Understanding the role of building management in the low-energy performance of passive sustainable design: Practices of natural ventilation in a UK office building

Abstract

The gap between the anticipated and measured environmental performance of energy-efficient buildings is a well-documented issue for the sustainability of the indoor and built environment. The significance of building users and their social practices is persistently underestimated in relation to this performance gap. The sociotechnical research agenda advocates the consideration of design/user interactions and the significance of building management is also being recognised. Conceptual development through the application of social practice theory has sought to overcome the established dualism between building technologies and user behaviour, and the changeable nature of practices in response to active sustainable design technologies has been evidenced. This research paper presents the findings of a qualitative study of an office building in an urban context in the UK. The building constitutes a passive sustainable design solution combining various natural ventilation technologies, including thermal mass, cross-ventilation, operable window design and solar shading. The analysis investigates the underperformance of the building’s energy efficient design in relation to building management as an intermediation process in driving and embedding new practices of natural ventilation.