Perceived control in indoor environments: a conceptual approach

Abstract

Building automation systems provide the potential to optimize the energy consumption of buildings as well as to detect failures in the operation of buildings. The system comprising building form–HVAC–building automation–user is becoming more complex. Providing the occupants with control over the indoor environment is widely accepted for its positive effect on their satisfaction. This paper explores what the term ‘perceived control’ means conceptually and draws implications for its application to the design and management of buildings. Personality- and environmental-psychology emphasize the importance of personal control to humans. The adaptive model of thermal comfort, findings from post-occupancy evaluations and surveys in real buildings also indicate the importance of high levels of perceived control. These models and findings exist in parallel and have not yet been interconnected and translated into models for the built environment. A new conceptual approach to explain perceived control is proposed. Satisfaction with the indoor environment occurs not only when ‘comfort’ is provided but also immediately after a successful control action, even if homeostasis has not yet been achieved (pleasure). Giving control to occupants can result in higher levels of satisfaction.

Keywords:

• adaptive comfort
• behaviour
• building performance
• indoor environmental quality
• occupant satisfaction
• perceived control
• usability

Acknowledgement

This research was undertaken and written whilst the author was at Augsburg University of Applied Sciences. The author has since relocated to National University of Singapore.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Notes

1 BAS/BMS are used to control the indoor environment – mechanical ventilation, lighting, electrical and other building services. They are often linked to other aspects of building management (access controls, security, alarms, etc.). The significance of these systems is their dependence on sophisticated software.

2 A series of papers on usability can be found on the Usable Buildings Trust website: www.usablebuildings.co.uk (last accessed on 11 January 2014).

3 Of course, a frequent necessity for behavioural actions could be disturbing.

4 For example, when attending a concert a person does not expect to have control over the indoor climate in such a crowded space. Perhaps he/she remembers that the last concert in the same place was very hot and adapts his/her clothing according to these expectations. But when it turns out this time that the concert hall is cool the person may be displeased unless he/she had the foresight to bring additional clothing.

5 Research subsequently determined that opening the window may not considerably change the energy consumption of the house (Ebel & Kah, 2003).

6 See www.usablebuildings.co.uk/.