Perception of Indoor Environment Conditions in Non- Residential Buildings: A case study in Greece and Serbia

Abstract

The building sector is responsible for almost 40% of the primary energy consumed in Europe, with the non-residential sector characterized as a main consumer with office and educational buildings being the most populous. As determined by the existing institutional framework, the attainment of high indoor environmental conditions is vital for the sustainability of the buildings and its users. As stated by international standards, indoor environment conditions can affect the well-being and productivity of its users and therefore, proper care should be given. In this line of approach, a numerical evaluation of indoor environment quality is carried out in an office and an educational building in Thessaloniki, Greece, and Belgrade, Serbia, respectively. Those cities are chosen as their climate conditions are representative of the Mediterranean climate in the Balkan Region. In order to carry out the indoor environment evaluation, a series of indoor condition sensors were installed and measurements were carried out during winter and summer period. Apart from the indoor climate sensors, a meteorological station was set up in the area for monitoring the microclimate conditions. In parallel to the measurements, a revealed preference survey was conducted, aiming to demonstrate the occupants’ perception of indoor conditions. The results collected by this study constitute a description of the monitored and perceived indoor environmental quality of typical examples for public buildings in the Balkan region, denoting the approach of the users in each case. They are therefore valuable, as they can be used both to assess and improve the prevailing conditions of the existing building stock in every country and to demonstrate possible similarities among the building stocks of neighbouring countries.