Post-occupancy evaluation and experimental feedback of a net zero-energy building in a tropical climate

Located in the French tropical Island of La Reunion in the Indian Ocean, the ENERPOS building was inaugurated in January 2009. The building is located in the Saint Pierre Campus of the University of Reunion Island. It was designed to be a net zero-energy building with mixed-mode air-conditioning systems in some areas (natural ventilation, ceiling fans, air conditioning) and efficient passive solutions sets usually used in tropical areas - i.e. efficient solar protection coupled with cross natural ventilation. This article reports the results of a recent user survey of the staff and students who use the building, and relates the users' perceptions to some of the environmental control systems installed. Indications are that the users have been able to achieve thermally comfortable conditions for much of the year without recourse to the air-conditioning systems. However, there is still the need for more readily available information on how to get the best from the windows and the ceiling fan systems for the ever-changing groups of students, and staff who may only use the classrooms intermittently. For the more permanent staff group, preliminary indications are of improved health and productivity by comparison with their experience of other buildings.