Architects' perceptions of LEED indoor environmental quality checklist items on employee productivity

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification and the application of associated design checklists are becoming increasingly common in contemporary building design and construction. At the time of the study, the United States Green Building Council's (USGBC) website stated that, from 2001 to 2003, there was a 467% increase in USGBC membership, a 162% increase in certification, and a 77% increase in registered projects. The website also noted that approximately 12% of new commercial spaces were LEED certified (USGBC, 2002). Research literature reports that most employees spend 80% of their day indoors and that the indoor environment may be up to 10 times more polluted than outdoor air. Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ), therefore, may directly affect a person's health and productivity. Despite the potential impact of poor IEQ on employees, few studies have been able to make a direct association between specific IEQ items and their impact on productivity. This study reviews of each of the 17 components that comprise the LEED IEQ checklist and investigates architects' perceptions of checklist components on employee productivity. Although this study was based on the LEED Version 2.1, the components of the current New Construction Version 2.2 (2005) are essentially the same.