Occupant productivity and indoor environment quality linked to global sustainability assessment system

Abstract

Occupant productivity is gaining momentum in the field of sustainable built environment. Humans spend most of their time indoors, and the majority of the world’s population lives in urban areas and work in an office environment. Different Indoor Environment Quality (IEQ) factors affect productivity in an office environment. This paper investigates Global Sustainability Assessment System (GSAS) rating system to identify criteria and submittals focusing different physical indoor environment quality factors that influence occupant productivity. It draws implicit links between the current state of sustainable research and indoor environment quality factors covered in the GSAS rating system. The study highlights that GSAS has focused one-third of its weightage to indoor environment quality factors. Most IEQ criteria like indoor air quality, thermal comfort, lighting and day lighting, Biophilia and views are well addressed in the GSAS. There is still room to focus on factors like office layout, look and feel, and location and amenities. This paper is a part of ongoing research endeavour to update GSAS to incorporate occupant productivity and well-being in rating system's focus to improve green buildings in the Middle East. The paper would help researchers and professionals who aim to understand the link between the GSAS rating system and indoor environment quality factors that affect productivity.