Fundamentals of IEQ and Occupant Needs

The first step toward occupant-centric building design and operation is a fundamental understanding of the relationship between the built environment, indoor environmental quality (IEQ), and occupant needs for health, well-being, and productivity. This chapter starts with an overview of occupant needs, from physiological needs to self-esteem. Individual needs are linked to elements of the indoor built environment, including the four main domains of IEQ parameters: thermal, visual, acoustic, and indoor air quality. This overview is followed by a summary of mechanisms, from sensory input to human perception and from human perception to occupant behavior. The second part of this chapter looks at existing standards and how they incorporate the large body of scientific evidence presented in the first part of the chapter. The final part of this chapter addresses three selected topics that are still open discussions in the research community and need further work before conclusions can be drawn. The three topics are perceived control, the relationship between IEQ and energy, and the interaction between individual sensory domains.