The Impact of Green Building Design on Indoor Air Quality and Occupant Experience A Case Study of Heritage Place, Ikoyi, Lagos State
Main Article Content
Abstract
This study examines the impact of green building design on indoor air quality (IAQ) and occupant experience, using Heritage Place in Ikoyi, Lagos, as a case study. Green buildings are known for incorporating sustainable practices such as the use of eco-friendly materials, advanced ventilation systems, and biophilic design elements, all aimed at enhancing environmental sustainability and occupant well-being. A descriptive survey methodology was employed, with data gathered through a questionnaire administered to 50 occupants of the building to assess their perceptions of IAQ, health, comfort, and overall satisfaction. The findings indicate that the majority of respondents reported high levels of satisfaction with IAQ, attributing improvements in their health, productivity, and comfort to the building’s green design features. Specifically, low-emission materials and enhanced ventilation systems were highly praised for reducing pollutants and maintaining a healthy indoor environment. However, a few respondents expressed concerns about inconsistent thermal comfort in certain areas. These results underscore the importance of sustainable design in creating healthier, more productive indoor environments. Recommendations for future green building projects include fine-tuning HVAC systems to improve thermal comfort and enhancing occupant education on the benefits of sustainable features.
Article Details
Copyright (c) 2024 Alabor, Odezi Zaccheaus, Anyanechi Honour, Onyekwere, Wisdom Chidera (Author)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Alabor, Odezi Zaccheaus, Caleb University, Lagos, Nigeria.
Department of Architecture,
Caleb University Imota, Lagos State.
Anyanechi Honour, Caleb University, Lagos, Nigeria.
Master's Student,
Department of Architecture,
Caleb University, Lagos, Nigeria.
Onyekwere, Wisdom Chidera, Caleb University, Lagos, Nigeria.
Master's Student,
Department of Architecture,
Caleb University, Lagos, Nigeria.
Agbajor, F. D., & Mewomo, M. C. (2024). Green building research in South Africa: A scoping review and future roadmaps. Energy and Built Environment, 5(2), 316-335.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbenv.2022.11.001
Agyekum, K., Hammond, S. F., & Salgin, B. (2021). Occupants' perceived importance and satisfaction with the indoor environmental quality of a green building. Built Environment Project and Asset Management, 11(4), 627-642.
https://doi.org/10.1108/BEPAM-01-2020-0005
Allen, J. G., MacNaughton, P., Satish, U., Santanam, S., Vallarino, J., & Spengler, J. D. (2016). Associations of Cognitive Function Scores with Carbon Dioxide, Ventilation, and Volatile Organic Compound Exposures in Office Workers: A Controlled Exposure Study of Green and Conventional Office Environments. Environmental Health Perspectives, 124(6), 805-812.
https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1510037
Awada, M., Becerik-Gerber, B., White, E., Hoque, S., O'Neill, Z., Pedrielli, G., ... & Wu, T. (2022). Occupant health in buildings: Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the opinions of building professionals and implications on research. Building and environment, 207, 108440.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2021.108440
Browning, W. D., Ryan, C. O., & Clancy, J. O. (2018). 14 Patterns of Biophilic Design: Improving Health and Well-Being in the Built Environment. Terrapin Bright Green.
Chelang'at, F. N. E., & Lawrence, R. (2024). Always with the Best Intentions? Interrogating the Use of Sustainable Building Assessment Systems in Developing Countries: Kenya. Sustainability, 16(9), 3868.
https://doi.org/10.3390/su16093868
Dalay, L. (2020). The impact of biophilic design elements on the atmospheric perception of the interior space. Uluslararası Peyzaj Mimarlığı Araştırmaları Dergisi (IJLAR) E-ISSN: 2602-4322, 4(2), 4-20.
Dutton, S. M., Fisk, W. J., & Mendell, M. J. (2020). Associations Between Indoor Air Quality and Sick Building Syndrome Symptoms in U.S. Office Buildings: An Analysis of the BASE Study Data. Indoor Air, 30(5), 865-879.
Elnaklah, R., Walker, I., & Natarajan, S. (2021). Moving to a green building: Indoor environment quality, thermal comfort and health. Building and Environment, 191, 107592.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2021.107592
Fisk, W. J. (2017). The Ventilation Problem in Schools: Literature Review. Indoor Air, 27(6), 1039-1051.
https://doi.org/10.1111/ina.12403
González, J. & Navarro, J. G. (2021). Green Building Design Strategies: Promoting Indoor Air Quality and Thermal Comfort. Journal of Sustainable Architecture, 9(3), 145-162.
Kanda, E. K., Lusweti, E., Ngugi, F. N., Irungu, J. M., Omondi, B. O., & Waweru, S. G. (2023). Adoption of Green Building Practices in Kenya: A Case of Kakamega Municipality. In Pragmatic Engineering and Lifestyle: Responsible Engineering for a Sustainable Future (pp. 153-169). Emerald Publishing Limited.
https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-80262-997-220231008
Khoshnava, S. M., Rostami, R., Mohamad Zin, R., Štreimikienė, D., Mardani, A., & Ismail, M. (2020). The role of green building materials in reducing environmental and human health impacts. International journal of environmental research and public health, 17(7), 2589.
https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17072589
Kim, J., de Dear, R., Cândido, C., & Parkinson, T. (2020). Impact of Green Building Design on Occupant Satisfaction: A Longitudinal Study in Australian Offices. Building and Environment, 173, 106716.
Leung, D. Y. C. (2015). Outdoor-indoor Air Pollution in Urban Environment: Challenges and Opportunity. Frontiers in Environmental Science, 2(69).
https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2014.00069
Luttik, J. (2020). The Role of Indoor Plants in Improving Air Quality and Psychological Well-being in Offices. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 73, 101540.
Megahed, N. A., & Ghoneim, E. M. (2021). Indoor Air Quality: Rethinking rules of building design strategies in post-pandemic architecture. Environmental research, 193, 110471.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2020.110471
Mirzaei, N., Kamelnia, H., Islami, S. G., Kamyabi, S., & Assadi, S. N. (2020). The impact of indoor environmental quality of green buildings on occupants' health and Satisfaction: A systematic review. Journal of Community Health Research.
https://doi.org/10.18502/jchr.v9i1.2574
Nkini, S., Nuyts, E., Kassenga, G., Swai, O., & Verbeeck, G. (2022). Evaluation of occupants' satisfaction in green and non-green office buildings in Dar es Salaam-Tanzania. Building and Environment, 219, 109169.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2022.109169
Nkini, S., Nuyts, E., Kassenga, G., Swai, O., & Verbeeck, G. (2022). Evaluation of occupants' satisfaction in green and non-green office buildings in Dar es Salaam-Tanzania. Building and Environment, 219, 109169.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2022.109169
Omole, F. O., Olajiga, O. K., & Olatunde, T. M. (2024). Sustainable urban design: a review of eco-friendly building practices and community impact. Engineering Science & Technology Journal, 5(3), 1020-1030.
https://doi.org/10.51594/estj.v5i3.955
Omopariola, E. D., Olanrewaju, O. I., Albert, I., Oke, A. E., & Ibiyemi, S. B. (2024). Sustainable construction in the Nigerian construction industry: unsustainable practices, barriers and strategies. Journal of Engineering, Design and Technology, 22(4), 1158-1184.
https://doi.org/10.1108/JEDT-11-2021-0639
Owoha, F., Simpeh, E. K., Fapohunda, J. A., Ahadzie, D. K., & Mensah, H. (2022). Categorising green building features in developing countries: The case of South Africa. Journal of Engineering, Design and Technology, 20(6), 1627-1647.
https://doi.org/10.1108/JEDT-01-2021-0012
Palacios, J., Eichholtz, P., & Kok, N. (2020). Moving to productivity: The benefits of healthy buildings. PloS one, 15(8), e0236029.
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0236029
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (2021). Indoor Air Quality (IAQ).
Vera Suarez, M. J. (2023). Visual Connections with Nature in Residential Buildings: A Study of Health and Well-being in Lima's San Miguel District (Doctoral dissertation, The University of Arizona.).
Wargocki, P., Seppänen, O., Andersson, J., Boerstra, A., Clements-Croome, D., Fitzner, K., & Hanssen, S. O. (2017). Indoor Climate and Productivity in Offices: How to Integrate Evidence-based Guidelines into Sustainability Policies. REHVA Guidebook, 1st ed.
Wei, W., Wargocki, P., Zirngibl, J., Bendžalová, J., & Mandin, C. (2020). Review of parameters used to assess the quality of the indoor environment in Green Building certification schemes for offices and hotels. Energy and buildings, 209, 109683.