Authors: Gossauer, Elke; Wagner, Andreas

Source: Advances in Building Energy Research, Volume 1, Number 1, 2007 , pp. 151-175(25)

Publisher: Earthscan

Abstract:

Building occupants are a valuable source of information on building performance as well as indoor environmental quality and their effects on comfort and productivity. A large number of different studies have been carried out over recent decades focusing on various aspects of the broad field of comfort, well-being and health at workplaces. Two main methodical approaches can be identified analysing the history of comfort research: laboratory tests in climate chambers, and field tests in running buildings. Advantages and disadvantages of both approaches are pointed out in this paper and some of the most well-known studies from Europe and the US are described with respect to their specific objectives and methodologies. No difference is made between pure comfort field studies and more general post-occupancy evaluations because the borderline is vague in most cases and the purpose of this paper is to collect as much useful information as possible on comfort research methods. A current study on overall comfort at workplaces introduces a new multivariate approach, including building-related and further contextual parameters.

Keywords: comfort research methods; post-occupancy evaluation; workplace; comfort parameters; thermal comfort; indoor climate; general satisfaction

Document Type: Research article

Publication date: 2007-01-01

More about this publication?

• Editor in Chief: Mat Santamouris, University of Athens, Greece

  This annual volume brings together invited contributions from the foremost international experts on energy efficiency and environmental quality of buildings. Offering state-of-the-art information on the environmental science and performance of buildings, the journal also links new technologies and methodologies with the latest research on systems, simulations and standards.

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