Commercial Building Indoor Environmental Quality Evaluation: Methods and Tools
Abstract
In order to address the previously identified need for better methods and tools for evaluating building performance, this project seeks to:
1. Develop a hardware and software toolkit for facilitating the evaluation of IEQ performance in commercial buildings based on the ASHRAE/CIBSE/USGBC Performance Measurement Protocols.
2. Evaluate the success of the toolkit through a case study
3. Explore IEQ models as a method for rating IEQ performance
4. Provide an example implementation of the PMP and suggestions for improvement
The toolkit aims to simplify the process of building performance evaluation, tying together the multiple pieces needed to appropriately evaluate performance. In doing so, the toolkit hopes to be a prototype for future cost-effective, commercially available toolkits.
The toolkit’s success will be evaluated through a case study that provides feedback on toolkit procedures and features from practitioners. In addition to feedback on the toolkit, the case study will provide a source of data to explore three of the IEQ rating systems discussed in section 1.5. Specifically, issues of spatial and temporal resolution are explored as they relate both to IEQ ratings and procedural feasibility.
Finally, this project aims to provide critical feedback on the PMP in an effort to widen the appeal of IEQ evaluation to current practitioners and other potential interested parties such as LEED.