Poster presented at the 2010 BECC conference

1. Introduction Methods
A building’s energy signature and general environmental
impact are highly dependent on the behavior of the High Performance Refers to People Too Occupant Focused Approach
• Ethnographic Evaluations
occupants and O&M personnel. Conversely, occupant Surveys Interviews Observations
satisfaction, productivity, and health are highly dependent
on the nature of the building they occupy and how it is
Marcel Harmon — M.E. Group, Inc., Kansas City, MO 64111
operated and maintained. Any High Performance / LEED /
Green facility that doesn’t actively take these reciprocal Human Factors and Sustainability • Analysis of Contextual Relationships
relationships into account isn’t truly “high performance”. • Measuring & Estimating:
Daylighting - Compared to little or no daylighting, Personal Control - Increased tenant environmental control
classrooms with large amounts of daylighting have been have been found to provide average measured workforce o Occupant Impact on Building Performance
But where are the people? found to increase the rate of student learning by: productivity gains of: o Occupant Satisfaction & Engagement
• 20% in math • 7.1% with lighting control, o Occupant Performance/Productivity
• 26% in reading • 1.8% with ventilation control, and o Occupant Health Related Costs
Source: Heschong Mahone Group. 1999. Daylighting in Schools: An Investigation into the Relationship Between Daylight and Human
Performance. Report submitted to Pacific Gas and Electric. http://www.h-m-g.com. • 1.2% with thermal control. • Integration of this Process Into:
Source: Kats, G., L. Alevantis, A. Berman, E. Mills, and J. Perlman. 2003. The Costs and Financial Benefits of Green Building: A Report to California’s
Sustainable Building Task Force.
o Programming/Planning and Design
o Retrocommissioining
Relevant Human Factor Examples Thermal Comfort – Discomfort represented by non-
o Post Occupancy Evaluations
Edward Gonzales Elementary School: POE optimal temperature ranges have been shown to
decrease occupant performance / productivity on either o Operations and Maintenance
Daylighting Quality & Energy Consumption
• Segmented light shelf allowed direct sunlight to side of the optimal temperature range by up to 9%. Final recommendations take the form of:
Source: Seppänen, O., W. J. Fisk, and Q. H. Lei. 2006. Effect of Temperature on Task Performance in Office Environment. Publication No. LBNL-
penetrate south classrooms and create glare 60946. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory , Berkeley, CA.
Source: Wargocki, P. and O. Seppänen, editors. 2006. Indoor Climate and Productivity in Offices, Guidebook No. 6. Rehva (Federation of 1) individual occupant/maintenance personnel behavior
European Heating and Air-Conditioning Associations), Brussels, Belgium.
problems; as a result blinds are closed and lights modification,
turned on. Conrad Duberstein U.S. Post Office & Courthouse: Retrocommissioning+ 2) facility/design modification, and/or
Reflected Daylight 3) company/organizational policy modification.
Image by Trey Hedden, McGovern Institute for Brain Research at MIT
Clerestory Window Personal Control
Unwritten Rules of Interaction Suspended
• Being cold is the # 1 complaint.
Space Heater
PLANNING
Fluorescent
Personal Space Boundaries Fixture
• Personal space heaters used to gain control over
Segmented Light
Organizational Policies Shelf, Composed of space temperature.
Linear Slats Separated INVESTIGATIVE PHASE
Decision Making Process by Small Gaps • Additional electrical load estimated at $14,000 -
Clothing Style Preferences FIELDWORK ANALYSIS INITIAL
Direct Sunlight $26,600 annually.
Group Dynamics Entering Through Gaps ASSESSMENT
(See Associated Percentage of Each Gender's Responses
Pattern on Wall)
80%
70%
60%
50%
Source: Harmon, M. J. and R. D. Leonard. 2007. A Post Occupancy Evaluation of the Edward Gonzales Elementary School,
Albuquerque Public School District, Albuquerque, NM. Prepared for The New Mexico Public School Facility Authority, by 40% 74% IMPLEMENTATION PHASE
Human Inquiry. Professional report in possession of client. 30%
20% 43% 41%
10% 16% 23%
14% 6% 9%
0%
OWNER HANDOFF
Comfortable
Comfortable
Cool/Cold
Warm/Hot
Cool/Cold
Warm/Hot
Hot & Cold Variation
Hot & Cold Variation
Types of Communication
Education Levels/Type Source: http://www.yankodesign.com/2009/12/22/always-take-
Baca/Dlo'ay azhi Community School: POE Conclusion
the-stairs/
Perception of Personal Control Types of Communication Cultural Conflict with LEED A truly high performance building also refers to the
Attitudes • Placing the media center
Men's Responses Women's Responses performance, well being, and satisfaction of its occupants.
Habits (and the story pit) at the Thermal Comfort Issues Insuring this requires a systematic accounting of occupant
Health/Fitness Levels very center – emphasizes • Productivity/performance loss due to temperature needs / behavior during design, evaluation, and
the importance of variability: $67,500 annually. operations. Otherwise the intended energy savings, GHG
knowledge in Navajo • Productivity loss from contacting O&M: $825,000 reductions and general quality of the occupant experience
will not be achieved.
Ignore Human Factors & … culture. annually.
Some Estimated Annual Performance/Productivity & Health
• But also eliminated view Psychological
• Energy Performance Below Expectations Savings Resulting from ECMs
glass.
• Water Usage Above Expectations $6,000,000 Recommended ECMs' Estimated
Occupant
Savings
• Recycling Programs Not Meeting Expectations Source: Harmon, M. J. and R. D. Leonard. 2005. A Post Occupancy Evaluation of the Baca/Dlo'ay azhi Community School,
Prewitt, NM. PowerPoint Presentation Prepared for The New Mexico Public School Facility Authority, by Human Inquiry. $5,000,000 Annual Productivity Losses Due to
Social / Cultural
Behavior Physiological
Presentation in possession of client. & Needs
• Building Wear/Tear Above Expectations Distracting Noises:
$4,000,000 $3,569,000 Annual Productivity Losses Due to
• Carbon Footprint Above Expectations Limited Daylighting and Exterior
Views:
• Tenant Complaints & Turnover Rates Above Expectations $3,000,000 Annual Productivity Losses Due to
Occupancy Sensors: Building &
• Low Levels of Occupant Productivity/Performance Net Zero and Behavior $2,000,000 Annual Productivity Losses Due to Organization' Occupant O&M Policies
Lack of, or Limited, Personal Lighting Policies &
• Absenteeism Above Expectations Encouraging Energy Conserving Behavior Control:
Annual Productivity Losses Resulting
Procedures Performance & Procedures
$1,000,000
• Sick Building Syndrome Symptoms Above Expectations • Transparency and Competition: Add Point-of-Use,
$872,284 From Low Ventilation Rates: & Health
Annual Productivity Losses Attributed
• Employee Turnover Rates Real-time and Recordable Energy Meters at
$0
Productivity / Health Savings Building System ECM Savings
to Short Term Sick Leave Resulting
From Low Ventilation Rates:
Above Expectations Individual Workstations, in classrooms, etc. -$1,000,000
• Community Perceptions Source: M.E. Group, Inc. Retro-Commissioning Final Report for the Conrad Duberstein U.S. Courthouse and Post Office Building, NY0399ZZ, Brooklyn, NY. Prepared for the
General Services Administration by M.E. Group, Inc. Report in possession of client. Building’s
Environment
of Facility Low
Decision Making Processes
Long Term vs. Short Term Benefits
• Research suggests that the more people who have a say in the
Source: M.E. Group, Inc. 2010. Retro-Commissioning Final Report for the Conrad Duberstein U.S. Courthouse and Post Office Building,
NY0399ZZ, Brooklyn, NY. Prepared for the General Services Administration by M.E. Group, Inc. Report in possession of client.
decisions involved in a building project (particularly earlier in the
Source: Burgess, J. and M. Nye. 2008. Re-materialising Energy Use Through Transparent Monitoring Systems. Energy Policy 36:4454-
design process), the more likely it will be designed and built
4459.
sustainably (LEED or otherwise), all else being equal. For further information
• Incorporating productivity and health benefits directly into Please contact marcel.harmon@megroup.com and visit
Source: Turner, C. and M. Frankel 2008. Energy Performance of LEED for
New Construction Buildings. New Buildings Institute. LCCAs. www.megroup.com.