Definition of specific comfort parameters, indoor environmental and architectural quality: Evaluated by Danish single-family homeowners

In the coming years, the European building sector faces a large challenge in reducing the energy consumption and CO ₂ emission. To reach these targets private homeowners must participate by renovating their buildings, but various barriers prevent them from conducting extensive energy renovations. Studies have, nonetheless, shown that improvements in indoor environment, comfort and architecture can motivate the Danish homeowners. This paper examines which elements of respective indoor environment and comfort the homeowners would find essential, and which level of architectural changes they would prefer for renovation. The presented results were derived from a survey conducted in January 2012 where 883 homeowners completed a questionnaire about energy renovation, indoor environment, comfort and architecture. For good indoor environment and comfort ‘stable temperature at a comfortable level’, ‘good and plenty daylight’, ‘the ability to open windows and get fresh air inside’, ‘optimal lay-out’ and ‘no draught’ were found to be most crucial. Preferably, the architecture should undergo some changes, but the original style of the house should be respected. The homeowners’ stage in their life cycle (life-cycle situation) is the key element to consider when motivating them to perform an energy renovation since this stage can affect their motivation.