Conclusion

With the status quo, best practices, and case studies developed, this concluding chapter provides a retrospective summary and the authors’ views on needs for future work. The future work is divided by research needs and needed changes to practice and the policy that might guide it. While emerging building standards are beginning to recognize the complexity and importance of occupants, building codes, standards, and policies need to break new ground in elevating occupants as the central consideration in building design. This chapter provides closing thoughts aimed at distinct stakeholders: researchers, industry and technology companies, design practitioners, and policymakers. It also considers next priority areas, including considering human comfort and behavior at the community and city scales.