A Comprehensive Investigation of Indoor Environmental Quality: Focused on Occupant Perception and Objective Measurement

Abstract

Diverse spaces exhibit varying characteristics, necessitating a comprehensive investigation of indoor environmental quality (IEQ) to optimize these spaces. This study comprehensively investigates both objective and subjective IEQ values across multiple areas within Pao Yue-Kong library in Hong Kong. Four IEQ parameters–thermal comfort, indoor air quality (IAQ), visual comfort, and acoustic comfort–were the primary focus. Results indicated that thermal comfort and IAQ were predominantly observed and rated as “excellent.” Conversely, substantial disparities were observed in visual and acoustic comfort across spaces according to space characteristics. Moreover, differences in user satisfaction can arise due to distinct user expectations in each space, even when the objective conditions of the IEQ parameters are similar. A comprehensive approach offers valuable insights into how the indoor environment affects library users and their overall experiences. This study empowers facility managers to make informed decisions for library spaces, enhancing space utilization efficiency and user satisfaction.

Keywords: Indoor environmental quality, Library spaces, Occupant perception, Objective measurement, Empirical research