Building performance diagnoses using post occupancy evaluation for low energy office building practices

Abstract

Sustainable environment trend of future directions is toward Low Energy Office (LEO) buildings. There are some shortcomings observed in LEO building practices in most developing countries. Preliminary researches indicated that LEO problematic areas have not been thoroughly investigated. Moreover, many researchers have confirmed on the lack of comprehensive Post Occupancy Evaluation (POE) in LEO buildings. The focus of this study is on LEO buildings, accordingly, it was conducted in two phases, during the first phase, is to identify the comprehensive POE criteria and parameters. At this phase a qualitative and quantitative survey data was analyzed using content analysis. A discussion group with the expert comprised of five professionals has been convened to validate the results of the analysis. At the second phase, Ministry of Energy, Water and Communication (MEWC) has been selected as sources of data in which information were gathered through thirty percent of their technical staff involved in this study. The data was analyzed using Average Index and Frequency Analysis methods. From this study there are three main findings that have been conducted. Firstly, the building performance criteria, economic and cultural were significant in terms of performance problem. Secondly, the most critical building cost performance criteria were functionality and flexibility. Thirdly, the overall satisfaction of the building performance criteria was in the range of high level.