The objective of this study was to find out how perceived control and access to control options like operable windows and thermostats affect the comfort and health of European office workers. For this, the Health Optimisation Protocol for Energy-efficient Buildings database was re-analysed. Statistical analyses were conducted to find out what the impact is of available controls on perceived control of building occupants. Furthermore, the effect of perceived control on comfort and health (building-related symptoms) of building occupants was determined. Overall, no significant correlations were found between available controls and perceived control. Solar shading, however, was an exception. On the other hand, between perceived control and comfort or health, multiple significant correlations were found. Occupants are more comfortable in buildings in which the amount of perceived control over temperature, ventilation and noise is high. Perceived control also has an impact on the incidence of building related symptoms, also if one looks at combinations of perceived control (e.g. control over temperature and ventilation).

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In this study satisfaction with thermal indoor climate among Dutch train personnel has been investigated. In two types of Dutch trains 113 train drivers and 122 ticket inspectors were questioned about perceived thermal indoor climate in summer. Analysis of the data showed that the level of dissatisfaction with thermal indoor climate was found to be higher than 10% for the ticket inspectors of train type A&B and the train drivers of train type A. No dissatisfaction with thermal indoor climate was found among the train drivers of train type B. The perceived thermal comfort was found to be significantly worse in train type A when compared to train type B (2-sided p = 0,017). Moreover the perceived thermal comfort of train drivers was found to be significantly better than the perceived thermal comfort of ticket inspectors (2-sided p < 0,005). The most reported reason for dissatisfaction with thermal indoor climate among train drivers was insufficient control on ventilation, airspeed and cooling. Ticket inspectors reported temperature differences between passenger cars / passenger cabins as main reason for dissatisfaction with thermal indoor climate. Moreover our findings suggest that the higher level of dissatisfaction among ticket inspectors in comparison to train drivers is caused by the lack of personal control on temperature and the strict clothing protocol for ticket inspectors.@en

The objective of this study was to find out how perceived control and access to control options like operable windows and thermostats affects comfort and health of European office workers. For this, the HOPE database was re-analyzed which contains data from indoor environmental quality surveys with around 6200 employees in 60 office buildings that are placed all over Europe. Statistical analyses were conducted to find out what the impact is of available controls on the perceived control of building occupants. Furthermore the effect of perceived control on comfort and health was determined. No significant relation was found between available controls and perceived control apart from available solar shading. Between perceived control and comfort or health, multiple significant correlations were found. Our findings suggest that designing future office buildings with the right mix of controls will lead to healthier and more comfortable building occupants.@en

In other sciences like chemistry and computer technology information graphics (infographics) are used to present research outcomes. Since humans tend to search for patterns and structure to interpret their environment, infographics are very effective in communicating combinations of different research results. Considering the complexity of indoor climate surveys, infographics might be an effective way of communicating indoor climate survey results with laymen like building occupants. However at this moment it is unclear what makes or is a suitable infographic. The objective of this study was to find out what graphical presentation methods (infographics) are most effective for the presentation of indoor climate investigation results to building owners and occupants Therefore infographics which are currently used by professionals to communicate indoor climate survey results, will be collected during Healthy Buildings 2012. Through a selection procedure described in this paper the most suitable infographics will be selected and presented at Indoor Air 2014.@en

We questioned 1818 employees of 22 Dutch office buildings about their perception of the indoor environmental quality at their workplace. In this study the data concerning the perception of personal control, perception of indoor climate, and building related illnesses was analyzed. Aim of the study was to investigate the impact of perceived personal control in Dutch offices on perceived health and comfort. Analysis showed a significant (p < 0.05) increased risk of complaints regarding thermal comfort during winter and summer when personal control over the room temperature was 'not possible' or was 'possible but ineffective'. The absence of effective openable windows was related to a significant increased risk of complaints over the indoor air quality and an increased risk of building related symptoms. Our findings suggest that a lack of effective personal control over the indoor climate increases the risk of complaints of building occupants regarding health and comfort.@en