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Environmental Comfort in School Buildings

A Case Study of Awareness and Participation of Users

Doris C. C. K. Kowaltowski

This article describes the results of a study on user behavior in relation to environmental comfort conditions. A case study was conducted in school buildings in the region of the city of Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil. The methodology adopted was based on field observations of technical aspects of the school environment and of types of user behavior (interventions) that introduced changes in the classroom space. Questionnaires were applied to users. A follow-up study evaluated user perception of possible interventions. User knowledge on environmental comfort concepts was also assessed. The results of the case study showed few interventions by users in favor of their own comfort. Low participation results may, in part, be attributed to the context, where users, schoolchildren, are subject to discipline codes with restricted spontaneous behavior in favor of individual comfort. Environmental awareness should therefore be stimulated by teaching concepts of environmental comfort in primary and secondary schools.

Key Words: environmental comfort • environmental awareness • school buildings

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