Applying NABERS IE to a University Building in the UK

It is no longer sustainable to look at the performance of buildings in isolation of people that use them. This paper examines what is involved in assessing how a building performs for people. The Rose Bowl at Leeds Beckett University is an iconic building designed to BREEAM Excellent. The experience of staff and pupils in classrooms, offices and lecture theatres was proving to be less than excellent. In order to assess and quantify the different parameters that characterize the Indoor Environment (IE) an Australian Government developed tool, NABERS Indoor Environment was used to evaluate the Rose Bowl. The results of the assessment revealed that the IE in the Rose Bowl less than optimal for staff and student health and weelbeing. There were shortcomings in thermal, acoustic and lighting comfort. In addition, indoor air quality (IAQ) was also not optimal for people. The most significant finding was elevated levels of formaldehyde, which can have significant effects on occupant health. As a consequence of the study the facilities management team were able tp react in a way that mitigated any effects upon human health. This was achieved by enhancing ventilation rates in certain room locations, even when they were not in use. This paper shows how balancing energy efficiency strategies is required in order to maintain healthy working places.