How can you balance indoor environmental quality and energy efficiency?

1 Assess the needs and preferences of the occupants

The first step to balance IEQ and EE is to understand the needs and preferences of the people who will use the building. Different types of buildings, such as offices, schools, hospitals, or homes, have different IEQ requirements and EE potentials. You should also consider the diversity of the occupants, such as their age, gender, health, culture, and lifestyle. By conducting surveys, interviews, or focus groups, you can gather valuable information about their expectations, complaints, suggestions, and feedback. This will help you design and implement solutions that suit their needs and preferences.

2 Choose appropriate materials and systems

The second step to balance IEQ and EE is to choose appropriate materials and systems for the building envelope, structure, and services. You should select materials and systems that have low environmental impact, high durability, and low maintenance. For example, you can use natural or recycled materials, such as wood, stone, or metal, that have low embodied energy and emissions. You can also use systems that reduce energy demand, such as passive solar design, natural ventilation, daylighting, or renewable energy sources. You should also consider the life cycle cost and performance of the materials and systems, not just the initial cost and installation.

4 Educate and engage the occupants

The fourth step to balance IEQ and EE is to educate and engage the occupants about the benefits and challenges of IEQ and EE. You should inform them about the design and operation of the building, and how they can contribute to improve IEQ and EE. You should also provide them with feedback and incentives to encourage them to adopt behaviors that enhance IEQ and EE. For example, you can use signs, labels, displays, or newsletters to inform them about the indoor environmental conditions, energy consumption and generation, or tips and best practices. You can also use rewards, competitions, or gamification to motivate them to save energy, reduce waste, or recycle.

5 Evaluate and improve the performance

The fifth step to balance IEQ and EE is to evaluate and improve the performance of the building and the occupants. You should collect and analyze data about the IEQ and EE indicators, such as occupant satisfaction, health, productivity, comfort, or complaints, and energy consumption, generation, cost, or savings. You should also compare the actual performance with the expected performance, and identify the gaps and opportunities for improvement. You should then implement corrective or preventive actions, such as maintenance, repairs, upgrades, or changes, to improve IEQ and EE. You should also monitor and review the results of the actions, and make adjustments as needed.

6 Learn from best practices and examples

The sixth step to balance IEQ and EE is to learn from best practices and examples of buildings that have achieved both goals. You should research and study the design, construction, operation, and performance of buildings that have high IEQ and EE ratings, such as green buildings, net-zero buildings, or smart buildings. You should also visit or contact the owners, managers, or occupants of these buildings, and ask them about their experiences, challenges, lessons, or recommendations. You should then apply the knowledge and insights you gain to your own projects, and share them with others in the industry.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?