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Building-Related Symptoms, Energy, and Thermal Control in the Workplace: Personal and Open Plan Offices

Author

Listed:
  • Sally S. Shahzad

    (School of Engineering and Technology, University of Derby, Derby, DE22 3AW, UK)

  • John Brennan

    (Edinburgh School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture, Edinburgh College of Art, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH1 1JZ, UK)

  • Dimitris Theodossopoulos

    (Edinburgh School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture, Edinburgh College of Art, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH1 1JZ, UK)

  • Ben Hughes

    (Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK)

  • John Kaiser Calautit

    (Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK)

Abstract

This study compared building-related symptoms in personal and open plan offices, where high and low levels of control over the thermal environment were provided, respectively. The individualized approach in Norway provided every user with a personal office, where they had control over an openable window, door, blinds, and thermostat. In contrast, the open plan case studies in the United Kingdom provided control over openable windows and blinds only for limited occupants seated around the perimeter of the building, with users seated away from the windows having no means of environmental control. Air conditioning was deployed in the Norwegian case study buildings, while displacement ventilation and natural ventilation were utilized in the British examples. Field studies of thermal comfort were applied with questionnaires, environmental measurements, and interviews. Users’ health was better in the Norwegian model (28%), while the British model was much more energy efficient (up to 10 times). The follow-up interviews confirmed the effect of lack of thermal control on users’ health. A balanced appraisal was made of energy performance and users’ health between the two buildings.

Suggested Citation

  • Sally S. Shahzad & John Brennan & Dimitris Theodossopoulos & Ben Hughes & John Kaiser Calautit, 2016. "Building-Related Symptoms, Energy, and Thermal Control in the Workplace: Personal and Open Plan Offices," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(4), pages 1-20, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:8:y:2016:i:4:p:331-:d:67678
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Jaakkola, J.J.K. & Tuomaala, P. & Seppanen, O., 1994. "Air recirculation and sick building syndrome: A blinded crossover trial," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 84(3), pages 422-428.
    2. Singh, Manoj Kumar & Mahapatra, Sadhan & Atreya, S.K., 2011. "Adaptive thermal comfort model for different climatic zones of North-East India," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 88(7), pages 2420-2428, July.
    3. Mendell, M.J. & Smith, A.H., 1990. "Consistent pattern of elevated symptoms in air-conditioned office buildings: A reanalysis of epidemiologic studies," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 80(10), pages 1193-1199.
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    Cited by:

    1. Hiroko Nakaoka & Norimichi Suzuki & Akifumi Eguchi & Daisuke Matsuzawa & Chisato Mori, 2022. "Impact of Exposure to Indoor Air Chemicals on Health and the Progression of Building-Related Symptoms: A Case Report," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-13, November.
    2. Paulina Wegertseder-Martínez, 2023. "The Need for a Paradigm Shift toward an Occupant-Centered Environmental Control Model," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-21, March.
    3. Shahzad, Sally & Calautit, John Kaiser & Aquino, Angelo I. & Nasir, Diana S.N.M. & Hughes, Ben Richard, 2017. "A user-controlled thermal chair for an open plan workplace: CFD and field studies of thermal comfort performance," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 207(C), pages 283-293.
    4. Olivia James & Paul Delfabbro & Daniel L. King, 2021. "A Comparison of Psychological and Work Outcomes in Open-Plan and Cellular Office Designs: A Systematic Review," SAGE Open, , vol. 11(1), pages 21582440209, January.
    5. Barbara Mayer & Michaela Killian & Martin Kozek, 2017. "Hierarchical Model Predictive Control for Sustainable Building Automation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(2), pages 1-20, February.
    6. Fei Xue & Zhonghua Gou & Stephen Siu Yu Lau, 2016. "Human Factors in Green Office Building Design: The Impact of Workplace Green Features on Health Perceptions in High-Rise High-Density Asian Cities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(11), pages 1-16, October.
    7. Kalmár, Tünde & Szodrai, Ferenc & Kalmár, Ferenc, 2022. "Experimental study of local effectiveness in the case of balanced mechanical ventilation in small offices," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 244(PA).
    8. Sergio Bustamante & Pablo Castro & Alberto Laso & Mario Manana & Alberto Arroyo, 2017. "Smart Thermostats: An Experimental Facility to Test Their Capabilities and Savings Potential," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(8), pages 1-18, August.

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