Beyond Certification: A Multi-Quantitative Post-Occupancy Evaluation of Indoor Environmental Quality in a Platinum-Certified Subtropical University Building
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15377/2409-9821.2026.13.14Keywords:
Climate change, Occupant satisfaction, BEAM Plus certification, Subtropical green buildings, Post-occupancy evaluation (POE), Indoor environmental quality (IEQ)Abstract
Green building certification formally evaluates building performance, while it may not fully capture occupants’ experiences of indoor environmental quality (IEQ) during post-occupancy use. This study presents a post-occupancy evaluation (POE) of a BEAM Plus Platinum-certified academic building at the Macau University of Science and Technology (MUST), using a quantitative evaluation approach that combines a questionnaire survey of occupant satisfaction (n = 108, 90.0% valid response rate) with in-situ physical measurements of key IEQ parameters, including carbon dioxide (CO₂), total volatile organic compounds (TVOC), formaldehyde (HCHO), PM₁₀, thermal conditions, and operational sound level, supplemented by DIALux simulation of artificial-lighting performance. The survey and field measurements were conducted in three classrooms on three days between March 28 and April 11, 2025, during the transition period between classes in a Spring semester. The results indicated that the five IEQ categories received mean scores ranging from 3.65 to 3.94 on a five-point scale, with visual environmental quality being the best while ventilation effectiveness being the worst. In terms of the specific items, natural ventilation adequacy and local overheating/overcooling received the lowest mean scores of 3.47 and 3.14, respectively. Short-term classroom CO₂ concentrations peaked at 897 ppm, and TVOC ranged between 0.001 and 0.008 mg/m³. Thermal measurements showed inter-room variation, with mean temperatures ranging from 23.99 °C to 25.23 °C (a differential of 1.24 °C). Operational sound levels ranged from 46.3 to 57.2 dB(A) in the monitored classrooms. Interpreting occupant feedback with in-situ measurements offers practical, user-centered evidence that bridges the gap between green building certification and actual building performance. The findings provide actionable guidance for follow-up IEQ monitoring and operational optimization in university classrooms.
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