A Discussion on the Social Factors Affecting Indoor Environment Quality

摘要

This paper assesses the effect that the social structure of an office may have on an individual's behaviour with regards to their thermal comfort and indoor environment quality (IEQ). Combining the methodologies of Human Computer Interaction (HCI) and social sciences, semi-structured interviews were undertaken with 23 people from 12 naturally ventilated offices. Discussions focused on the social order of their office, the way indoor environment quality (IEQ) was managed in their building and to what extent poor IEQ impacted their work. The findings from this paper suggest that social norms, human interactions and a degree of separation between occupant and building control can complicate otherwise rational actions towards improving IEQ or personal thermal comfort. Some implications for indoor air research are provided, including the importance of considering these social factors in design and the potential for further collaborations with HCI and the social sciences.