Evaluating comfort and well-being: A post-occupancy approach for improvements – Insights from 10 residential case studies

Abstract

Indoor building environments influence people’s comfort and well-being. These concepts are increasingly being studied comprehensively, and various methods exist to assess them, such as post-occupancy evaluations. This study aims to develop a methodology to identify comfort and well-being parameters that, according to the occupants, require improvement and to suggest improvement measures. The research was conducted in ten dwellings in Portugal. Data collection involved a survey applied in winter and summer, along with indoor temperature measurements over a year. After this data collection, a methodology was developed to categorise comfort and well-being parameters into three priority classes. The results indicate that the proposed method can be applied to different case studies with varying characteristics and occupants. Based on occupant feedback, comfort and well-being parameters that require improvement were identified, allowing the proposal of measures to improve indoor environments. Some measures impact multiple comfort and well-being parameters while influencing energy consumption. Passive solutions or measures that minimise energy use and mitigate increases in energy costs were prioritised. Some of the proposed measures were not initially considered a priority by the occupants. Still, they were recommended as they address specific problems or sources of dissatisfaction identified during the study.