User Perception of Indoor Temperature and Preferences in Energy-Efficient Office Renovation Cases in the Netherlands

A comfortable indoor environment is one of the primary conditions of buildings. A majority of studies have attempted to compare occupant satisfaction of green-certificated offices and conventional offices. However, comparison of occupant perception with the adaptive comfort model may show differences and provide recommendations for the globe temperature in comfort. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the seasonal adaptation to indoor temperature, and to report the results of users’ thermal perception surveys on energy efficient renovated office buildings. This work compares occupants’ perception of indoor thermal quality. Data of indoor temperature were collected for 2 weeks in three seasons: summer, winter, and mid-season. Monitored indoor temperatures were compared with occupants’ thermal sensation, preference, and satisfaction regarding thermal comfort. The research found the relationship between indoor temperature and occupants’ thermal sensation. Results show that occupants perceived thermal quality better in renovated offices compared to non-renovated ones, but they do not always experience better thermal comfort than people in a non-renovated office