An Investigation of the Factors Influencing Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) of Residential Buildings in Gauteng, South Africa

Abstract

The study aims to examine the factors affecting the IEQ of buildings with respect to type of building unit, gender, age, ethnicity and directions that the windows of occupants' building units are facing. The study was conducted in Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality (EMM) of South Africa. The descriptive (questionnaire) survey research design (quantitative method) was adopted in the study. The convenience sampling technique was used to collect data for the study. The method of data analysis includes percentages, mean scores, t-test statistic and one-way analysis of variance. The results of the study indicate that the factors investigated in the study were significantly optimum for the IEQ of buildings. However, inferential statistics show that the respondents differed on some factors of IEQ based on age, gender, ethnicity and building unit. Based on the findings, the study concludes that, the factors affecting IEQ of buildings vary according to age, gender and type of building units occupied. Hence, the factors need to be given dedicated consideration whenever design of buildings are to be done. Despite the existence of standards/assessment tools for determining the IEQ of proposed buildings, gender, age and type of units to be provided for occupants should be put into consideration when building projects are to be designed for IEQ.