Influences on Occupants' Workplace Wellbeing on the Auburn University Campus By Amber Rae

198 Pages·2015·4.44 MB·English

The Sustainable Indoor Environment: Influences on Occupants’ Workplace Wellbeing on
the Auburn University Campus
By

Amber Rae Ortlieb

A thesis submitted to the Graduate Faculty of
Auburn University
in partial fulfillment of the
requirements for the Degree of
Master of Science in Interior Design

Auburn, Alabama
December 12, 2015

Keywords: indoor environmental quality, LEED, workplace wellbeing, health, sustainability

Copyright 2015 by Amber Rae Ortlieb

Submitted to

Wi-Suk Kwon, Co-Chair, Human Sciences Professor, Department of Consumer and Design Sciences
Amanda Gale, Co-Chair, Assistant Professor, Department of Consumer and Design Sciences
Thomas Fuller-Rowell, Associate Professor, Department of Human Development and Family Studies
Abstract

Sustainable buildings are believed to provide superior health and comfort to their
occupants. However, little empirical research has been conducted to verify this belief. The
purpose of this study is to explore if the environmental sustainability of buildings influences
occupants’ workplace wellbeing through its ability to enhance occupant health. Data were
collected using (1) observations of three buildings at Auburn University (AU) certified to be
sustainable through the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification
rating system and three non-LEED-certified AU buildings and (2) an online survey with a
sample of 199 occupants of these building. Results indicate that as compared to the non-LEED-
certified buildings, LEED-certified buildings provide a higher objective sustainable indoor
environmental quality (IEQ), and their occupants are more satisfied with the IEQ. Further,
occupants’ satisfaction with the indoor air quality and comfort factor of the IEQ enhanced their
physical and psychological health, which in turn increased their workplace wellbeing. Further,
occupants’ satisfaction with acoustics of their building directly influenced workplace wellbeing.
This study contributes to the literature by generating empirical evidence for the relationship
between sustainable IEQ of a building and its occupants’ health and workplace wellbeing.

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Acknowledgments

There are several individuals to acknowledge and thank for their endless support,
guidance, and generosity through my graduate experience at Auburn University. First and
foremost, I would like to mention my parents, Ron and Jodie Ortlieb, of whom I would not have
been able move to Alabama on such short notice with the surety in the care of personal affairs.
My family’s constant love and encouragement made this journey both possible and achievable.
Secondly, I would like to acknowledge my CADS cohort who became my extended
family. Your kindness, encouragement and commodore have created wonderful friendships,
specifically Dawn Michaelson. You have impacted my life in many positive and lasting ways.
Thank you, Abbi-Storm McCann, for ensuring I experienced the South. Also, I would like to
thank the Interior Design faculty who provided mentorship as I taught, researched, and sought
counsel. We have fostered lasting friendships. This journey started over coffee with Lindsay Tan
as she recruited and believed fervently that Auburn University was where I belonged.
I would like to recognize my committee members who were critical to this journey in
sharing their time, expertise, and experiences with me. Without each of you, this research would
not be possible. I am especially thankful for Dr. Wi-Suk Kwon, who shared her vast knowledge
in research design through supervising the development of my research, keeping my work on
track and challenging my critical thinking. Your standard of excellence was both challenging and
encouraging as I strove each time to provide my best work through this process. Further, I would
like to acknowledge Dr. Amanda Gale for her passion and expertise on sustainable design and
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for her willingness to conduct the on-site building research. Lastly, I would like to thank Dr.
Thomas Fuller-Rowell for his willingness to contribute and provide valuable feedback.
Lastly, I would like to acknowledge the Auburn University Facility Department, (Jim
Carroll, Eric Moore, and Anna Ruth Gatlin), who were willing to meet to answer questions,
provide guidance, and enable access to the Auburn University building information. Without this
information, the research would not have been possible.
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Table of Contents

Abstract ........................................................................................................................................ ii
Acknowledgments ....................................................................................................................... iii
List of Tables .............................................................................................................................. ix
List of Figures ............................................................................................................................ xii
List of Abbreviations ................................................................................................................ xiii
Chapter 1 Introduction ................................................................................................................. 1
Purpose Statement ............................................................................................................ 6
Assumptions ..................................................................................................................... 7
Definition of Terms .......................................................................................................... 9
Chapter 2 Literature Review ...................................................................................................... 13
Sustainable Buildings ..................................................................................................... 13
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) ........................................... 15
Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) .............................................................................. 22
Sustainable IEQ Factors ..................................................................................... 22
Non-Sustainability Related Indoor Environmental Quality Factors .................. 31
Satisfaction with the Indoor Environmental Quality ...................................................... 34
v
Objective Sustainable Indoor Environmental Quality and Satisfaction with Indoor
Environmental Quality ........................................................................................ 37
Sustainable Indoor Environmental Quality and Health .................................................. 40
Health and Workplace Wellbeing in Sustainable Indoor Environments ....................... 44
Job Satisfaction: A Control Variable for Workplace Wellbeing ................................... 45
Chapter 3 Method ...................................................................................................................... 47
Research Design ............................................................................................................. 47
Building Selection .......................................................................................................... 47
Phase 1: Objective Sustainable Indoor Environmental Quality Assessment ................. 62
Instrument .......................................................................................................... 62
Procedure ........................................................................................................... 64
Phase 2: Occupant Survey ............................................................................................. 71
Sampling and Data Collection Procedure .......................................................... 71
Instrument .......................................................................................................... 72
Pilot Study .......................................................................................................... 85
Data Cleaning Procedure ................................................................................... 85
Chapter 4 Results ....................................................................................................................... 86
Survey Sample Characteristics ...................................................................................... 86
Preliminary Analysis Results ......................................................................................... 92
Survey Instrument Factor Analysis and Reliability ........................................... 92
Objective IEQ Building Observation Coding .................................................... 97
vi
Results Related to Research Questions ........................................................................ 114
Research Question 1 ........................................................................................ 114
Research Question 2 ........................................................................................ 117
Research Question 3 ........................................................................................ 122
Research Question 4 ........................................................................................ 123
Research Question 5 ........................................................................................ 124
Regressions without Control Variables ............................................... 125
Regressions with Control Variables ..................................................... 125
Research Question 6 ........................................................................................ 126
Chapter 5 Discussion ................................................................................................................ 129
Summary and Discussion of Findings ......................................................................... 129
Research Question 1 ........................................................................................ 130
Research Question 2 ........................................................................................ 131
Research Question 3 ........................................................................................ 133
Research Question 4 and 5 ............................................................................... 134
Research Question 6 ........................................................................................ 135
Significance of the Study ............................................................................................. 136
Theoretical Implications .................................................................................. 136
Practical Implications ....................................................................................... 138
Limitations and Recommendations .............................................................................. 141
References ................................................................................................................................ 148
vii
Appendix A. Objective Verification Tool: On-site Record ..................................................... 160
Appendix B. Objective Verification Tool: Facility Verification ............................................. 161
Appendix C. Web-based Questionnaire: “Workplace Indoor Environment Quality and
Occupants’ Wellbeing” ........................................................................................................... 163
Appendix D. IRB Approved Information Letter ...................................................................... 181
Appendix E. Pre-Notice Letter ................................................................................................ 183
Appendix F. E-mail Invitation for Online Survey ................................................................... 184
Appendix G. E-mail Reminder for Online Survey .................................................................. 185

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List of Tables

Table 2.1. Global Impact from Buildings .................................................................................. 15
Table 2.2. LEED Version 4: Rating Systems by Project Types ................................................ 17
Table 2.3. Credit Categories and Point Distribution for LEED BD+C: New Construction
(Version 4) ................................................................................................................. 18
Table 2.4. LEED BD+C: New Construction (Version 4) Prerequisites .................................... 20
Table 2.5. LEED BD+C: New Construction (Version 4) Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ)
Credits ........................................................................................................................ 24
Table 2.6. LEED BD+C: New Construction (Version 4) IEQ Credit 8: Quality Views Optional
Strategies ................................................................................................................... 30
Table 3.1. LEED Versions and Their Use in Auburn University Buildings .............................. 49
Table 3.2. AU LEED-certified Buildings Selected for This Study ............................................ 49
Table 3.3. Selected AU Building Characteristics Comparison: LEED-Certified Buildings
.................................................................................................................................... 53
Table 3.4. Selected AU Building Characteristics Comparison: Non-LEED-Certified Buildings
.................................................................................................................................... 53
Table 3.5. Observation Methods for Objective IEQ .................................................................. 65
Table 3.6. AU Building Site Visit Details ................................................................................. 70
Table 3.7. Measures of Satisfaction with Sustainable IEQ ........................................................ 74
Table 3.8. Measures of Satisfaction with Non-Sustainability Related IEQ ............................... 76
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Table 3.9. Measurement for Health ........................................................................................... 78
Table 3.10. Workplace Wellbeing Measurement ...................................................................... 80
Table 3.11. Job Satisfaction Measurement ................................................................................ 81
Table 3.12. Employment Information Items .............................................................................. 82
Table 3.13. Measures of Personal Workspace Information ....................................................... 83
Table 3.14. Demographics ......................................................................................................... 84
Table 4.1. Survey Sample Demographic Characteristics ........................................................... 87
Table 4.2. Survey Sample Work Environment Characteristics ................................................. 90
Table 4.3. Survey Sample Workspace Topographic Characteristics ......................................... 92
Table 4.4. Factor Analysis Results: Sustainable IEQ Satisfaction Items .................................. 94
Table 4.5. Factor Analysis Results: Control Variables (Non-Sustainability Related) IEQ
Satisfaction Items ...................................................................................................... 95
Table 4.6. Factor Analysis Results: Health (Physical and Psychological) Items ...................... 98
Table 4.7. Factor Analysis Results: Job Satisfaction and Workplace Wellbeing Items ............ 99
Table 4.8. Inter-Coder Reliability for Site Verification of Objective IEQ Credits 5, 6 ........... 100
Table 4.9. Inter-Coder Reliability for Site Verification of Objective IEQ Credits 7, 8 ........... 101
Table 4.10. Statistical Analysis for Site Verification of the LEED IEQ Credits 5, 6 .............. 101
Table 4.11. Statistical Analysis for Site Verification of the LEED IEQ Credits 7, 8 .............. 102
x