The relationship between indoor environmental quality and worker satisfaction and performance in Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEEDRTM) certified buildings

The purpose of the study was to examine the relationship between the indoor environmental quality (IEQ) and worker satisfaction and performance in office buildings certified as a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEEDRTM) building by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). This enables designers to identify which IEQ criteria enhance or hinder worker satisfaction and performance in LEED-certified workplaces.; Despite a recent increase in popularity and implementation of LEED standards which are design guidelines and a rating system of sustainable building design, little research has been done on the effects of these guidelines on worker satisfaction and performance in LEED-certified buildings.; Knowledge about the influence of the physical work environment on office worker satisfaction and performance is critical to businesses' economic success. Understanding how sustainable building design is related to workers' satisfaction and performance will also help enhance the current sustainable building design movement and continue the successful market transformation led by the USGBC.; This study used the post-occupancy evaluation (POE) database on the IEQ of LEED-certified buildings of the Center for the Built Environment (CBE) at the University of California (UC), Berkeley. The IEQ criteria included in this study are user perception of quality of office layout, office furnishings, thermal comfort, indoor air, lighting, acoustics, cleanliness and maintenance, and overall workspace. Worker satisfaction and performance were measured by a user self-assessment questionnaire administered through an on-line survey by the CBE. Respondents' demographic characteristics and office characteristics were also collected and analyzed.; Correlational statistics were used to determine the relationship between IEQ criteria and worker satisfaction and performance. Respondents' demographics and office characteristics were analyzed using descriptive statistics and used to describe the workspaces.; This study contributes to interior designers' knowledge and ability to incorporate effective IEQ criteria to support worker satisfaction and performance in sustainable workplaces. The findings will help identify the strengths and weaknesses of the current LEED IEQ criteria applied to work environments. This knowledge may increase the use of LEED system by designers and business owners, thereby supporting the sustainable building design movement and contributing to the successful market transformation.