in order to identify trends. Each interview participant was coded 1A-10A from Building A and 1B-10B from Building B in order to maintain anonymity.
The content analysis of interviews from Building A revealed that although many of the regularly occupied spaces did in fact contained a thermostat or operable window, the temperatures were generally perceived to be uncomfortable. Consistent with the low score for thermal comfort, 60 percent of interview respondents did not feel authorized to adjust the thermal settings and 20 percent did not feel comfortable using the windows as a means of controlling their thermal environment. For example, respondent 2A (transient occupant) stated, “The windows are operable, but no one has ever used them and teachers do not inform students that they can be used.” Similarly, respondent 8A stated, “The students can’t really change the thermostat settings and would need to get approval prior to opening a window.” Thus, it was suggested by 40 percent of interviewees that the thermostats be made more accessible and 60 percent suggested that thermal set points be adjusted in order to provide more consistent temperatures in the building throughout the year.
In addition to the temperature being physically uncomfortable, 20 percent of interviewees indicated that classroom finishes appeared to be cold as well. For example participant 1A (transient occupant) noted, “[y] there are so many hard surfaces that it just feels cold. The counters are all grey, the floors are grey concrete, and the walls are white. Perhaps if they brought in a warmer carpet it wouldn’t feel so cold.” This type of response supports that an occupant’s sense of temperature is psychologically connected to their perception of an interior environment. Therefore, in addition to addressing the actual thermal properties of the building, it may be beneficial to incorporate warmer material finishes into the regularly occupied spaces. Table III has been provided illustrate the results of the content analysis and to summarize the trends that emerged from Building A’s and Building B’s user responses.
Similarly, Building B interviews sought to identify the factors that contributed toward an unsatisfactory score for thermal comfort. Overall 80 percent of respondents