Urban Studies and Planning Commons^™

Where Design Meets Occupant Engagement: Studying The Importance Of Occupant Engagement For Green Buildings, Leed And Pomona College, Chelsea Fried

Pomona Senior Theses

A building is not independent from the people who inhabit it. Humans play an important role in determining the resource consumption of buildings. This thesis argues that it is essential for rating systems like LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), that promote green building to include occupant engagement as an important part of the sustainable building equation. Occupant engagement, which includes connecting residents to the sustainable capacity of their buildings, has the potential to lead to reductions in resource consumption and to create a culture of sustainability and awareness. Through a case study of Pomona College strategies for occupant …