Avaliação da qualidade ambiental interna em edificação comercial certificada LEED em Belo Horizonte, MG

Abstract

Certified commercial buildings must, supposedly, exhibit environmental performance that can promote occupants´ comfort and health. However, different researches have presented fragmented and inconclusive knowledge, with no consolidated scientific evidence of certifications’ contributions to this, nor occupants' perception that the building has a high internal environmental quality (IEQ). The present research therefore intended to bring elements to broaden the understanding of how occupants perceive the IEQ of buildings that have obtained the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) constructive sustainability certification. In this sense, the thesis selected as a case study a commercial building in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais that obtained LEED v.2 certification. The research problem investigation applied the POE (Post Occupancy Evaluation) methodology in the case study of a LEED certified commercial building in order to identify occupants' perception of comfort and health. The IEQ categories as LEED certification requirements were the guiding principle, supported by the POE studies. The method was based on two aspects simultaneously: (1) the literature review related to the IEQ criteria to occupants’ comfort and health; (2) it analyzed through the results of the POE survey questionnaire on the relationship between the LEED certified building and its IEQ category and occupants’ perception of comfort and health. The approach in which the POE analysis was based on, the LEED certification's IEQ attributes, as pursued by the building, presented an innovative analysis methodology since it mirrored the results in the certification's guiding element. Answered by 243 occupants in a universe of 300, the questionnaire obtained an 81% return rate. The results showed the relevance of the perceived levels of IEQ in terms of comfort and health according to occupants. Air quality and access to views, in addition to the mandatory compliance with the minimum requirements of the certification process and its evidentiary requirements, were positive factors identified in the present study. The evaluation of the certified building in operation aimed to present a framework of perceptions about comfort and health in order to make the IEQ tangible and to verify the contribution of the certification process to this quality. The results also aimed to provide indicators for the feedback on the design, construction and operation processes of commercial buildings.