Using Post Occupancy Evaluation To refine and Improve Utility Building Efficiency Programs

摘要

This paper summarizes the results of research that analyzed the relationship between occupant comfort and environmental satisfaction with an electric utility's new building construction and renovation energy efficiency incentive program. Major changes in design practice or the upgrade of current buildings to be more energy efficient has become an institutional goal for many private and public institutions in order to reduce operating costs. But are we paying enough attention to occupant efficiency and comfort? Post Occupancy Evaluation (POE) of occupant's environmental satisfaction was undertaken to provide the electric utility and the building design and operation community with feedback from occupants related to energy efficiency measures. Specifically, this research examined two of Idaho Power Company's (IPC) prescriptive energy efficiency incentive programs.. Some measures, such as Daylight Photo-controls and High Performance Windows revealed significant differences in occupant satisfaction ratings between occupants in buildings that had the measures and those that did not. While causal links can not be drawn, occupants in buildings with High Performance Windows had higher satisfaction with the temperature in their work area (p=0.0106, μ_(Group1)=3.76, μ_(Group2)=4.69). Occupants rated buildings that had installed exterior window shading higher than those that did not better for both amount of glare reflected on the computer screen (p=0.0064, μ_(Group1)=5.09, μ_(Group2)=5.64) and for the aesthetic appearance of their office (p=0.0002, μ_(Group1)=5.16, μ_(Group2)=5.94). Though these two measures indicated an improvement in occupant comfort not all measures show higher satisfaction levels. Occupants in buildings with Daylight photo-controls showed a decrease in satisfaction with frequency of distractions (p=0.0456, μ_(Group1)=4.12, (μ_(Group2)=3.59) and also with their ability to alter their work environment (p=0.0379, μ_(Group1)=4.16, μ_(Group2)=3.59). The information provided by the study may help to guide improvements of current incentive programs and individual measures, or be the genesis of new incentive measures. Further investigation of specific measures should be conducted to find causal links between the satisfaction results and specific buildings or installations.