Post-Occupancy Evaluation (POE)
Introduction and Purpose
Post-Occupancy Evaluation (POE) is a way of obtaining feedback on the technical, social, functional and economic aspects of a physical space, including energy use, as well as monitoring the behaviour of its occupants (Wan Mustaffa et al., 2022). POEs can be used to conduct regular audits throughout the lifespan of the building. They are commonly adopted for new or recently constructed buildings but can be used for any building where objective and subjective assessments are being carried out. They can be used to steer efforts towards improving building design and its use, minimise operational costs, and to maximise employee productivity, efficiency and comfort (RIBA, 2024).
POE’s are used to facilitate greener and more sustainable buildings for business use and reduce carbon emissions. For example, a POE can offer accurate measures of heat loss through office doors and windows, maximise the use of natural lighting and reduce reliance on artificial lighting, and assess indoor air quality. It can also identify any errors in design that lead to unsustainable and wasteful behaviour, such as large banks of light switches without any labels which lead to unnecessary lights being switched on, and over-heating of offices. Researchers from the Building Research Establishment Trust in the UK identified from POEs that users ‘hijack’ buildings with fully automated systems to control indoor conditions (e.g. automatic windows jammed open with books, cold water placed under thermostats to increase room temperature). They concluded that building users require some level of control over indoor conditions, training on how to use automated systems, and feedback on the environmental performance of the building, including implications for biodiversity.
Examples include:
New Art Exchange in Nottingham, (UK) POEs identified issues such as offices overheating in summer due to poor window design and staff (mis)use of them. The POE also created more useable space within the existing structure and identified areas where energy efficiency can be improved.
BNP Paribas conducted POEs on repurposed office buildings to assess environmental and psychological impact of green walls, biodiversity roofings and natural ventilation systems.
Deloitte used POEs for The Edge Building in Amsterdam to assess energy usage and environmental performance. The evaluations focused on how the building's features, such as its smart systems and green roofs, impacted energy efficiency and biodiversity.
Key Features
Timescale:
- Evaluation typically takes from three months to one year to complete, depending on the building’s age, size, and purpose, as well as the level of assessment required. It can inform the design of a new build or improve the performance of an existing structure.
Materials Required:
- Data collection tools – e.g. surveys, interview/focus group guides, sensors (air quality) and meters (e.g. electricity, water), biodiversity monitors, recording equipment, observation checklists, etc.
- Building performance data – e.g. utilities, building management system (BMS), maintenance logs, occupant complaints
- Data analysis software – e.g. Excel/SPSS/R to process quantitative and qualitative data, GIS for mapping biodiversity/green spaces, energy modelling software
- Building documentation – blueprints and floor plans, site maps, photographic documentation
- Reporting and presentation software
- Communication channels – e.g. email, shared platforms – to share updates, obtain feedback and gather further information, contact lists of relevant stakeholders
- Budget and time tracking management tools.
Skills Required:
POEs to improve environmental impact are typically carried out by a team of specialists, including architects and (civil) engineers, facility managers, social scientists and sustainability experts. Specific skills are required in:
- Building performance
- Property development
- Engineering
- Design and architecture
- Project management
- Sustainability, biodiversity and environmental impact assessment
- Data collection and analysis (quantitative and qualitative)
- POE consultancy
- Regulatory frameworks/certification.
Potential Impact:
- Improved building environmental performance
- Employee productivity, well-being and morale
- Improved biodiversity outcomes
- Enhanced organisational reputation (internal and external)
- Regulation compliance
- Cost savings
- Contribution to global biodiversity goals.
Instructions
To implement POE within an organisation, use the following steps as a guide:
Assessment of current performance using quantitative and qualitative measures:
- Surveys/ focus groups/ interviews of occupants, regarding their experience of using the building
- Observations of occupant interactions with the space
- Objective measures of environmental performance of the space (e.g. sensors to track water consumption, air quality, temperature, biodiversity indicators, etc.)
- Assessment of any existing biodiversity-enhancing features and impact on biodiversity
- Assessment of occupant complaints regarding the space and impact on productivity/ environmental concerns
- Benchmarking of environmental performance against existing standards
Identification of strengths and weaknesses:
- Assessment of what requires improvement and how this might be achieved
- Engaging in feedback and dialogue with building occupants
Collaboration with stakeholders to confirm and deliver changes:
- Development of actionable plans
- Liaising with relevant parties, e.g. owners, managers, designers, POE specialists, to deliver changes required
Continued monitoring and improvement:
- Monitoring schedule to assess improvements in building and occupant performance, typically after six months post-improvements made and then annually.
Rationale
POE enables organisations to assess how effectively a building performs once it is in use. It examines both environmental performance and the behaviour of occupants, offering evidence to support continuous improvement and inform future design. A well-conducted POE identifies inefficiencies, strengthens sustainability credentials, and ensures that the workplace supports both ecological responsibility and employee well-being. It also provides a basis for integrating biodiversity considerations into the built environment.
Key reasons for conducting a POE include:
- To identify the building’s current environmental performance and occupants’ behaviour when using it (RIBA, 2024).
- To assess and reduce energy consumption and improve indoor air quality (Ye et al., 2022).
- To improve the health, well-being and productivity of occupants through better design and management (Allen et al., 2015).
- To minimise waste and enhance energy and water efficiency (Al-Qawasmi et al., 2019).
- To identify specific opportunities for advancing environmental sustainability and positive behavioural change.
Benefits:
- Extends the lifespan of the building through improved management and maintenance practices.
- Avoids unnecessary repair costs by identifying problems early and embedding sustainable solutions into design and operation.
- Supports cost–benefit analysis for introducing biodiversity features such as green roofs, living walls or habitat areas.
- Enhances corporate reputation through public dissemination of sustainability and biodiversity outcomes.
Links to Resources
The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), offer guidance and free resources on POEs
BRE Trust offers advice and POE services
