The Impact of Indoor Environmental Quality on Occupant Satisfaction in Commercial Buildings: A Comparison of Building Expert Opinions and Residents’ Experiences

Fatemeh Mokhtariyan Sorkhan, Soheil Roumi (), Mohammad Soltanzadeh Zarandi and Mohammad Ali Ashraf Ganjouei
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Fatemeh Mokhtariyan Sorkhan: Department of Art and Architecture, Shahid Bahonar University, Kerman 7616913439, Iran
Soheil Roumi: School of Engineering and Built Environment, Griffith University, Southport, QLD 4222, Australia
Mohammad Soltanzadeh Zarandi: Department of Art and Architecture, Shahid Bahonar University, Kerman 7616913439, Iran
Mohammad Ali Ashraf Ganjouei: Department of Art and Architecture, Shahid Bahonar University, Kerman 7616913439, Iran

Energies, 2024, vol. 17, issue 6, 1-15

Abstract: This paper investigates the Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) factors influencing occupant satisfaction in commercial buildings in Iran, contrasting the views of building experts (architects and engineers) with those of building occupants. Employing the fuzzy analytical hierarchy process (FAHP), this study focuses on the four primary IEQ factors: thermal comfort, indoor air quality, visual comfort, and acoustic comfort. The study aims to bridge the gap between expert evaluations and occupant perceptions of IEQ factors in commercial buildings in Iran. By examining the disparities in prioritising IEQ factors between these two groups, the study sheds light on the complexities of IEQ assessment and highlights the importance of considering diverse perspectives in optimising indoor environments. Our methodology includes a survey conducted among 30 building experts (15 architects and 15 building engineers) and 102 occupants, employing FAHP to derive the relative importance weights of each IEQ factor. The results highlight significant disparities between architects, engineers, and occupants in prioritising these factors. Architects emphasise visual comfort (42%), while engineers and occupants view thermal comfort (53% and 41%) as the most crucial factor for occupant satisfaction. The study underscores the complexity of IEQ in commercial buildings and the diverse perspectives influencing its assessment. It contributes to the broader discourse on optimising IEQ, emphasising the need for a comprehensive approach that encompasses both technical expertise and occupant experience.

Keywords: indoor environmental quality; fuzzy AHP; weighting system; thermal comfort; decision analysis; air quality; commercial buildings (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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