Human factors in the design of sustainable built environments

Altomonte, Sergio; Rutherford, Peter; Wilson, Robin

Abstract

Scientific research provides convincing evidence that climate change is having significant impacts on many aspects of life. In the built-environment domain, regulatory requirements are pushing the challenges of environmental, economic, and social sustainability at the core of the professional agenda, although the aims of carbon reduction and energy conservation are frequently given a priority over occupants' comfort, well-being, and satisfaction. While most practitioners declare to embrace sustainability as a driver of their professional approach, a general lack of integrated creative and technical skills hinders the design of buildings centred on articulate and comprehensive sustainability goals, encompassing, other than energy criteria, also human-centred and ethical values founded on competent and informed consideration of the requirements of the site, the programme, and the occupants. Built environments are designed by humans to host a range of human activities. In response, this article aims to endorse a sustainable approach to design founded on the knowledge arising from scholarly and evidence-based research, exploring principles and criteria for the creation and operation of human habitats that can respond to energy and legislative demands, mitigate their environmental impacts, and adapt to new climate scenarios, while elevating the quality of experience and delight to those occupying them.

Citation

Altomonte, S., Rutherford, P., & Wilson, R. (in press). Human factors in the design of sustainable built environments. Intelligent Buildings International, 7(4), https://doi.org/10.1080/17508975.2014.970121

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Sep 22, 2014
• Online Publication Date: Oct 27, 2014
• Deposit Date: Jul 26, 2016
• Publicly Available Date: Jul 26, 2016
• Journal: Intelligent Buildings International
• Print ISSN: 1750-8975
• Electronic ISSN: 1756-6932
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis Open
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 7
• Issue: 4
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/17508975.2014.970121
• Keywords: Human behaviour; Sustainable development; Intelligent building; Occupant comfort; Evidence-based design
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/737630
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17508975.2014.970121
• Additional Information: This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Intelligent Buildings International on 27/10/2014, available online: http://www.tandfonline.com/10.1080/17508975.2014.970121.