Indoor Environments最新文献

{"title":"Dwelling overheating in risk in cool climates: Assessing the risk in the context of retrofit and climate change in Ireland","authors":"M. Mulville ,&nbsp;S. Harrington ,&nbsp;C. Li ,&nbsp;K. Raushan ,&nbsp;E. Essien-Thompson ,&nbsp;C. Ahern","doi":"10.1016/j.indenv.2025.100072","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.indenv.2025.100072","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In the context of large-scale retrofit and the predicted impacts of climate change, overheating risk in dwellings in cool climates is an increasing cause for concern. This review-based paper, supported by Dynamic Simulation Modelling, explores the magnitude of overheating risk in dwellings in a cool climate, identifying and quantifying dwelling typologies most at risk. Key contributory factors to overheating, including typology and characteristics, specification and design (including the role of retrofit), internal factors and occupant activities and external conditions are reviewed and existing regulatory frameworks assessed, to highlight potential limitations. Building upon this, the paper makes the case for the use of robust Dynamic Simulation Modelling supported by localised weather files accounting for the Urban Heat Island effect and occupant behaviour. In addition, the paper, for the first time, reviews the future building simulation weather files from Ireland’s National Meteorological service highlighting the potential impact of climate change on overheating projections. The files predict increased ambient temperatures and solar radiation along with a shift in the peak design month (from July to August), with reductions in mean wind speeds over time. Unlike other climate locations, the diurnal temperature swing into the future is not predicted to reduce, supporting the use of thermal mass to mitigate overheating. Middle, top-floor apartments and compact dwellings are at increased overheating risk as are more modern (thermally) or deep retrofitted dwellings. For Ireland, up to 10 % of the existing occupied stock may be at risk of overheating, potentially impacting upon 519,200 individuals. This percentage is likely to increase over time. The findings have implications for housing in cool climates where large investments are being made in national retrofit strategies that could exacerbate the problem if not considered alongside overheating mitigation strategies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100665,"journal":{"name":"Indoor Environments","volume":"2 1","pages":"Article 100072"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143155767","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Asymmetries in global building envelope air infiltration and tightness data: Exploring knowledge gaps for accurate energy analyses","authors":"Rana Raafat ,&nbsp;Sherif Goubran ,&nbsp;Nahla N. Makhlouf ,&nbsp;Mohsen Aboulnaga","doi":"10.1016/j.indenv.2024.100071","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.indenv.2024.100071","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Air infiltration is one of the leading causes of energy loss and heat gain in indoor building spaces. It significantly burdens energy use for heating and cooling, affects indoor comfort and air quality, and increases CO2 emissions, intensifying climate change. While extensive field test results have been reported in the literature, this paper aims to investigate the comprehensiveness of this published data. The research synthesizes published field test data from more than 60 sources to provide benchmark infiltration values for different building typologies, construction methods, and climate zones. Additionally, climate data estimates the average energy burden of infiltration across various climate zones. The analysis highlights critical gaps in envelope infiltration data collection for non-residential buildings and significant gaps in geographic regions outside Europe, the U.S.A., and Canada. This paper presents three main guiding questions addressing key research gaps related to air infiltration in buildings and its impact on energy performance and indoor comfort. The proposed questions and answers aim to build upon existing knowledge, provide valuable insights for ongoing and future research, and inspire exploration into innovative strategies for improving building energy efficiency and occupant well-being. It also provides a list of actionable recommendations for air infiltration testing and research to address the now-apparent gaps.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100665,"journal":{"name":"Indoor Environments","volume":"2 1","pages":"Article 100071"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143155765","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Towards equitable and sustainable indoor air quality guidelines − A perspective on mandating indoor air quality for public buildings","authors":"Ulla Haverinen-Shaughnessy ,&nbsp;Marzenna R. Dudzinska ,&nbsp;Samy Clinchard ,&nbsp;Sani Dimitroulopoulou ,&nbsp;Xiaojun Fan ,&nbsp;Piet Jacobs ,&nbsp;Henna Maula ,&nbsp;Amelia Staszowska ,&nbsp;Oluyemi Toyinbo ,&nbsp;Ju-Hyeong Park","doi":"10.1016/j.indenv.2024.100070","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.indenv.2024.100070","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>A recent article published in Science urges mandatory indoor air quality (IAQ) standards in public spaces, focusing on protecting public health, especially against diseases such as COVID-19, but also IAQ in general (<em>1</em>). Given the significance of this topic to our society, this short communication aims to provide commentary on the article and further discuss the importance of establishing IAQ standards. Citing a lack of legislated standards globally, the authors (<em>1</em>) propose numerical limits for four IAQ parameters: particulate matter (PM_2.5), carbon dioxide (CO₂), carbon monoxide (CO), and ventilation rate (VR). While recognizing that most of the countries do not have any mandatory IAQ standards, it is also noteworthy that IAQ regulations or guidelines exist in more than 40 countries. We like to emphasize that successful IAQ management requires recognizing, sharing, and reviewing openly available, existing regulations and guidelines, while adapting them to regional characteristics.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100665,"journal":{"name":"Indoor Environments","volume":"2 1","pages":"Article 100070"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-12-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143155766","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment (QMRA) framework for exposure from toilet flushing using experimental aerosol concentration measurements","authors":"Ciara A. Higham ,&nbsp;Martín López-García ,&nbsp;Catherine J. Noakes ,&nbsp;Emma Tidswell ,&nbsp;Louise Fletcher","doi":"10.1016/j.indenv.2024.100069","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.indenv.2024.100069","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Flushing a toilet generates aerosols potentially containing microorganisms, serving as a transmission route for pathogens, notably gastrointestinal and respiratory infections. Despite identification of aerosols and positive microbial sampling, there is a lack of quantitative assessments linking aerosol generation to infection risk in toilet settings.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We develop a framework to evaluate the infection risk to a second susceptible individual using a shared toilet following faecal shedding and flush aerosolisation by an infected individual. Experimental measurements of particle concentrations from a toilet flush in a controlled chamber are combined with a model using Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment (QMRA) methods. We demonstrate the approach for SARS-CoV-2 and norovirus, examining model sensitivity and how adding cubicle space and varying occupancy times affect risk.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The model suggests non-negligible infection risk from the toilet plume, particularly for pathogens with higher concentrations in faeces. The model suggests norovirus could have a 2 times greater maximum infection risk than SARS-CoV-2. Mean and median risks for all scenarios decreased when the second individual entered 60 s post-flush compared to 0 s. Occupancy times had less impact on risk compared to the timing of entry post-flush.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>To mitigate infection risk from shared toilets, ventilating the room before entering is crucial. Allowing time between toilet usages may be more effective compared to reducing occupancy times. Models provide valuable insights into relative impacts of measures and comparison between pathogens, but improved quantitative data is needed, particularly in higher risk scenarios (e.g. hospitals, public events), to quantify absolute risks.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100665,"journal":{"name":"Indoor Environments","volume":"2 1","pages":"Article 100069"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-12-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143155736","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Corrigendum to “Energy retrofits: Factors affecting a just transition to better indoor air quality” [Indoor Environ. 1 (4) (2024) 100058]","authors":"Ann Marie Coggins ,&nbsp;Victoria Hogan ,&nbsp;Asit Kumar Mishra ,&nbsp;Daniel Norton ,&nbsp;Declan Foster ,&nbsp;Nina Wemken ,&nbsp;Hilary Cowie ,&nbsp;Edel Doherty","doi":"10.1016/j.indenv.2024.100067","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.indenv.2024.100067","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":100665,"journal":{"name":"Indoor Environments","volume":"1 4","pages":"Article 100067"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142743333","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Guidance to investigate university students’ bodily responses and perceptual assessments in sound exposure experiments","authors":"Amneh Hamida ,&nbsp;Alessandro D'Amico ,&nbsp;AnneMarie Eijkelenboom ,&nbsp;Philomena M. Bluyssen","doi":"10.1016/j.indenv.2024.100066","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.indenv.2024.100066","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Previous studies have shown that sound influences students both physiologically and perceptually. However, most of these studies focussed on the effects of sounds at group-level, ignoring individual differences. Therefore, we investigated which indicators can be used to identify differences in bodily responses and perceptual assessments of each individual when exposed to four different sounds. First, based on an audiometric test, the hearing acuity of 15 students (from five different profiles based on their acoustical preferences and needs) was measured. Then, two sound exposure experiments were conducted in the SenseLab: direct sound exposure using earbuds in a laboratory setting, and indirect sound exposure with speakers in a real room setting. During each experiment, the attention level (AL), mental relaxation level (MRL), heart rate (HR), and respiration rate (RR) were measured with wearable devices, and students made perceptual assessments of each condition. The percentage of change normalised the four bodily response measurements among students. Based on correlation analysis and t-tests, bodily responses, and perceptual assessments across experiments were compared, at group-level and individual-level. Six students, who suffered from mild hearing loss in low-frequency sounds, showed bodily responses such as increased HR during exposure to low-frequency sound conditions. Perceptual assessments of different sound types during both lab experiments substantiated the acoustical preferences of the students from the five profiles. Bodily responses showed no strong nor significant correlations with perceptual assessments during the direct sound exposure experiments. Differences in bodily responses and perceptual assessments between the two experiments and between group-level and individual-level were observed in AL. It is concluded that hearing acuity and type of sound (sound frequencies) are key indicators for identifying differences in bodily responses (such as HR and RR) and perceptual assessment. For future research, it is crucial to consider incorporating audiometric tests, bodily responses such as HR and RR, and perceptual assessments in this type of investigations.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100665,"journal":{"name":"Indoor Environments","volume":"1 4","pages":"Article 100066"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142703598","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Ventilation characteristics in a hospital where a COVID-19 outbreak occurred in the winter of 2020","authors":"Motoya. Hayashi,&nbsp;Sayaka. Murata,&nbsp;Koki. Kikuta","doi":"10.1016/j.indenv.2024.100065","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.indenv.2024.100065","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>To clear the influences of ventilation performance on COVID-19 outbreaks in hospitals, the ventilation characteristics were investigated in a ward of an over-30-year-old hospital where a large outbreak occurred in the winter of 2020. At the early stage of the outbreak, nasal high-flow (NHF) was used in a treatment room for a week, and many patients stayed in multi-bed rooms during the outbreak. The viruses could expand not only with the infected staff or patients but also with the virus-contained air. To make an emergent ventilation measure plan, which the hospital requested, the actual performance of the air-conditioning and ventilation system and the ventilation characteristics were investigated using airflow volume meters, smoke testers, and a tracer gas CO₂. The results of the measurements and the analysis showed the following. The ventilation rates had decreased to 30 % of the design value in the ward. The ventilation rate was decreased to 10 % in the treatment room where NHF was used, and the ventilation rates were decreased to 4–31 % in the rooms with six beds. The room doors were usually opened, and the opening had the effect of increasing the ventilation rate of the room. However, the virus-contained air could expand to the corridor and the other spaces. The air supply is stopped to keep room temperature at night, and the ventilation is thought to be very poor, especially if the doors are closed. Inadequate ventilation in the old buildings may have affected the hospital outbreak cases. It is essential to check the ventilation characteristics regularly, especially in old buildings. The result contributed to the administrative notice “The Emergent Ventilation Measures to Control COVID-19 in Hospitals” in April 2021 in Japan.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100665,"journal":{"name":"Indoor Environments","volume":"2 1","pages":"Article 100065"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143155735","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A field investigation on thermal comfort of kindergarten children in China’s hot summer and cold winter zone during winter","authors":"Weiming Chen ,&nbsp;Ningrui Liu ,&nbsp;Junrui Chang ,&nbsp;Qin Wang ,&nbsp;Hui Zhang ,&nbsp;Yingxin Zhu ,&nbsp;Bin Cao","doi":"10.1016/j.indenv.2024.100064","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.indenv.2024.100064","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Preschool children have different thermal characteristic from adults, while research on their thermal comfort within kindergartens remains scarce. This study conducted a survey among 205 children aged 4–6 years and 25 teachers in China, yielding a total of 6441 records. Although the survey area with most indoor temperatures falling below the comfort zone, a significant portion of the survey sessions in class (52 %) reported hot dissatisfaction. Children reported more hot sensations than adults, with almost no cold sensations reported. The mean Thermal Sensation (<em>MTS</em>) of children remained above the neutral point across the surveyed temperature range. The analysis suggests that a primary cause of children's discomfort is over-clothing. The average level of the investigated children’s clothing insulation was 1.78 clo, which was 0.19 clo more than that of the adults in the same environment, equivalent to adding a vest and a T-shirt. Moreover, the children have limited initiative to adjust their clothing. The excessive clothing likely stems from parental overconcern for cold environment, which leading to preventative dressing. Among the surveyed children, those wearing less clothing exhibited better thermal comfort status, underscoring the unnecessity of excessive clothing.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100665,"journal":{"name":"Indoor Environments","volume":"1 4","pages":"Article 100064"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142720190","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"IAQ and ventilation measurements at the “ZEB Laboratory” office building in Norway","authors":"Maria Justo Alonso ,&nbsp;Hilde Breesch ,&nbsp;Thomas Elvrum Lassen ,&nbsp;Quinten Carton ,&nbsp;Hans Martin Mathisen","doi":"10.1016/j.indenv.2024.100063","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.indenv.2024.100063","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study aims to assess indoor environmental quality (IEQ) within a Zero Emission Building (ZEB) office in Norway, focusing on occupant impact (CO₂, temperature, humidity) and materials/substances influence (formaldehyde, particulate matter (PM_2.5), total volatile organic compounds (TVOC)). It presents a detailed data collection spanning 14 months from March 30th, 2022, to June 1st, 2023. Occupancy varied significantly, affecting measured indoor air quality (IAQ) parameters, with the lowest temperatures recorded on the second floor and specific areas like the canteen experiencing temperature drops during low usage times. Relative humidity levels remained over 20 % in winter despite the building's low occupancy, a notable aspect given Norway's dry winters. PM_2.5 levels stayed below World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines, indicating effective pollution management. The study also evaluates the impact of reducing the ventilation rates on IAQ, noting no significant IAQ compromise. An analysis correlating IAQ measurements with building occupants' satisfaction post-intervention revealed that temperature is the most significant factor affecting satisfaction levels, excluding acoustic satisfaction. Occupants generally reported satisfaction with the indoor environmental quality (IEQ), with specific dissatisfaction tied to thermal environment and IAQ, suggesting the importance of temperature control in occupant perception. This research not only provides valuable insights into IEQ management in Zero Energy and Zero Emission office buildings but also emphasizes the critical role of indoor temperature and the potential of wooden structures to stabilize humidity levels, contributing to occupant comfort and satisfaction.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100665,"journal":{"name":"Indoor Environments","volume":"1 4","pages":"Article 100063"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142653584","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effects of bedroom environment on average heart rate during sleep in temperate regions: Winter conditions in healthy males in their twenties with average BMI","authors":"Noriaki Oota ,&nbsp;Yasuki Yamauchi ,&nbsp;Gota Iwase ,&nbsp;Masaru Abuku ,&nbsp;Yasuhiro Hiraguri","doi":"10.1016/j.indenv.2024.100062","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.indenv.2024.100062","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The nocturnal average heart rate correlates more strongly with mortality rates than the resting heart rate or 24-hour average heart rate. Additionally, it has been suggested that as the average heart rate decreases, SDNN increases, indicating favorable autonomic function. This study aimed to identify the environmental factors that most significantly affect the day-to-day variability of average heart rate during sleep (SHR) in winter. Measurements were conducted in the participants' usual bedrooms of nine healthy male participants in their twenties with an average BMI, living in a temperate region. The measurement periods were from December 1, 2022, to March 8, 2023, and from December 1, 2023, to February 6, 2024. In addition to the heart rate, body movement, room, radiant, and bed microclimate temperatures, carbon dioxide concentration, relative humidity, and illuminance were measured. The results demonstrated that, when comparing across participants, the average room and radiant temperatures during the measurement period had a significant negative correlation with the average SHR during the measurement period, with correlation coefficients of −0.83 and −0.91, respectively. Using a multilevel structural equation model, no valid model was obtained at the between level, which examined differences between participants, while a valid model was found at the within level, which examined differences within participants. At the within level, the most explanatory factors for SHR were body movement, operative temperature, bed microclimate temperature, carbon dioxide concentration, and the interaction term between the bed microclimate temperature and carbon dioxide concentration. Overall, a deeper understanding of the impact of environmental conditions on average sleep heart rate could facilitate the design of environments favorable for autonomic nervous system activity during sleep.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100665,"journal":{"name":"Indoor Environments","volume":"1 4","pages":"Article 100062"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142592941","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}