Comparison of Perceived and Measured Indoor Environmental Quality Across Home and Office Work Environments

As remote and hybrid work arrangements become increasingly embedded in modern professional life, understanding indoor environmental quality (IEQ) in work-from-home (WFH) settings has become critical for supporting sustainable and healthy work environments. This study assessed both subjective perceptions and objective measurements of IEQ from three different working environments of home, employer offices, and simulated standard-compliant offices. Within the home environment, household characteristics resulted in significantly different measured IEQ: larger households and pet ownership were associated with higher CO2, VOC, and air temperature levels, while noise levels varied by childcare responsibilities and flooring type. IEQ perceptions also significantly differed: air temperature satisfaction was lower among those providing childcare, and overall environmental satisfaction varied by WFH frequency, with occasional WFH workers reporting the least satisfaction. Across the three working environments, participants were significantly more satisfied with thermal and acoustic conditions in WFH than employer offices, with simulated standard-compliant offices showing intermediate results. Notably, these perception patterns did not always align with measured environmental conditions. These findings demonstrate that both household characteristics and work context shape occupants’ IEQ perceptions, underscoring the importance of occupant-centered evaluation in advancing sustainable building design and remote work strategies. The results suggest that integrating both objective IEQ metrics and subjective experience is essential for promoting long-term environmental sustainability and occupant well-being across evolving work environments.