Week 6 - Indoor Environmental Air Quality

1. Designing for improved indoor environmental quality can achieve energy savings in a variety of ways. According to the article by Kathleen McKay which cites research being performed at the University of California, Berkeley, commercial energy consumption can be cut by as much as a third, while also giving office workers more control of their own comfort. What the researchers are proposing is a "Personal Comfort System" (PCS) that allows office workers within the building to control the immediate environment around them and thus not waste energy heating or cooling unoccupied areas. One of the ways they believe this can be done is through low-wattage heating/cooling devices placed in chairs, foot rests, fans, etc.. In total, the researchers believe this can lead to a 39% reduction in natural gas and 30% reduction in electricity used for heating/cooling.


2. Some of the issues that can lead to poor indoor air quality include: moisture trapped in the building assembly,  moisture and dirt in ventilation systems, contaminant sources from within - ie. new equipment or furniture releasing toxins, and ineffective filtration/air cleaning.

These issues can be confronted quite literally from the ground up as buildings are being constructed. Through aids, such as the IAQ Guide, many common issues can be identified and avoided Furthermore, a lot of the issues can also be addressed through improved/increased ventilation, air cleaning, and regular maintenance on items such as air filters.


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