those who have a wall-mounted air conditioner. The impact of age, nature of work, duration of working in the current building and at the current workstation, weekly working hours, and proximity to the window were also investigated. Accordingly, a group of recommendations was suggested aiming to improve the levels of occupants’ satisfaction.

scholarly journals Indoor Environmental Quality Survey in Research Institute: A Floor-by-Floor Analysis

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (24) ◽  
pp. 14067
Author(s):  
Jong-Won Lee ◽  
Deuk-Woo Kim ◽  
Seung-Eon Lee ◽  
Jae-Weon Jeong
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Quality ◽  
Distribution Systems ◽  
Focal Point ◽  
Work Productivity ◽  
Indoor Environmental Quality ◽  
User Friendliness ◽  
Healthy Environment ◽  
Survey System ◽  
Survey Approach ◽  
Working Efficiency

Comprehensively monitoring indoor environmental quality (IEQ) parameters and their dynamic relations is essential to ensure improved productivity and a healthy environment for building occupants. Although IEQ significantly influences working efficiency, studies addressing this aspect with researchers in institutes as the focal point are limited. Thus, this study employed drill-down analyses, such as floor-by-floor and building-by-building examinations and used an occupant IEQ survey approach to evaluate working conditions in research buildings. This study systematically and objectively assessed IEQ using the Korea building occupant survey system. The results indicate that acoustic qualities affect the work productivity and satisfaction of the building occupants. The floor-by-floor analysis is necessary to identify IEQ factors and the reasons for the satisfaction of occupants. Additionally, it is important to improve the user-friendliness of the system, implement frequent survey distribution systems, and empirically analyze data associations among building, spatial, and demographical characteristics.

scholarly journals Life Cycle Assessment and Indoor Environmental Quality of Wooden Family Houses

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (24) ◽  
pp. 10557
Author(s):  
Silvia Vilčeková ◽  
Katarína Harčárová ◽  
Andrea Moňoková ◽  
Eva Krídlová Burdová
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle Assessment ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Environmental Quality ◽  
Concrete Structures ◽  
Actual State ◽  
Indoor Environmental Quality ◽  
Suitable Alternative ◽  
Wooden Frame ◽  
The Creation ◽  
The Impact

This article analyzes in detail the impact of wooden houses on the environment using the life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology and at the same time evaluates the indoor environmental quality (IEQ) in these houses. The investigated detached family houses had a wooden structure. The first one had a bearing system made of a wooden frame; other materials were conventional. The second house was built entirely of log wood. Given the high risk of greenhouse gas emissions, the concentration of which in the atmosphere is causing global climate change, the global warming potential (GWP) indicator is crucial. According to results, the family house built entirely of wood and with a biomass boiler significantly reduces CO2 emissions and is therefore considered from the LCA point of view as a more suitable alternative compared to a house with a wooden frame structure. The building materials with the highest share involved in the creation of GWP include concrete structures (38–48%), ceramic roof tiles (33%) and plasterboard (15%). Plasterboard cladding (55%), concrete structures (17–19%), oriented strand board OSB (9–22%), impregnated wooden structures (31–52%) and plastic windows (9%) are the most involved in acidification potential (AP) and eutrophication potential (EP). Plasterboard structures (21%), impregnated wood materials (47.4%), reinforced concrete structures (12%) and mineral wool and roof tiles significantly contribute to the creation of photochemical ozone creation potential (POCP) and ozone depletion potential (ODP). The indoor environmental quality was evaluated through short-term measurements of basic physico-chemical parameters. Since both houses have different characteristics, the aim of this monitoring was to evaluate the actual state of IEQ in selected wooden houses under real conditions. Based on the recorded results, it can be stated that neither presented wooden house, in terms of thermal-humidity microclimate, concentration of CO2 and particulate matter, represents an environment with a negative impact on their occupants. With regards to volatile organic compounds (VOCs), the increased concentrations of xylenes and tetrachlorethylene in the log house were probably caused by the application of impregnation and protective coatings six months before monitoring. In this case, the concentration of tetrachloroethene, which is considered a potential carcinogen, was six times higher than the legislative limit. For VOCs, such as limonene, isobutylene and n-butylacetate, which were found in the wooden frame house, no limits are set. The legislative limits for xylenes and tetrachlorethylene in this house have not been exceeded, and therefore the IEQ cannot yet be considered harmful for health. The presence of all the mentioned VOCs in the interior air of the wooden frame house is more related to the activities of occupants, as this house has been inhabited for several years.

The impact of workspace location and indoor environmental quality on employees' satisfaction within office buildings: A case study in Cairo

2020 ◽  
pp. 1420326X2094456
Author(s):  
Ahmed Khaled Aboulfotouh ◽  
Osama Tolba ◽  
Sherif Ezzeldin
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Quality ◽  
Subjective Evaluation ◽  
Office Buildings ◽  
Indoor Environmental Quality ◽  
Ongoing Research ◽  
Leed Certification ◽  
Perceived Satisfaction ◽  
Employees Satisfaction ◽  
Survey Responses ◽  
The Impact

Indoor environmental quality (IEQ) could influences employees' satisfaction and performance in office buildings. Previous research have suggested that factors such as gender, age, proximity from a window could influence employees' perceived satisfaction with IEQ. This study as a part of an ongoing research attempts to investigate the impact of workspace location on employees' satisfaction with IEQ parameters and overall satisfaction with personal workspace within office buildings in Cairo. Employees' subjective evaluation of satisfaction with IEQ parameters were collected using a questionnaire as a post occupancy evaluation survey. Responses were collected and quantitatively analysed using software package used for statistical analysis (SPSS). Diversity in levels of satisfaction among employees within the same building was found highly sensitive to their workspace location. Building orientation and external views could influence employees' satisfaction with IEQ parameters and overall satisfaction with personal workspace. Employees with highest perceived satisfaction with IEQ parameters and overall satisfaction with personal workspace seem to prefer their workspaces to be located on the ground floor, away from a window, either in the middle of the building or on the southern façade and not overlooking the courtyard. The study recommends that Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification criteria should reconsider employees' satisfaction with IEQ parameters in developing IEQ credits and LEED certification process.

scholarly journals Study of impact of increased number of devotees on indoor environmental quality of heritage temples of goddess Mahalaxmi at Kolhapur, Maharashtra, India.

2020 ◽  
Vol 170 ◽  
pp. 05004
Author(s):  
Anjali Jadhav ◽  
Sushma Kulkarni ◽  
Ashish Rege
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Heritage ◽  
Environmental Quality ◽  
Natural Ventilation ◽  
Nasal Congestion ◽  
Good Condition ◽  
Indoor Environmental Quality ◽  
Standard Level ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Temple

India has a great cultural heritage of temples across the country. There is a wide variety of temples of variety of deities constructed from East to West and North to South of India. Most of the temples are built centuries ago and still are in good condition and the centre of cultural activities. Mahalaxmi temple precinct is a very old precinct in Kolhapur, built in 8th century by Chalukyan rulers. Every year lacs of devotees are visiting this temple of goddess Mahalaxmi from most of the part of India. The temple is constructed of basalt stone with beautiful intricate carving on it. This paper focus on indoor environmental quality of the temple which is deteriorated due to the impact of increased number of devotees. Some of the devotees face the problem of suffocation, fatigue, fainting, irritation, nasal congestion; as provision of vents are absent and natural ventilation is not available inside the shrine of goddess Mahalaxmi. Due to lack of air exchange and natural ventilation the indoor environmental quality is deteriorated. It is observed that the CO2 level is increased, decreased in O2 level, rise in temperature and humidity above the standard level causing discomfort.

scholarly journals The Comfort Map—A Possible Tool for Increasing Personal Comfort in Office Workplaces

Buildings ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 233
Author(s):  
Ágnes Borsos ◽  
Erzsébet Szeréna Zoltán ◽  
Éva Pozsgai ◽  
Balázs Cakó ◽  
Gabriella Medvegy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Comfort ◽  
Environmental Quality ◽  
Considerable Effect ◽  
Comfort Level ◽  
Office Building ◽  
Indoor Environmental Quality ◽  
Visual Comfort ◽  
Acoustic Comfort ◽  
Open Plan ◽  
Office Employees

Previous studies have shown that indoor environmental quality (IEQ) parameters may have a considerable effect on office employees’ comfort, health and performance. Therefore, we initiated a research program to help occupants identify IEQ parameters they perceive as risk factors for their health in an office and enhance their comfort levels in an office environment. Since we assumed that office employees might have different indoor environmental quality expectations related to their work area and that these differences could be measured, our objective was to develop an office ‘comfort map’ based on occupants’ individual IEQ preferences. Thus, the goal of the comfort map would be to help tailor office spaces to their occupants’ health and comfort expectations. The comfort survey was developed to assess the comfort-related opinions of the occupants, based on IEQ parameters (visual comfort, acoustic comfort, air quality and thermal comfort) of a chosen open-plan office building. The survey also assessed the degree to which the given IEQ parameter was considered a health risk factor by occupants or caused a negative comfort sensation for them. The survey was filled in by 216 occupants. The answers were then analyzed with the help of a frequency table depicting relative frequency. The measurements of IEQ parameters took place in an open-plan office in the chosen office building (a Hungarian subsidiary’s office building belonging to an international company in Budapest). The occupants had different opinions regarding the perceived effects of the IEQ parameters on their health and comfort. Almost two-thirds of the respondents (64.8%) were dissatisfied with the adjustability of the noises and sounds IEQ parameter at their workstation. Furthermore, half of the respondents (50.1%) were dissatisfied with the adjustability of ventilation. Most of the occupants (45.8%) considered noises and sounds as the IEQ parameter that had a negative effect on their health. There were also IEQ differences between different areas of the office space. Based on these results, a comfort map was developed for the office. The comfort map contains information about the IEQ characteristics of each workstation by depicting the thermal comfort, carbon dioxide, visual comfort and acoustic comfort characteristics of a given workstation on a relative scale. Based on the thermal, air, acoustic, and lighting differences between the workstations, occupants can select their preferred workstations when a desk-sharing system works. Although still in its pilot phase, the comfort map could increase the chances for office employees to find the workstation best suited to their IEQ expectations. This could improve occupants’ overall comfort level, which could in turn enhance occupants’ productivity and mental as well as physical health.

Impacts of Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) Elements on Residential Property Market: A Review

2015 ◽  
Vol 73 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Asmma’ Che Kasim ◽  
Megat Mohd Ghazali Megat Abdul Rahman ◽  
Maryanti Mohd Raid
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Quality ◽  
Market Price ◽  
Residential Building ◽  
Green Building ◽  
Real Estate Market ◽  
Residential Property ◽  
Indoor Environmental Quality ◽  
Property Market ◽  
Property Price ◽  
The Impact

Indoor environmental quality (IEQ) is among six criteria of Green Building Index (GBI) that need to be achieved by building owner in order to recognize their building as ‘green’ in Malaysia. The benefit of IEQ is to create conducive environment for human health. Besides influenced their overall image, leasing and resale value of the buildings, does indoor environmental quality (IEQ) features will give impact on real estate market in terms of price and rental particularly for residential building property? Therefore, this paper will review the broad literature regarding the impacts of indoor environmental quality (IEQ) for residential building property and its implication to towards property price and rental. The early hypothesis of this paper anticipates that indoor environmental quality (IEQ) features will indirectly increase residential property market price and rental. From this paper, it is hope that the positive impacts of these features will encourage building owners, developers and other main development actors to put these criteria into the same consideration as other criteria in GBI as one of the way to compensate the impact of the building towards economic, environment and social.

scholarly journals The Framework Model for the Implementation of Collaborative and Interactive Learning in the University Classroom

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammed Alhaji Mohammed ◽  
Adel A. Abdou
Keyword(s):  
Instructional Technology ◽  
Student Performance ◽  
Environmental Quality ◽  
Interactive Learning ◽  
Indoor Environmental Quality ◽  
Student Learning Outcome ◽  
Framework Model ◽  
Set Up ◽  
The University ◽  
The Impact

Today, colleges and universities recognize that, to employ and retain good students and highest level of academic  staffing for the best student comprehension, the provision of contemporary and highly equipped instructional facilities is essential. This paper discusses the impact of the indoor environmental quality; the instructional technology; the physical set up of the university classroom; and the emerging teaching/learning pedagogies on students' performance. It is established that, these four factors have a significant effects on student learning outcome. The study also presents a comprehensive and critical review of literature on the nature of the university classroom for collaboraive and interactive learning, with the aim of providing an enabling environment of higher learning in the universities. The research suggests that improving the three influential components i.e. the indoor environmental quality, the instructional technology and the physical set up will help in enhancing student performance and productivity. The study concluded by establishing a systematic framework model for the implementation of the collaboraive and interactive learning in the university classroom.

scholarly journals The impact of interior construction on the indoor environmental quality

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 103-112
Author(s):  
Katarína Harčárová ◽  
Silvia Vilčeková
Keyword(s):  
Particulate Matter ◽  
Surface Treatment ◽  
Environmental Quality ◽  
Initial Phase ◽  
Indoor Environment ◽  
Indoor Environmental Quality ◽  
Final Phase ◽  
Operative Temperature ◽  
The Impact

AbstractThe presented paper deals with the evaluation of the indoor environmental quality (IEQ) in two apartment units in different phases of interior construction. The first apartment is in the initial phase of an unfurnished apartment and the second in the final phase of a fully furnished apartment. The results of IEQ monitoring indicate that in terms of thermal-humidity microclimate, the required legislative limits were met and the differences between the unfurnished and the fully furnished apartment were minimal. Only the operative temperature values were not in the legislative range. The average particulate matter (PM) concentrations of the two representative fractions (PM2.5 and PM10) were 21.10 μg/m3 and 564.72 μg/m3 for the unfurnished apartment and 4.67 μg/m3 and 68.15 μg/m3 for the furnished apartment. The legislative limit of 50 μg/m3 for PM10 was therefore significantly exceeded, especially in the case of an unfurnished apartment in the initial phase. The average TVOC concentration expressed in toluene equivalents was 1955 μg/m3 in a furnished apartment and 910 μg/m3 in an unfurnished apartment. Both of these values exceeded Mølhave’s recommended limit of 200 μg/m3. The presence of xylenes (51.19 μg/m3) and ethylbenzene (17.27 μg/m3) was detected in an unfurnished apartment. In addition to xylenes (171.63 μg/m3) and ethylbenzene (79.25 μg/m3), toluene (78.34 μg/m3) was also present in the furnished apartment. The concentrations of these compounds were below the legislative limits, except for ethylbenzene for which no legislative limits are set. The above results show that further surface treatment and furnishing of the apartment contribute to the increase of the VOC levels in the indoor environment. In the case of unfurnished apartment, workers are exposed not only to elevated concentrations of TVOC but also to elevated concentrations of PM10 and should therefore pay attention to the protection and safety of health during the work.

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