@article {367, title = {Perceived health and comfort in relation to energy use
and building characteristics}, journal = {Building Research \& Information}, volume = {34}, number = {5}, year = {2006}, pages = {467-474}, abstract = {

Within the European research project Health Optimisation Protocol for Energy-efficient Building (HOPE), 96 apartment
buildings and 64 office buildings (of which approximately 75\% have been designed to be energy-efficient) were
investigated. The building characteristics were assessed according to a checklist during a walk-through survey.
Occupant questionnaires were used to determine satisfaction about comfort (thermal visual, acoustical and indoor air
quality (IAQ)) and their health (Sick Building Syndrome and allergies). Building-averaged collected data are
compared, looking for correlations between building characteristics on one hand, and perceived comfort and health
on the other hand. Strong correlations are found between perceived IAQ, thermal, acoustic and lighting comfort,
confirming results from other studies. Significant correlations between the perceived comfort and building related
symptoms were also found, comfortable and healthier buildings being well distinct from uncomfortable ones.
Differences of perceived comfort or health between low- and high-energy buildings show that it is possible to design
buildings that are healthy, comfortable and energy efficient.

}, keywords = {building assessment, comfort, energy efficiency, indoor environment, occupant perception, satisfaction}, author = {Roulet, C-A. and Johner, N. and Foradini, F. and Bluyssen, P. and Cox, C. and De, E. and Fernandes, O. and M{\"u}ller, B. and Aizlewood, C.} }