Hellwig, R T (2015) Perceived control in indoor environments: A conceptual approach. Building Research & Information, 43(3), pp. 302-315. ISSN 0961-3218
Abstract
Building automation systems provide the potential to optimize the energy consumption of buildings as well as to detect failures in the operation of buildings. The system comprising building form-HVAC-building automation-user is becoming more complex. Providing the occupants with control over the indoor environment is widely accepted for its positive effect on their satisfaction. This paper explores what the term 'perceived control' means conceptually and draws implications for its application to the design and management of buildings. Personality- and environmental-psychology emphasize the importance of personal control to humans. The adaptive model of thermal comfort, findings from post-occupancy evaluations and surveys in real buildings also indicate the importance of high levels of perceived control. These models and findings exist in parallel and have not yet been interconnected and translated into models for the built environment. A new conceptual approach to explain perceived control is proposed. Satisfaction with the indoor environment occurs not only when 'comfort' is provided but also immediately after a successful control action, even if homeostasis has not yet been achieved (pleasure). Giving control to occupants can result in higher levels of satisfaction.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | adaptive comfort; behaviour; building performance; indoor environmental quality; occupant satisfaction; perceived control; usability |
| Index terms: | occupant satisfaction, building performance, comfort, survey, energy consumption, indoor environmental quality, personal control, adaptive comfort, personality, psychology, post-occupancy evaluation, usability, building automation, built environment, perceived control, indoor environment, satisfaction, adaptive model, becoming, thermal comfort |
| Subjects: | environmental engineering, project delivery, energy systems, evaluation methods, infrastructure and transport systems, behavioral psychology, data collection methods, philosophical process, quality assurance, occupational health and safety management, user-centered design, automation and robotics, environmental science, environmental health, human factors |
| Topics: | Engineering Principles, Sustainability, Project Management, Design Practice, Health and Safety, Research Practice, Digital Applications, Urban Studies, Quality Management |
| Descriptive scope: | 3 PCE |
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