Psychological factors affecting self-sustaining buildings (Rich Wener)

NSF SelfNSF Self--Sustaining HighSustaining High--Rise Rise Building Workshop Building Workshop -- Jan 13Jan 13--14, 14,

20052005

Environmental Psychology Environmental Psychology in the Design, in the Design,

Operation, & Impact ofOperation, & Impact ofSustainable SkyscrapersSustainable Skyscrapers

Richard WenerRichard WenerPolytechnic UniversityPolytechnic University

NSF Self-Sustaining High-Rise Building Workshop - Jan 13-14,

2005

Overview of This Presentation

Past work – literature on behavior in skyscrapersSustainable design and required user behaviorBehavioral Issues in Energy Use Quality of Life Issues Environmental Stress & ControlPsychological Response to NatureWindows View LightingGreen Buildings and Environmental AttitudesGreen Buildings and Performance


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BACKGROUND

There is not much research on…– Psychological response to high-rise buildings, or– Psychological response to green buildings

Much of existing literature…– Is old (1974 AIA Conference on “Human Response to Tall Buildings”)

– Deals with single issues (i.e., lighting) -– Or is only tangentially relevant (such as response to

passive solar design)


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SUSTAINABLE DESIGN

Sustainability more holistic approach than passive solar movement, more sophisticated, and more high tech

Past work only moderately relevant


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ALL BUILDINGS REQUIRE USER DECISIONS AND RESPONSES, eg.

– Calling elevators– Adjusting thermostat– Lowering/raising blinds, drapes– Carrying items to recycling bin– Flushing toilet– Turning off lights– Etc., etc., etc.

Some building types are more sensitive than others


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PASSIVE SOLAR BUILDINGS REQUIRED SIGNIFICANT EFFORT

Users had to pay more attention to– the timing of adjusting window coverings – manipulating sources & uses, – etc.


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RESEARCH QUESTION:

WHAT KINDS OF BEHAVIORS ARE REQUIRED OF USERS IN A SUSTAINABLE SKYSCRAPER?


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Different than behavior in ordinary high-rise?– If so, how much different?

What user knowledge required?How much maintenance (of building or behavioris needed?


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Research Question:

Is sustainable design robust or sensitive to use?

e.g., how easily can behavior change “net zero” equation?


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Example - green factory in Michigan (Heerwagen & Wise)

running sub-optimally – large bay doors left open for view & fresh air

the design allowed for good views – but high shelving blocked views

(post hoc, ad hoc change risky)

designed ventilation was insufficient


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Research Question

How much user effort in sustaining operation is too much? (for “ordinary”users)

– If too much…Only pioneers will live thereBuilding quality degrades


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Energy Use

Much research in 70’s about how to get people to conserve energy

Applied Behavioral Analysis– ABC model

Antecedents Behavior Consequences


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Energy Conservation

Antecedents– Problem – often no cues available to conserve– Need to cue the desired behavior

Consequences– Problem – reinforcement for using energy

immediate – punishment has long delay– Give feedback about effectiveness– Reinforce Behavior


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Energy Conservation

Cue– Design/signs that signal appropriate behavior

Feedback– Signals about above average (or peak) use

Consequences– Metering– Immediate Charges

Significant energy savings possible (15% to 35%)


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Quality of Life (QOL)

Many issues, including– Comfort / Effort in daily living

Such as ease of maintaining comfort, responsiveness of systems

– Health/well-being– Stress

Control over systems


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Environment & Stress

Lack of control very stressful

Skyscrapers are an inherently less controllable environment (?)

Does “sustainable design” add control to individual?


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Stress and Control

Level of control over HVAC?

Operable Windows– Wow!

Options to elevators – Important – ability to transport self without mechanical aid

Perceived safety re: escape– Mega-size makes it hard


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PSYCHOLOGICAL RESPONSE TO NATURE

Evidence from recent research of…– Psychological benefits from close contact

with nature

– Problems from separation from nature


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PSYCHOLOGICAL RESPONSE TO NATURE

– Exposure to nature enhances restoration from mental fatigue

– S. Kaplan - attention restoration theoryVoluntary directed attention = effort = fatigue

– Such as - studyingInvoluntary attention (view of nature) relaxed, restorative

– Reduces stress– Improves mood– reduces aggressiveness

reduce crime in high rise low income housing (Kuo)


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NATURE, PSYCHOLOGY & GREEN SKYSCRAPERS

In urban core (especially in skyscrapers) people are inherently separated from nature

Past studies showed most disliked aspect of high-rise life was the lack of plant-life - too much concrete(Young, Haber).


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Hypothesis

The “Greenness” of Sustainable Skyscrapers Ameliorates the Negative Affects Of Separation from Nature that is Likely to be Found in Skyscrapers


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WINDOWS, VIEW, LIGHTING

The quality of the view in tall buildings is important to user satisfaction (Young, Haber, Nichols)

– Designers have suggested maximizing visual access to windows from all areas of buildings, including green buildings.


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Research Questions

What is value of view? Is good view sufficient to provide sense of contact with nature?

How does the quality of view (height, viewing distance, quality/size of windows content of view) affect comfort satisfaction, productivity, stress


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LIGHTING

How important is a natural vs artificial lighting– People want (& overestimate) natural light

– Intensity more important than full spectrum for mood (Gifford, Veitch)


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GREEN BUILDINGS & ENVIRONMENTAL ATTITUDES

Attitudes don’t always cause behavior –

Behavior can lead to attitudes


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Research Question

Does working/living in green skyscraper change (increase) support for environmental issues? (i.e., change the likelihood of engaging in environmentally sound behaviors in other settings)


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GREEN BUILDINGS & PERFORMANCE

Evidence of improved performance and productivity in “green” buildings? - (Fisk & Rosenfield; Heshong)

– But…little discussion of behavioral mechanism

– Heshong says increased retail sales result of daylighting and/or view -- why?


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RESEARCH ISSUE

We need to replicate these effects and analyze the underlying mechanisms (perception, motivation, etc?)


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MANY OTHER RESEARCH QUESTIONS

Different responses among types of users– elderly more favorable?

Cross cultural differences How appropriate is building=neighborhood analogy?– Very different structure of urban elements, social

relationships

Will people drink recycle water?– Probably – participatory decision making important

Response to high-rise swaying?


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RESEARCH APPROACHES

Individual case studies of buildings.

Post Occupancy Evaluations – assessing satisfaction with, response to and behavior in Green Skyscrapers


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RESEARCH APPROACHES

Field Experiments to test theoretical models through:– Longitudinal studies

comparisons of buildings over time (i.e., before & after move to new, green building (like Heerwagen & Wise -found pos & neg effects)

– Cross sectional studies (analogous to Kuo)comparisons of comparable green and ‘ordinary’facilities at same point in time

– must deal with self selection issues

Psychological factors affecting self-sustaining buildings (Rich Wener)

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