A project team is designing an office building and aims to achieve optimal thermal comfort for all occupants. Which strategy would effectively improve thermal comfort in the office building while considering individual occupant preferences?
A.
Install operable windows to allow occupants to adjust ventilation
B.
Implement task lighting to control heat emitted by light fixtures
C.
Adopt a building-wide heating and cooling strategy based only on common comfort benchmarks
D.
Remove occupant control to maintain one uniform temperature
Installing operable windows is the best answer because it gives occupants some control over ventilation and comfort conditions. Thermal comfort is influenced by air temperature, radiant temperature, humidity, air movement, clothing, and activity level. Because occupants have different preferences, LEED Indoor Environmental Quality supports strategies that improve comfort and, where possible, provide individual or group controls. Operable windows can help occupants adjust air movement and fresh air when outdoor conditions are appropriate. Task lighting improves visual comfort and may slightly reduce overhead lighting loads, but it is not primarily a thermal comfort strategy. A building-wide strategy based only on average benchmarks may leave many occupants dissatisfied. Removing occupant control is incorrect because control is often associated with improved comfort, satisfaction, and productivity.
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