Article
Construction & Building Technology
Angela Sanguinetti, Sarah Outcault, Theresa Pistochini, Madison Hoffacker
Summary: This research explores the perception of teachers on indoor environmental quality (IEQ) in relation to actual monitored data. The findings indicate that teachers' perception of ventilation is not accurate, and those in classrooms with poorer ventilation were more satisfied with IEQ. Errors in HVAC system installation and programming contributed to misunderstandings. CO2 monitoring and teacher education are crucial for creating a safe classroom environment.
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Diana Rodriguez, Itziar R. Urbieta, Angel Velasco, Miguel Angel Campano-Laborda, Elena Jimenez
Summary: This study evaluated the ventilation conditions, COVID-19 risk, and indoor air quality (IAQ) in secondary school and university classrooms in Toledo, Spain. The results showed that university classrooms had better ventilation conditions and thermal comfort compared to secondary school classrooms. The IAQ was generally good in all classrooms, with outdoor sources of gaseous pollutants and heterogeneous sources of particulate matter. Controlled mechanical ventilation systems and wearing well-fitting masks were recommended to minimize the transmission risk of COVID-19 and other airborne infectious diseases.
BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Review
Construction & Building Technology
Nehul Agarwal, Chandan Swaroop Meena, Binju P. Raj, Lohit Saini, Ashok Kumar, N. Gopalakrishnan, Anuj Kumar, Nagesh Babu Balam, Tabish Alam, Nishant Raj Kapoor, Vivek Aggarwal
Summary: This paper reviews control measures and preventive sustainable solutions for improving indoor air quality, emphasizing the importance of integrated non-pharmaceutical and engineering control measures. By reducing occupant density, maintaining social distance, and implementing advanced ventilation systems, healthy indoor air quality can be sustained.
SUSTAINABLE CITIES AND SOCIETY
(2021)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
M. T. Miranda, P. Romero, V. Valero-Amaro, J. Arranz, I Montero
Summary: Current evidence suggests that COVID-19 can be transmitted through aerosols in indoor areas such as educational centers. Ventilation is a crucial measure in reducing the risk of infection. A study analyzed the effects of natural ventilation through windows on indoor air quality and thermal comfort during on-site examinations in higher education centers during the winter season. The results showed that ventilation conditions were generally adequate, but they might affect the thermal comfort of the occupants.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HYGIENE AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
(2022)
Review
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Nishant Raj Kapoor, Ashok Kumar, Tabish Alam, Anuj Kumar, Kishor S. Kulkarni, Paolo Blecich
Summary: Research on Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) in Indian school classrooms has been lacking organization and comprehensive methodology, hindering the assessment and improvement of IEQ parameters. Future research should focus on integrating current conditions with advancements in technology and addressing the impact of factors like the COVID-19 pandemic and Artificial Intelligence on IEQ in educational settings.
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Shamila Haddad, Afroditi Synnefa, Miguel Angel Padilla Marcos, Riccardo Paolini, Steven Delrue, Deo Prasad, Mattheos Santamouris
Summary: A field study was conducted in secondary school classrooms in Sydney, Australia, where the use of a cloud-connected demand-controlled mechanical extract ventilation system (DCV) significantly improved air quality and comfort. Students demonstrated adaptability to indoor temperature and CO2 concentration changes. Understanding indoor air quality and thermal environment is crucial for developing child-friendly design guidelines for schools.
ENERGY AND BUILDINGS
(2021)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Ashraf Mimi Elsaid, M. Salem Ahmed
Summary: The coronavirus pandemic has resulted in widespread infections and deaths, impacting global activities and the economy. Improving air conditioning systems, particularly air filters, is crucial to prevent the spread of the virus and maintain indoor air quality.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Ahmet Yuksel, Muslum Arici, Michal Krajcik, Mihriban Civan, Hasan Karabay
Summary: This study investigated the impact of pandemic restrictions on energy consumption, thermal comfort, and indoor air quality in mosques in Turkey. The results showed that lighting energy consumption decreased due to less usage during the pandemic, while heating and cooling costs increased in one mosque despite restricted usage. Keeping windows open and limiting occupancy improved indoor air quality, evidenced by lower CO2 concentration during the pandemic. The study also found that acceptable thermal comfort was achieved at night during the summer period under pandemic measures.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Alberto Meiss, Hector Jimeno-Merino, Irene Poza-Casado, Alfredo Llorente-Alvarez, Miguel Angel Padilla-Marcos
Summary: This paper describes the implementation of various ventilation strategies in a nursery and primary school from September 2020, during the COVID pandemic, to reduce the risk of infection without significantly decreasing hygrothermal comfort. The results showed that certain strategies were effective in improving indoor air quality while maintaining comfortable conditions, suggesting their potential extension beyond the pandemic period.
Article
Construction & Building Technology
P. Carlotti, B. Massoulie, A. Morez, A. Villaret, L. Jing, T. Vrignaud, A. Pfister
Summary: COVID19 can be transmitted through small droplets released by breathing, speaking, coughing, sneezing, etc., and the ambient relative humidity plays a crucial role in the lifetime and distance of droplet transmission. The study shows that dry air is favorable for reducing the risk of COVID19 contamination.
BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Arturs Staveckis, Anatolijs Borodinecs
Summary: This study investigates the effectiveness of impinging jet ventilation system in providing desired indoor climate in office buildings through experiments and CFD simulations. Results show that the shape of the air opening has little impact on contaminant and heat removal effectiveness, while circular air openings perform better.
ENERGY AND BUILDINGS
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Sarkawt Hama, Prashant Kumar, Arvind Tiwari, Yan Wang, Paul F. Linden
Summary: This study monitored the air quality in classrooms in five schools in London, finding that classroom air pollution, including particulate matter and CO2 concentrations, is affected by various factors such as classroom characteristics and ventilation. The results show that CO2 concentrations during occupancy were 150% higher than non-occupancy, and PM concentrations during occupancy were significantly higher compared to non-occupancy. Overall, the air quality in classrooms was found to be poor.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Dorit Aviv, Kian Wee Chen, Eric Teitelbaum, Denon Sheppard, Jovan Pantelic, Adam Rysanek, Forrest Meggers
Summary: Radiant cooling-assisted natural ventilation is an innovative technical approach that can reduce the cost of fresh air supply in buildings and improve air quality. By decoupling ventilation and thermal control, this technology reduces energy consumption and lowers the risk of infectious disease transmission indoors.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Irene Poza-Casado, Raquel Gil-Valverde, Alberto Meiss, Miguel Angel Padilla-Marcos
Summary: This study assessed the natural ventilation in two university classrooms in Spain and found that relying solely on air infiltration for ventilation is insufficient to ensure indoor air quality. Specific controlled ventilation strategies should be implemented to improve IAQ and avoid excessive energy loss.
Review
Construction & Building Technology
Dadi Zhang, Marco A. Ortiz, Philomena M. Bluyssen
Summary: Due to COVID-19, the indoor environmental quality (IEQ) in sports facilities has become a concern for environmental health practitioners. To understand the available guidelines, standards, and studies on IEQ in sports facilities, a comprehensive literature review was conducted. The study aimed to identify indicators used to assess IEQ, particularly indoor air, and gaps in knowledge regarding the safety, health, and comfort of sports facilities. The findings reveal a focus on dose-related indicators in current standards and previous investigations, with little consideration for building-related and occupant-related indicators. More research is recommended to develop future standards considering various IEQ factors in sports facilities.
INDOOR AND BUILT ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Philomena M. Bluyssen, Dadi Zhang, Marco Ortiz
Summary: Recent studies have found that both personal and building-related factors can impact the health and comfort of occupants in their homes, and people may respond differently to these factors. This study used a large database from a survey conducted among first-year students at Delft University of Technology to explore the associations between self-reported symptoms and the indoor environment of their homes. The results showed three distinct clusters of students based on their perceptions of indoor environmental quality (IEQ) and these clusters had different risk factors contributing to symptoms.
BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Huiying Cynthia Hou, Dadi Zhang, Joseph H. K. Lai
Summary: This study investigates the indoor built environment (IBE) of a Dutch modular student housing by integrating IBE performance data and occupants' perception. The study finds that thermal quality and indoor air quality (IAQ) are critical factors, and that room orientation and occupant behavior have significant impacts on IBE. The methodology developed in this study can be applied to enhance the design and management of modular student housing in the future.
ENERGY AND BUILDINGS
(2023)
Review
Construction & Building Technology
Dadi Zhang, Marco A. Ortiz, Philomena M. Bluyssen
Summary: Due to COVID-19, the indoor environmental quality (IEQ) in sports facilities has become a concern for environmental health practitioners. To understand the available guidelines, standards, and studies on IEQ in sports facilities, a comprehensive literature review was conducted. The study aimed to identify indicators used to assess IEQ, particularly indoor air, and gaps in knowledge regarding the safety, health, and comfort of sports facilities. The findings reveal a focus on dose-related indicators in current standards and previous investigations, with little consideration for building-related and occupant-related indicators. More research is recommended to develop future standards considering various IEQ factors in sports facilities.
INDOOR AND BUILT ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Ling -Tim Wong, Miu Ting Chan, Dadi Zhang, Kwok-Wai Mui
Summary: Since COVID-19 outbreak, online learning has gained more attention. However, the physical environment where online learning takes place, such as students' homes, is seldom studied. To explore the impact of thermal conditions in the online learning environment on students' comfort and performance, an experiment was conducted. Results showed a positive correlation between participants' thermal sensation and their skin temperature as well as the operative temperature in the apartment. In addition, an inverted U-shape relationship was found between participants' perceived performance and their thermal sensation/skin temperature/operative temperature.
BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ling-Tim Wong, Chun-San Chan, Kwok-Wai Mui, Dadi Zhang
Summary: Previous studies have shown the potential for energy and water savings in residential showering facilities, but the potential of public showering places with multiple showerheads has been overlooked. This study measured water flow rate in a swimming pool to understand water-use patterns. The results showed the need for an appropriately sized water tank to improve stability and efficiency in water supply systems. However, further field studies are needed to confirm these findings.
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Dadi Zhang, Kwok-Wai Mui, Ling-Tim Wong
Summary: In the past two decades, there has been a significant increase in research on indoor environmental quality (IEQ) assessment due to advances in data collection and analytical techniques. This study examines and summarizes the IEQ models proposed in the literature from 2001 to 2022, identifying ten key questions related to indicator selection, data collection, analysis methods, interpretation, and implication. The answers to these questions provide practical instructions for the development of an improved, standardized, and repeatable IEQ assessment model.
APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL
(2023)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Dadi Zhang, Kwok-Wai Mui, Ling-Tim Wong
Summary: Despite an increased awareness about energy conservation, the energy consumed for water heating in Hong Kong has actually increased by 7% from 2008 to 2018. A study was conducted to investigate the relationship between occupants' behavior and energy consumption during showering, and a mathematical model was developed for this purpose. The findings suggest that water flow rate and ventilation rate are the most and least influential variables, respectively, in energy saving.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
L. Jonker, K. J. Linde, A. R. de Boer, E. Ding, D. Zhang, M. L. A. de Hoog, S. Herfst, D. J. J. Heederik, P. L. A. Fraaij, P. M. Bluyssen, I. M. Wouters, P. C. J. L. Bruijning-Verhagen
Summary: The study aimed to investigate the impact of COVID-19 measures on SARS-CoV-2 incidence in secondary schools and its association with classroom CO2 concentration and airborne contamination. The findings showed that school-initiated COVID-19 measures had no additional effect on the incidence rate. Furthermore, the study found that the incidence rate decreased during the national lockdown and post-lockdown periods compared to the pre-lockdown period.
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Seyyed Abbas Noorian Najafabadi, Er Ding, Nadine Hobeika, Philomena M. Bluyssen
Summary: Indoor air quality is crucial for human health and well-being, and wool carpets can potentially clean the air of odours in small-scale environments. However, the effectiveness is less conclusive in larger-scale scenarios.
INDOOR AND BUILT ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Parth Bansal, Steven Jige Quan
Summary: This study investigates the relationship between urban form and canopy layer urban heat island (CUHI) using a relatively large sample of microclimate sensors in Seoul, Korea. The study compares different statistical models and finds that the spatially explicit gradient boosting decision tree (GBDT) model has the highest accuracy. The study also shows that the effect of urban form on CUHI varies at different time instances during the day. These findings provide valuable insights for planners to understand the complexity of urban climate and reduce CUHI magnitude.
BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Miaomiao Liu, Salah Almazmumi, Pinlu Cao, Carlos Jimenez-bescos, John Kaiser Calautit
Summary: Windcatchers provide effective low-energy ventilation and summer passive cooling in temperate climates. However, their use in winter is limited due to significant ventilation heat loss and potential discomfort. This study evaluates the applicability of windcatchers in low-temperature conditions, highlighting the need for control strategies to reduce over-ventilation and the integration of heat recovery or thermal storage to enhance winter thermal conditions.
BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Review
Construction & Building Technology
Behrouz Nourozi, Aneta Wierzbicka, Runming Yao, Sasan Sadrizadeh
Summary: This article presents a systematic review of ventilation solutions in hospital wards, aiming to enhance pathogen removal performance while maintaining patient and healthcare staff comfort using air-cleaning techniques. The study reveals the importance of proper ventilation systems in reducing infection risk and adverse effects of cross-contamination.
BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Zhen Yang, Weirong Zhang, Hongkai Liu, Weijia Zhang, Mingyuan Qin
Summary: The study examines the influence of personalized local heating on the thermal comfort of occupants in old residential buildings. The findings reveal that personalized local heating can increase the overall thermal sensation of occupants, but only a few methods are effective in enhancing thermal comfort. The chosen heating methods and background temperature affect the participants' selection of heating parts.
BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Hong Cheng, Dan Norback, Huilin Zhang, Liu Yang, Baizhan Li, Yinping Zhang, Zhuohui Zhao, Qihong Deng, Chen Huang, Xu Yang, Chan Lu, Hua Qian, Tingting Wang, Ling Zhang, Wei Yu, Juan Wang, Xin Zhang
Summary: The home environment and sick building syndrome (SBS) symptoms in five southern Chinese cities have been studied over time. The study found a decrease in asthma prevalence and an increase in allergic rhinitis. Cockroaches, rats, mice, mosquitoes or flies were identified as consistent biological risk factors for SBS symptoms, while redecoration, buying new furniture, and traffic air pollution were identified as other risk factors.
BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Chaojie Xing, Zhengtao Ai, Zhiwei Liu, Cheuk Ming Mak, Hai Ming Wong
Summary: This study experimentally investigated the emission characteristics of droplets around the mouth during dental treatments. The results showed that the peak mass fraction of droplets occurs within the size range of 20 μm to 100 μm, and droplets with a diameter less than 200 μm account for over 80% of the mass fraction. The dominant emission direction of droplets is towards the dummy's head and chest, forming an approximately cone shape.
BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Zhijian Liu, Zhe Han, Lina Hu, Chenxing Hu, Rui Rong
Summary: This study compared the effects of different respiratory behaviors on the distribution of aerosols in a ward and the risk of infection for healthcare workers using numerical simulation. It was found that talking in the ward significantly increased aerosol concentrations, particularly short periods of talking. Wards designed with side-supply ventilation had lower overall infection risk. Talking alternately between healthcare workers and patients slightly extended the impact time of aerosols.
BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Yan Yan, Mengyuan Kang, Haodong Zhang, Zhiwei Lian, Xiaojun Fan, Chandra Sekhar, Pawel Wargocki, Li Lan
Summary: In a high-density city, opening windows for sleep may lead to increased indoor temperature, higher PM2.5 concentration, and noise disturbance, which can negatively impact sleep quality.
BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Yan Bai, Liang Liu, Kai Liu, Shuai Yu, Yifan Shen, Di Sun
Summary: This study developed a non-intrusive personal thermal comfort model using machine learning techniques combined with infrared facial recognition. The results showed that the ensemble learning models perform better than traditional models, and the broad learning model has a higher prediction precision with lower computational complexity and faster training speed compared to deep neural networks. The findings provide a reference for optimizing building thermal environments.
BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Yue Lei, Zeynep Duygu Tekler, Sicheng Zhan, Clayton Miller, Adrian Chong
Summary: Mixed-mode ventilation is a promising solution for achieving energy-efficient and comfortable indoor environments. This study found that occupants can thermally adapt when switching between natural ventilation (NV) and air-conditioning (AC) modes within the same day, with the adaptation process stabilizing between 35 to 45 minutes after the mode switch. These findings are important for optimizing thermal comfort in mixed-mode controls, considering the dynamic nature of thermal adaptation.
BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Nan Mo, Jie Han, Yingde Yin, Yelin Zhang
Summary: This study develops a method based on the LCZ framework for a comprehensive evaluation of urban-scale heat island effects, considering the impact of geographic factors on LST. The results show that Guilin's geomorphological conditions lead to abnormal heat island effects during winter, and the cooling effects of mountains and water bodies vary seasonally in different built areas, with LCZ 2 exhibiting the strongest cooling effect.
BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Tunga Salthammer
Summary: Monitoring the potential formaldehyde emission of wood-based materials through test chamber investigations has significantly contributed to reducing indoor formaldehyde concentrations. However, the different methodologies used in these procedures prevent direct result comparison. Empirical models for converting formaldehyde steady-state concentrations based on temperature, humidity, air change rate, and loading were developed in the 1970s and have been modified to accommodate the development of lower-emitting materials. Formaldehyde emissions from wood-based materials are complex and require nonlinear regression tools for mathematical analysis.
BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Katarina Stebelova, Katarina Kovacova, Zuzana Dzirbikova, Peter Hanuliak, Tomas Bacigal, Peter Hartman, Andrea Vargova, Jozef Hraska
Summary: This study investigated the impact of reduced short-wavelength light on the hormone melatonin metabolite 6-sulfatoxymelatonin (u-sMEL) and examined the association between previous day's light exposure and u-sMEL. It was found that reducing short-wavelength light during the day did not change the concentration of u-sMEL. Personal photopic illuminance was positively correlated with u-sMEL in the reference week. The illuminance had a significant impact on u-sMEL, as shown by the evaluation of the mean of all three urine samples. However, this correlation was not found in the experimental week.
BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Ruoxin Xiong, Ying Shi, Haoming Jing, Wei Liang, Yorie Nakahira, Pingbo Tang
Summary: This study proposes a data-model integration method to identify and calibrate uncertainties in machine learning models, leading to improved thermal perception predictions. The method utilizes the Multidimensional Association Rule Mining algorithm to identify biased human responses and enhances prediction accuracy and reliability. The study also evaluates different calibration techniques and discovers their potential in enhancing prediction reliability.
BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Beichao Hu, Zeda Yin, Abderrachid Hamrani, Arturo Leon, Dwayne McDaniel
Summary: This paper introduces an innovative super-resolution approach to model the air flow and temperature field in the cold aisle of a data center. The proposed method reconstructs a high-fidelity flow field by using a low-fidelity flow field, significantly reducing the computational time and enabling real-time prediction.
BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT
(2024)