Analysis and monitoring of environmental conditions and well-being in remote working environments in northern Italy

¹ Free consultant, Bolzano, Italy
² Department of Energy, Politecnico di Torino, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Turin, Italy

^* Corresponding author: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Abstract

This research focuses on monitoring and analysis of indoor environmental quality (IEQ) in buildings where hybrid and remote work is carried out in mountain areas in northern Italy. The aim is to determine how the physical characteristics of remote working environments affect worker satisfaction and well-being, by researching patterns and correlations between the various variables monitored. The objectives described are studied through multi-parameters devices (focus on thermal environments and indoor air quality) and subjective analyses applied to nine case studies in summer and mid-season. The duration of monitoring depends on the time of use of the rooms and is approximately one week for each selected period. The environmental parameters monitored by integrated devices, such as temperature, relative humidity, CO₂, radon, dust, TVOC, pressure, illuminance (lux) and noise level, are then analysed using the EN 16798-1 standard, which defines four categories of IEQ. The subjective analysis through online questionnaires delves deeper into occupants' perceptions of indoor parameters and the ease with which they can modify their environment to increase comfort. The usability of multi-parameter domestic instruments for IEQ parameters is also analysed, in order to determine ease of use, data download and interpretation. The novelty of this work lies in the combined use of low-cost multi-parameter domestic devices and subjective surveys in real remote working environments in mountainous and semi-mountainous areas, and in the critical evaluation of the applicability of EN 16798-1 office categories to home-based workspaces.