Does thermal control improve visual satisfaction? Interactions between occupants' self-perceived control, visual,...

Area of Science:

• Environmental Psychology
• Building Science
• Human-Building Interaction

Background:

• Occupant satisfaction research traditionally focused on thermal or visual stimuli independently.
• Limited research has explored the interaction between thermal and visual factors on occupant satisfaction.
• Existing studies often lack diverse control scenarios, hindering a comprehensive understanding.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the combined effects of thermal and visual factors on occupant satisfaction.
• To examine the moderating role of self-perceived control in these interactions.
• To assess seasonal influences on occupant satisfaction within indoor environments.

Main Methods:

• A two-year repeated-measures laboratory study involving 61 participants and 986 sessions.
• Mixed model analyses were employed to determine predictors of overall satisfaction.
• Investigated thermal satisfaction, visual satisfaction, self-perceived thermal control, and seasonal effects.

Main Results:

• Thermal and visual satisfaction were identified as the primary predictors of overall occupant satisfaction.
• Self-perceived thermal control significantly moderated the relationship between thermal satisfaction and overall satisfaction.
• Individual differences accounted for the largest variance in satisfaction ratings, surpassing study condition effects.

Conclusions:

• Prioritizing occupant control opportunities is essential for enhancing overall satisfaction in buildings.
• Multimodal interactions between environmental factors are moderated by control, impacting occupant experience.
• Future building design should integrate personal control mechanisms to optimize indoor environmental quality and occupant well-being.