scholarly journals Global Comfort Indices in Indoor Environments: A Survey

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (22) ◽  
pp. 12784
Author(s):  
Stefano Riffelli
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Quality ◽  
Energy Savings ◽  
Recent Literature ◽  
Indoor Environmental Quality ◽  
Indoor Environments ◽  
Specific Context ◽  
Comfort Index ◽  
Current Trends ◽  
Core Section ◽  
Comfort Indices

The term “comfort” has a number of nuances and meanings according to the specific context. This study was aimed at providing a review of the influence (or “weight”) of the different factors that contribute to global comfort, commonly known as indoor environmental quality (IEQ). A dedicated section includes the methodologies and strategies for finding the most relevant studies on this topic. Resulting in 85 studies, this review outlines 27 studies containing 26 different weightings and 9 global comfort indices (GCIs) with a formula. After an overview of the main concepts, basic definitions, indices, methods and possible strategies for each type of comfort, the studies on the IEQ categories weights to reach a global comfort index are reviewed. A particular interest was paid to research with a focus on green buildings and smart homes. The core section includes global indoor environmental quality indices, besides a specific emphasis on indices found in recent literature to understand the best aspects that they all share. For each of these overall indices, some specific details are shown, such as the comfort categories, the general formula, and the methods employed. The last section reports IEQ elements percentage weighting summary, common aspects of GCIs, requisites for an indoor global comfort index (IGCI), and models adopted in comfort category weighting. Furthermore, current trends are described in the concluding remarks pointing to a better IGCI by considering additional aspects and eventually adopting artificial intelligence algorithms. This leads to the optimal control of any actuator, maximising energy savings.

scholarly journals Indoor Environmental Quality Analysis for Optimizing Energy Consumptions Varying Air Ventilation Rates

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 482 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesco Mancini ◽  
Fabio Nardecchia ◽  
Daniele Groppi ◽  
Francesco Ruperto ◽  
Carlo Romeo
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Quality ◽  
Energy Savings ◽  
Building Envelope ◽  
In Situ Monitoring ◽  
Quality Analysis ◽  
Airflow Rate ◽  
Indoor Environmental Quality ◽  
Hvac System ◽  
Energy Consumptions

The energy refurbishment of the existing building heritage is one of the pillars of Italian energy policy. Aiming for energy efficiency and energy saving in end uses, there are wide and diversified improvement strategies, which include interventions on the building envelope and Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems, with the introduction of renewable energy sources. The research aims at evaluating the building energy consumptions and Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ), varying the airflow rates handled by the HVAC system. A Case Study (the Aula Magna of a university building) is analysed; an in-situ monitoring campaign was carried out to evaluate the trend of some environmental parameters that are considered to be significant when varying the external airflow rates handled by the HVAC system. Additionally, dynamic simulations were carried out, with the aim of evaluating the energy savings coming from the airflow rates reduction. The results of this case study highlight the opportunity to achieve significant energy savings, with only slight variations in IEQ; a 50% reduction in airflow rate would decrease energy consumption by up to 45.2%, while increasing the carbon dioxide concentration from 545 ppm to 655 ppm, while the Particulate Matter and Total Volatile Organic Compounds increase is insignificant.

scholarly journals Protocol for maximizing energy savings and indoor environmental quality improvements when retrofitting apartments

2013 ◽  
Vol 61 ◽  
pp. 378-386 ◽  
Author(s):  
Federico Noris ◽  
William W. Delp ◽  
Kimberly Vermeer ◽  
Gary Adamkiewicz ◽  
Brett C. Singer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Quality ◽  
Energy Savings ◽  
Indoor Environmental Quality ◽  
Quality Improvements

scholarly journals A Wireless Gas Sensor Network to Monitor Indoor Environmental Quality in Schools

Sensors ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (12) ◽  
pp. 4345 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alvaro Ortiz Perez ◽  
Benedikt Bierer ◽  
Louisa Scholz ◽  
Jürgen Wöllenstein ◽  
Stefan Palzer
Keyword(s):  
Sensor Network ◽  
Gas Sensor ◽  
Environmental Quality ◽  
Energy Savings ◽  
Environmental Parameters ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Sensor Nodes ◽  
Indoor Environmental Quality ◽  
Monitoring And Control ◽  
And Control

Schools are amongst the most densely occupied indoor areas and at the same time children and young adults are the most vulnerable group with respect to adverse health effects as a result of poor environmental conditions. Health, performance and well-being of pupils crucially depend on indoor environmental quality (IEQ) of which air quality and thermal comfort are central pillars. This makes the monitoring and control of environmental parameters in classes important. At the same time most school buildings do neither feature automated, intelligent heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems nor suitable IEQ monitoring systems. In this contribution, we therefore investigate the capabilities of a novel wireless gas sensor network to determine carbon dioxide concentrations, along with temperature and humidity. The use of a photoacoustic detector enables the construction of long-term stable, miniaturized, LED-based non-dispersive infrared absorption spectrometers without the use of a reference channel. The data of the sensor nodes is transmitted via a Z-Wave protocol to a central gateway, which in turn sends the data to a web-based platform for online analysis. The results show that it is difficult to maintain adequate IEQ levels in class rooms even when ventilating frequently and that individual monitoring and control of rooms is necessary to combine energy savings and good IEQ.

scholarly journals Indoor Environmental Quality in Latin American Buildings: A Systematic Literature Review

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 643 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudia Valderrama-Ulloa ◽  
Lorena Silva-Castillo ◽  
Catalina Sandoval-Grandi ◽  
Carlos Robles-Calderon ◽  
Fabien Rouault
Keyword(s):  
Latin America ◽  
Literature Review ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Environmental Quality ◽  
Systematic Literature Review ◽  
Indoor Environment ◽  
Indoor Environmental Quality ◽  
Indoor Environments ◽  
Environment Quality ◽  
Indoor Environment Quality

The amount of time people spend inside buildings is significant. Indoor environment quality deficiencies in some of these buildings may affect the health of its users. Therefore, a systematic literature review has been conducted to assess the quality of indoor environments in existing buildings in Latin America. The objectives of this review are (1) identifying countries and building types whose indoor environment quality has been analyzed the most, (2) identifying most used evaluation strategies, (3) identifying comfort types and most evaluated variables, and (4) determining whether or not Latin American buildings are comfortable and what local factors contribute to that effect. From the 100 selected papers for this analysis, it was noted that Brazil and Argentina led the studies on residences and schools. It was also noted that hygrothermal comfort was the most analyzed comfort type, with temperature and humidity leading the number of studies. Finally, this review shows a lack of studies including buildings whose users are sensitive to indoor environmental quality, such as nurseries, senior homes, or health facilities. Additionally, there is a sustained discrepancy between objective measuring methods and user perception. Furthermore, a detailed analysis of 88 buildings shows that in Latin America, 67.5% of buildings are uncomfortable; thus, it is necessary to improve the designs and regulatory standards, to educate users, and to improve building monitoring management at the operational stage.

Enablers of incorporating indoor environmental quality (IEQ) principles into buildings

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Aba Essanowa Afful ◽  
Joshua Ayarkwa ◽  
Godwin Kojo Kumi Acquah ◽  
Dickson Osei-Asibey
Keyword(s):  
Construction Industry ◽  
Environmental Quality ◽  
Environmental Conservation ◽  
Corporate Image ◽  
Indoor Environmental Quality ◽  
Indoor Environments ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Wide Applicability ◽  
Global Construction ◽  
The Impact

PurposeThe aim of this study was to identify these enablers in literature and subsume them under broad categories for the development of a framework showing the interrelationships among the enablers.Design/methodology/approachFifty-four (54) relevant articles were desk reviewed from different construction peer-reviewed journals and published conference proceedings to identify 20 core enablers of incorporating indoor environmental quality (IEQ) into building designs.FindingsThe identified enablers include improved occupants' health, well-being and satisfaction, environmental conservation, high return on investments and co-operative methods of design and construction management among others. To better understand the enablers identified, they were classified into seven main interconnected categories: economic enablers, environmental enablers, occupant and end-user enablers, process enablers, corporate image, culture and vision enablers, client-related enablers and external enablers.Research limitations/implicationsThe interconnectedness brought to the fore a subtler appreciation of the drivers of IEQ, which could help expand current knowledge outside the narrow scope of isolated drivers. The fact that the papers selected in this study are not limited geographically underscores the wide applicability of the findings to the global construction industry.Practical implicationsUnderstanding that the enablers will enhance the adoption and design of quality indoor environments, help in building the capacity of consultants to adopt the design of quality IEs and reduce the impact of construction on the environment.Social implicationsThese identified enablers are not limited geographically and thus could promote the design of quality indoor environments globally, particularly in green building design. To the global construction community, this review presents a list of enablers that would expedite the adoption of principles of IEQ designs in buildings thus taking the global construction industry one more step towards sustainable built forms. Promoting the identified enablers would ultimately steer stakeholders to design and build better indoor environments.Originality/valueThe fact that the papers selected in this study are not limited geographically underscores the wide applicability of the findings to the global construction industry.

scholarly journals Necessary Conditions for Multi-Domain Indoor Environmental Quality Standards

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (20) ◽  
pp. 8439
Author(s):  
Ardeshir Mahdavi ◽  
Christiane Berger ◽  
Veselina Bochukova ◽  
Leonidas Bourikas ◽  
Runa T. Hellwig ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Quality ◽  
Necessary Conditions ◽  
Built Environments ◽  
Indoor Environmental Quality ◽  
Indoor Environments ◽  
Present Contribution ◽  
Current State ◽  
And Behavior ◽  
Evaluation Approaches ◽  
Further Development

A discussion of sustainability in architecture cannot be meaningfully carried out without the inclusion of most buildings’ central purpose, namely the provision of indoor environments that are accommodating of occupants’ needs and requirements. To this end, building designers and operators are expected to demonstrate compliance with codes and standards pertaining to indoor environmental quality (IEQ). However, the majority of conventional IEQ standards, codes, and guidelines have a single-domain character, in that they address IEQ in terms of a number of isolated domains (i.e., thermal, visual, acoustic, air quality). In this context, the present contribution explores the current state of multi-domain IEQ evaluation approaches and the necessary conditions for their further development and application. Toward this end, a number of common building rating schemes were selected and analyzed in detail. The results of this assessment imply the necessity of both short-term improvements of the existing schemes in terms of the transparency and plausibility of the applied point allocation and weighting strategies and the fundamental need for a deeper empirically grounded understanding of the nature of occupants’ perception of and behavior in the built environments.

scholarly journals Empirical investigation of indoor environmental quality (IEQ) in a hospital building in Merida Yucatan, Mexico

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (3.11) ◽  
pp. 245
Author(s):  
Fanny C. Cocom Martínez ◽  
. .
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Quality ◽  
Air Conditioning ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Indoor Environmental Quality ◽  
Indoor Environments ◽  
Small Hospital ◽  
Air Conditioning System ◽  
Hospital Building ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Temperature Levels

This research summarizes the result of physical measurement of the indoor environmental quality (IEQ) in two different hospital rooms, from a small hospital in Merida Yucatan, Mexico. The results show wide differences in the established parameters for this evaluation and the measures obtained. The temperature levels exceed the range of 20-26ºC in both rooms, considering that bothrooms have air conditioning system (ISO 7730, 2005). The levels of Relative Humidity also exceed in more than 20% of the permitted range. The amount of CO2 is registered in higher levels when the air conditioning system is on, this is due to the lack of circulation and proper ventilation (ASHRAE 62.1, 2016). About Light Intensity showing the difference between rooms, is represented in the obtained results in the established parameters and their physical characteristics (NOM-025-STPS, 2008). Optimum conditions in indoor environments should result in health, well-being and comfort, both in terms of working life and in the areas where healthcare is concerned. The current society demands safe, clean and well-conditioned places, for which it is necessary to integrate perceptions and demands of the users to reach an optimal balance between social and legislative standards.  

scholarly journals Protocol for Maximizing Energy Savings and Indoor Environmental Quality Improvements when Retrofiting Apartments

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Federico Noris ◽  
William W. Delp ◽  
Kimberly Vermeer ◽  
Gary Adamkiewicz ◽  
Brett C. Singer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Quality ◽  
Energy Savings ◽  
Indoor Environmental Quality ◽  
Quality Improvements

scholarly journals Indoor Fungal Treatment by Using Potassium Sorbate as Bio-Resistance Coating for Different Plasterboard Wall Finishings

2015 ◽  
Vol 773-774 ◽  
pp. 1116-1120 ◽  
Author(s):  
U.K. Parjo ◽  
Norshuhaila Mohamed Sunar ◽  
Abdul Mutalib Leman ◽  
N.I.A. Ideris ◽  
Paran Gani ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Quality ◽  
Indoor Environment ◽  
Fungal Growth ◽  
Microbial Colonization ◽  
Potassium Sorbate ◽  
Indoor Environmental Quality ◽  
Indoor Environments ◽  
Fungal Treatment ◽  
Antimicrobial Coatings ◽  
Common Wall

Good indoor environmental quality (IEQ) is desired for a healthy indoor environment. The microbial growth in indoor environments contribute into poor indoor environmental quality can cause various of health problems. Antimicrobial coatings are designed to generate a surface that is easy to clean and can also incorporate active agents, commonly called biocides, which prevent microbial colonization, the subsequent growth and bio-deterioration of the substrate. The aim for this study is to treat indoor environmental quality in buildings by reviewing the possible application of potassium sorbate used in food industry preservatives to be use as indoor antimicrobial. Plasterboard wall was used as a substrate to see the influence of different common wall finishing used such as paints and wallpapers on fungal growth. Potassium sorbate was tested against fungal isolated from affected room M146, FKAAS building. The total fungal counts in affected room was 806 cfu/m3. The ASTM D5590-00 standard was used to evalute fungal growth and potassium sorbate was effective to inhibit the amount of fungal growth on four common types of wall finishing used on plasterboard wall. As a result, the percentage reduction in growth between control and treatment sample were 10% on thin wallpaper, 15% on acrylic paint, 25% on glycerol-based paint and 60% on thick wallpaper.

scholarly journals Energy Efficiency Package for Tenant Fit-Out: Laboratory Testing and Validation of Energy Savings and Indoor Environmental Quality

Energies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (20) ◽  
pp. 5311
Author(s):  
Paul Mathew ◽  
Cindy Regnier ◽  
Jordan Shackelford ◽  
Travis Walter
Keyword(s):  
Energy Efficiency ◽  
Environmental Quality ◽  
Laboratory Testing ◽  
Energy Savings ◽  
Indoor Environmental Quality ◽  
The Real Estate ◽  
Efficiency Measures ◽  
Plug Loads ◽  
Operational Issues ◽  
Core Measures

Approximately 40% of the total U.S. office floor space of 1.5 billion sq.m (16 billion sq.ft.) is leased space occupied by tenants. Tenant fit-out presents a key opportunity to incorporate energy efficiency within the real estate business cycle. We designed a package of energy efficiency measures tailored to the scope of a tenant fit-out. This tenant fit-out package (TFP) includes advanced lighting and heating, ventilating and air-conditioning (HVAC) controls as core measures, with ceiling fans, automated shading, and plug load controls as additional optional measures. We conducted laboratory testing of six configurations of the package to evaluate energy savings, indoor environmental quality, and identify installation, commissioning, and operational issues. Combined savings for HVAC, lighting, and plug loads ranged from 33–40%. Lighting savings ranged from 69–83%, and HVAC savings from 20–40%. The laboratory testing also revealed some minor but tractable challenges with installation and commissioning of HVAC controls. Overall, the results demonstrate that significant savings can be realized in existing office buildings by incorporating relatively low-risk, proven measures at the time of a tenant fit-out.

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