Abstract:
There is a potential link between indoor environment and occupants’ productivity, which has identified
in previous literature. Especially, there is an effect of the quality of indoor environment, where, people
spend 90% of their time indoors. Indoor Environmental Quality is become a growing concern to
ensure occupants’ health, wellbeing, and personal productivity. However, the deficiency of research in
this area gave an importance to conduct this study. Accordingly, this research is to determine the
relationship between Indoor Environmental Quality and occupants’ productivity in green buildings.
Survey approach was selected under quantitative phenomenon, as this research is focused to
determine the relationship between variables quantitatively. Both questionnaire survey and semistructured
interviews were conducted among occupants in green certified office buildings in Sri Lanka.
The survey data was analysed using nonparametric statistical analysis techniques; significance testing
and Spearman’s Correlation. SPSSv.20 software was used in data analysis. The Indoor Environmental
Quality factors identified through literature were evaluated to identify significant factors influencing
occupants’ productivity. According to the test statistics, seven significant factors were identified as the
first stage of data analysis where they showed statistically significant correlation to the major Indoor
Environmental Quality dimensions. As the second stage of analysis, the relationship between Indoor
Environmental Quality factors and occupants’ productivity was determined. As the test results showed,
air quality and acoustical partitioning factors confirmed a statistically significant weakly positive
monotonic correlation whilst system control showed strongly positive monotonic correlation to the
occupants’ productivity in green buildings. The test results were further discussed by stating the
qualitative findings and extant literature. As the outcome of this research, the relationship between
significant Indoor Environmental Quality factors and occupants’ productivity was reviewed and
evaluated. As per the findings of the research, facilitating more provisions on air quality and acoustic
quality would effect to ensure the productivity improvements of green building occupants.
