A Study of Student Comfort and Satisfaction within Green Residence Halls
Abstract
This research contributes to a better understanding of whether green university residential halls benefit students by creating better occupant comfort and satisfaction. Residential halls were considered green by this thesis if they achieved LEED certification. This study addresses Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) in relation to comfort and satisfaction among the college students living in residential halls. The present study surveyed Purdue University students living in a conventional residence hall (First Street Towers) compared with students living in a LEED Gold certified residence hall (Third Street Suites) regarding the comfort and satisfaction provided by their residence halls. A Building Use Studies (BUS) survey was utilized to measure IEQ factors on a seven-point Likert scale; the survey also provided an area for respondents’ qualitative input. The results obtained from these descriptive statistics indicated that the Third Street Suites (LEED Gold certified) residence hall showed slightly higher mean satisfaction scores for location, noise, temperature, air quality and overall comfort; however, inferential statistics found no significant difference in the overall student comfort or satisfaction with the two residential halls. Although the results of this study concluded no significant impact, further studies could be conducted to measure other quantitative factors regarding comfort and satisfaction. Continued research of this kind could guide universities to build dormitories that better match students’ IEQ needs and expectations.
Degree
M.Sc.B.C.M.
Advisors
Debs, Purdue University.
Subject Area
Management
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