Post-occupancy evaluation (POE): a key to sustainable building performance

What is Post-Occupancy Evaluation?

Post-Occupancy Evaluation (POE) is a building assessment method that analyzes the performance of the built environment after it has been occupied. Its primary goal is to provide real-world data on a building’s functionality, efficiency, and user satisfaction, while identifying any discrepancies between the initial design expectations and actual performance.

This tool is essential for architects, engineers, and property managers, as it facilitates the optimization of buildings in terms of energy efficiency, sustainability, and operational cost reduction. The insights gained from POE enable targeted improvements that enhance indoor air quality, lighting, thermal comfort, and overall user experience.

POE also plays a key role in supporting the objectives of the new EPBD (2024/1275) and the EU Renovation Wave Strategy, helping to improve building energy efficiency and sustainability through real-world performance data.

The POE process

It requires collaboration among various professionals, including:

• Architects, who assess the impact of design decisions.
• Engineers, who analyze the mechanical and energy performance of the building.
• Property managers, responsible for maintenance and facility operations.
• Researchers, who evaluate user satisfaction and the long-term effects of building performance.

To ensure an accurate assessment, POE employs both qualitative and quantitative methods.

1. Qualitative methods

• Interviews with occupants to assess comfort levels and identify usability issues.
• Surveys to measure overall satisfaction.
• Observations of actual building use and operational efficiency.

2. Quantitative methods

• Energy consumption monitoring to optimize efficiency, often utilizing smart sensors and IoT-based data collection systems.
• Indoor air quality analysis, measuring CO₂ levels, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), humidity, and ventilation efficiency.
• Thermal comfort assessments to evaluate the performance of heating and cooling systems.
• Noise level measurements to ensure acoustic comfort within the built environment.

When can a POE assessment be conducted?

POE assessments are carried out at different stages after a building is occupied, each focusing on specific evaluation aspects:

• Short-term POE (1–6 months): Identifies early issues with building systems, comfort, and functionality, providing quick feedback for adjustments.
• Mid-term POE (1–2 years): Examines operational efficiency, energy use, and maintenance needs to improve long-term performance.
• Long-term POE (5+ years): Evaluates durability, cost-effectiveness, and overall sustainability, offering insights for future building projects.

Why conduct a POE assessment?

More effective architectural and engineering design

• POE provides architects and engineers with valuable feedback on the real-world performance of buildings.
• The insights gained help optimize future design processes, ensuring that new buildings better meet user needs and energy efficiency standards.

Boosting user satisfaction and workplace comfort

• POE helps facility managers optimize lighting, temperature, acoustics, and ergonomics, enhancing employee well-being and productivity.
• Research shows that improving natural light reduces eye strain, headaches, and drowsiness, while better acoustics can increase efficiency by up to 20%.
• Addressing workplace distractions, which account for up to 90% of productivity loss, through noise control and sound-absorbing materials significantly improves the work environment.

Advancing sustainability and energy efficiency

• POE-driven data collection enhances energy efficiency by optimizing heating, cooling, and lighting systems.
• Smart building management and IoT-based sensors play a growing role in reducing energy waste.
• According to the U.S. EPA, municipalities can cut energy use by 10–30% through continuous monitoring and optimization.
• Similarly, MIT research shows that targeted efficiency improvements can lower commercial building energy consumption by up to 30%.

Long-term cost savings

• POE helps reduce operational and maintenance costs while improving energy efficiency.
• A Washington university study found that switching to LED lighting and motion sensors cut energy use by 60%, saving 350 MWh annually and reducing CO₂ emissions by 62.4 tons.
• Using durable, eco-friendly materials minimizes maintenance needs and extends building lifespan.
• Additionally, a well-designed work environment can lower sick leave rates, boosting productivity and overall financial savings.

Challenges in POE: from data to action

Resource-heavy process

• Gathering meaningful insights requires time, money, and effort—sensor installations, interviews, and surveys don’t come cheap.

Subjective feedback

• Not everyone is eager to share their experience, and when they do, opinions can be inconsistent or biased.

Bridging the gap between findings and action

• Identifying issues is one thing—fixing them is another. In older buildings, structural upgrades can be expensive and disruptive, making implementation a real hurdle.

How can Equinox help you?

For POE to drive real change, it needs to be part of the entire building lifecycle—not just an afterthought. By integrating POE findings from the design and construction phases, architects and engineers can create buildings that are smarter, more efficient, and truly user-centric.

At Equinox, we help design firms, property managers, and municipalities turn POE data into action, delivering solutions that boost performance, sustainability, and long-term success.

1. Refining architectural and engineering design to ensure buildings meet both user expectations and regulatory requirements.

2. Integrating POE-driven insights into business decisions, enabling long-term, cost-effective investments and improvements.

3. Achieving long-term sustainability goals by ensuring compliance with green building standards.

4. Optimizing real estate investments and portfolios through data-driven POE solutions, helping decision-makers anticipate maintenance and development needs.

5. Enhancing communication and collaboration between architects, engineers, property managers, and key stakeholders to drive more effective project outcomes.

Cited and additional literature

Policies

• EU 2024/1275 – Energy Performance of Buildings Directive
• COM(2020) 662 final – EU Renovation Wave: Modernization of Europe's building stock
• Government of Hungary (2020): Long-term renovation strategy for improving the energy efficiency and sustainability of buildings by 2050

Books

• Nigel Oseland: A Practical Guide to Post-Occupancy Evaluation and Researching Building User Experience. RIBA Publishing (2019)

Articles

• Hay, R., Samuel, F., Watson, K. J., & Bradbury, S. (2018). Post-Occupancy Evaluation in Architecture: Experiences and Perspectives from UK Practice. Building Research & Information, 46(6), 698–710.
• Kivimäki, M., Head, J., Ferrie, J. E., Shipley, M. J., Vahtera, J., & Marmot, M. G. (2019). Workplace Interventions Can Reduce Sickness Absence: The Whitehall II Study. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 61(7), 592–598.
• Powers, A., & Saad, M. (2022). Building Energy Use: Modeling and Analysis of Lighting Systems—A Case Study. Sustainability, 14(20), 13181.
• Zimmerman, A., & Martin, M. (2001). Post-Occupancy Evaluation: Benefits and Barriers. Building Research & Information.