Good indoor environmental quality (IEQ) and high energy efficiency in multifamily dwellings: How do tenants view the conditions needed to achieve both?

Sustainable housing that both creates good indoor environmental quality (IEQ) and avoids unnecessary energy use has proved difficult to realize. Renovations of multifamily houses provide an opportunity to find this balance. This study concerns whether tenants perceive that conditions for achieving s...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Building and environment 2021-03, Vol.191, p.107581, Article 107581
Main Authors:	Pedersen, Eja, Borell, Jonas, Li, Yujing, Stålne, Kristian
Format:	Article
Language:	eng
Subjects:	Acoustics Annan teknik Applied Psychology Dwellings Energy Energy consumption Energy efficiency Energy use Engineering and Technology Environmental quality Green buildings Housing Indoor environmental quality (IEQ) Indoor environments Interfaces Multifamily apartment building Other Engineering and Technologies Other Engineering and Technologies not elsewhere specified Psychology Psykologi Renovation Rental housing Residential areas Samhällsvetenskap Social Sciences Sustainable housing Teknik Tenants Tillämpad psykologi User interface Övrig annan teknik
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Summary:	Sustainable housing that both creates good indoor environmental quality (IEQ) and avoids unnecessary energy use has proved difficult to realize. Renovations of multifamily houses provide an opportunity to find this balance. This study concerns whether tenants perceive that conditions for achieving sufficient IEQ with low energy use exist. Focus group interviews with 42 participants, in areas where the rents were in the lower range and included heating up to 21 °C, aimed to capture the tenants' perceptions of: IEQ and actions taken to regulate it; information and control; the connections between IEQ and energy use; and the role of the housing company. Good IEQ was crucial to interviewees, who described it as sufficient heat without draughts, ability to ventilate, and no disturbing sounds or smells. The main responsibility was attributed to the housing company, but daily regulation controlled by tenants. However, unclear interfaces between tenants and the systems that regulate IEQ make it difficult for tenants to act as a positive part of the system. Tenants did not link IEQ to energy use. A holistic view of the physical environment's affordances, including intuitive interfaces, could optimize the balance between good IEQ and energy use. •Tenants care about IEQ but leave the responsibility for energy use to the landlord.•Information on heating and ventilation is not recognized by tenants.•Thermostats and valves must be designed so that they can be used intuitively.•Contacts with the housing company impact how IEQ is understood and regulated.•Optimized balance between tenants, IEQ and energy requires a holistic approach.
ISSN:	0360-1323 1873-684X 1873-684X