Sustaining Occupant Well-Being: Thermal Comfort and Air Quality in Indoor Environments
A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050).
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 May 2026 | Viewed by 419
Special Issue Editors
Interests: energy efficiency in buildings; smart buildings; model predictive control; smart grids; nearly zero energy buildings; air quality; passive heating and cooling strategies; thermal comfort; natural ventilation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
In the pursuit of improved building performance, much of the existing research has focused on technology-oriented solutions, including smart systems and automation, for indoor environmental control. However, this strong emphasis on technology has often overshadowed the human element, leading to building designs and operations that may compromise occupant well-being. As a result, issues such as thermal discomfort and symptoms associated with “sick building syndrome” remain prevalent, even in technically advanced buildings. Moreover, the ways in which occupants perceive and experience their indoor environments are rarely incorporated into performance assessments, despite their direct impact on satisfaction, productivity, and health. Recognizing this gap, the European Commission has introduced the Smart Readiness Indicator (SRI)—a metric designed to assess a building's intelligence in terms of energy performance, grid responsiveness, and, crucially, its adaptability to occupant needs. This includes, among others, ensuring a healthy indoor climate and considering occupant preferences and behaviors. Therefore, achieving a high SRI score requires not only advanced technology but also a deep understanding of occupant comfort, behavior, and well-being.
In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. We invite contributions that explore comfort perception, human-centered control strategies, and integrated approaches to indoor environmental quality. Special attention will be given to studies that address how building control systems and indoor environments affect occupant satisfaction and overall well-being. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:
- Thermal comfort;
- Indoor air quality;
- Human-centered building control;
- Occupant perception and behavior;
- Multi-sensory comfort (including multiple comfort aspects such as thermal, IAQ, visual, etc.);
- Impact of control strategies on well-being;
- Post-occupancy evaluation and field studies.
We look forward to receiving your contributions.
Dr. Tea Zakula
Dr. Arlinda Bresa
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- thermal comfort
- indoor air quality
- human-centered building control
- occupant perception
- occupant well-being
- multi-sensory comfort
- post-occupancy evaluation
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