Environmental Comfort Indicators for School Buildings in Sustainability Assessment Tools

Saraiva, Tatiana Santos; Almeida, Manuela; Bragança, L.; Barbosa, Maria Teresa

doi:10.3390/su10061849

Cited by 36 publications

(41 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…Therefore, anthropometric data would be necessary when designing any kind of furniture equipment [47]; considering ergonomic furniture may reduce these symptoms [48]. Ergonomics issues are a must in sustainability assessment tools [49].ICT facilities have become part of the physical learning environment, since elements such as computers or plugs are part of the design and operation of the classroom. In fact, their inclusion alters the classroom temperature and may require the use of artificial light instead of daylight, due to its reflection on the screens.…”

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confidence: 99%

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Architectural Indoor Analysis: A Holistic Approach to Understand the Relation of Higher Education Classrooms and Academic Performance

2019

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The influence of learning space on users has been broadly accepted and tested. However, the literature has focused on single factor research, instead of holistic approaches. Additionally, lower educational levels have been the focus of interest, while higher education is moving towards multi-method teaching. This paper focuses on how learning spaces for different purposes (practice and lecture rooms) may influence academic performance from a holistic approach of learning physical environment perception. For this, the iPEP scale (Indoor physical environment perception) is used and validated through Cronbach Alpha and Exploratory Factorial Analysis. Then, multiple linear regression is conducted. The results indicate that iPEP measures near to 63 percent of the construct, which is structured in six factors. Moreover, linear regression analyses support previous literature concerning the influence of learning physical environment on academic performance (R 2 = 0.154). The differences obtained between practice and lecture room in terms of predictor variables bring to the light the need to diagnose learning environments before designing changes in educational buildings. This research provides a self-reported way to measure indoor environments, as well as evidence concerning the modern university, which desires to combine several teaching methods.These studies provide evidence that acoustic comfort is fundamental to support sustainable learning environments, which implement active pedagogies [15].Illumination combines artificial lighting and daylight to offer visual support and it influences visual perception, cognitive processing, behaviour, learning and academic performance [16][17][18]. Therefore, lighting design perspectives should be task-driven, as well as focusing on comfort to human health and perception [19]. Appropriate levels of visual comfort have been evidenced to improve social relations [20]. While daylight helps students to retain and learn information [21], long exposure to artificial lighting may cause stress and lead to irritability [22]. Buildings are highly artificial lighting dependent, as there was no concern about energy efficiency when educational facilities were designed, and nowadays represent a major factor of energy consumption.In traditional learning, the views through windows are considered as distractor, which may explain the lack of daylight through windows, despite its importance for children [23], who distinguish lighting requirements given the task performed. Nature inspires students through its aesthetic value and entails a restorative effect on the mind, which fosters concentration [24]. It stabilizes students' psychology and reduces their negative emotions [25], and leads to a proactive knowledge of the natural environment. This fact may foster a culture in which life-based learning is a must and encourage positive social interaction [26]. Landscape views and walls with living plants are correlated with better academic results [27,28] and may reduce stress [29], whilst increasing le...

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Architectural Indoor Analysis: A Holistic Approach to Understand the Relation of Higher Education Classrooms and Academic Performance

2019

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“…In 1959, a renovation took place, with the creation of its main building, and from 2011 to 2013, EPE made a major renovation in this school. FHHS is an example of high school building standard in Portugal [22]. The high school students age varies between 15 and 18 years old (10th to 12th grade), corresponding to the third cycle of basic education.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A questionnaire was applied to students in the Francisco de Holanda high school about the level of discomfort related to ergonomic comfort, specifically about the proper sizing of the chair and table. The result of these questionnaires is reported in [22]. The result of this indicator is based on the result of this research, shown below.…”

Section: I18 Ergonomic Comfortmentioning

confidence: 99%

Verification of the Adequacy of the Portuguese Sustainability Assessment Tool of High School Buildings, SAHSBPT, to the Francisco de Holanda High School, Guimarães

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Sustainable development can be achieved through several activities. The building and construction sector (B & C sector) is one of the major industries, and it can play a crucial role in the improvement of the most relevant environmental impacts. Nowadays, there are major concerns related to sustainability in construction. All types of buildings have different technical aspects; therefore, it is required to develop specific sustainability assessment tools. A school building has peculiarities connected to aspects of sustainability, as it is a building planned to offer adequate environments for the education of adolescents and children. This article shows the application of the SBTool methodology developed specifically for Portuguese high schools, SAHSBPT (Sustainable Assessment for High School Buildings) methodology, that is being elaborated by the first author in her PhD Thesis. This methodology allows architects, engineers and designers to improve sustainability in school buildings, in projects or in the rehabilitation of buildings. The objective of this research is to apply that evaluation tool in order to verify the efficiency of this methodology, as well as to recognize the level of sustainability of the Francisco de Holanda High School Building, in Guimarães, Portugal. The values found in the application of the Sustainable Assessment for High School Buildings in that high schools demonstrate a good result, as the overall value is A, 75% of the total result.

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“…This work aims to improve methodologies related to high school performance by adding an indicator of sustainability awareness in assessment tools. The importance of fostering social awareness of the impacts of sustainability is undeniable [3]. This indicator allows for the use of schools as vehicles to disseminate the importance that the experience of sustainability has on people's lives, using students as tools since they can spread this idea in their families and in society, transforming it as part of their daily lives in a natural way.…”

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confidence: 99%

The Inclusion of a Sustainability Awareness Indicator in Assessment Tools for High School Buildings

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The growing debate about global environmental problems is evident in several spheres of society. The concern for the future of the planet is used as a political slogan, inspiring the creation of new laws and encouraging academic research that serves this purpose, as well as increasing the number of government agencies concerned with this matter. The 21st century is considered the "century of sustainable development". Sustainability education in high schools has the potential to make the benefits of civil construction more visible to society and media by showing students, parents, and communities in general how sustainability in the built environment can improve their lives in economic, social, and environmental aspects. This study was applied in three high schools of Juiz de Fora (Brazil) and Guimarães (Portugal). These high schools have similar characteristics regarding teaching patterns and commitment to strengthening sustainability in their respective regions and reflect their socio-economic conditions, governmental strategies, everyday habits, and cultural attributes. The information was collected through questionnaires applied to high school students in 2017. This paper shows the need for including an indicator of sustainability awareness in sustainability assessment tools for high school buildings.

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Environmental Comfort Indicators for School Buildings in Sustainability Assessment Tools

Cited by 36 publications

References 12 publications

Architectural Indoor Analysis: A Holistic Approach to Understand the Relation of Higher Education Classrooms and Academic Performance

Architectural Indoor Analysis: A Holistic Approach to Understand the Relation of Higher Education Classrooms and Academic Performance

Verification of the Adequacy of the Portuguese Sustainability Assessment Tool of High School Buildings, SAHSBPT, to the Francisco de Holanda High School, Guimarães

The Inclusion of a Sustainability Awareness Indicator in Assessment Tools for High School Buildings

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