Indoor environmental quality and occupants’ productivity: Suggestions to enhance national green certification criteria
Built Environment Project and Asset Management
ISSN: 2044-124X
Article publication date: 7 November 2016
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to determine the relationship between indoor environmental quality (IEQ) and occupants’ productivity improvements in green buildings in order to propose probable enhancements of national green certification criteria.
Design/methodology/approach
Survey approach was selected under quantitative phenomenon. Hence, questionnaire survey was selected as a primary data collection technique. It was linked to semi-structured interviews to validate survey results. The survey data were analysed by using nonparametric statistical analysis techniques, such as significance testing and Spearman’s correlation. Statistical Package for the Social Science (SPSS) v.20 statistical analysis software was used in data analysis.
Findings
Seven factors were identified as significant factors which showed statistically significant monotonic correlation to major IEQ dimensions. Among those, air quality and acoustical partitioning factors confirmed a statistically significant weak positive monotonic correlation, whilst system control showed strongly positive monotonic correlation to occupants’ productivity in green buildings.
Practical implications
The findings can be practically implied as a basis to review the existing evaluation criteria of IEQ in national green certification system to propose probable enhancements.
Originality/value
The significant IEQ factors influencing occupants’ productivity were determined as the focal point of this research. Accordingly, new provisions were proposed to enhance the national green certification criteria.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors acknowledge assistance rendered by the head of Department, senior lecturers, lecturers and other staff members of the Department of Building Economics, University of Moratuwa. The authors also express their gratitude to all practitioners in the industry who contributed to this study with many helpful comments.
Citation
Mallawaarachchi, H., De Silva, L. and Rameezdeen, R. (2016), "Indoor environmental quality and occupants’ productivity: Suggestions to enhance national green certification criteria", Built Environment Project and Asset Management, Vol. 6 No. 5, pp. 462-477. https://doi.org/10.1108/BEPAM-09-2015-0046
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2016, Emerald Group Publishing Limited