IAQ and sustainability-a balancing act

Abstract

Building designers need to address several issues so as to ensure the sustainability of the building including optimization of the thermal comfort parameters that includes comfort range. Several studies are conducted to understand the indoor environmental characteristics including visual, acoustic, and thermal comfort and acceptable indoor air quality (IAQ) such as the study of the connection between properties of the indoor environment and asthma and allergies in young Swedish children identified polyvinyl chloride flooring to be one important source of airborne phthalates indoors. The study investigating ventilation and health impacts shows that ventilation rates below 10 L/s (21 cfm) per person in all building types are associated with statistically significant decaying in one or more health or perceived air-quality outcomes. The research and development have helped optimize the efficiency of heating and cooling machines such as boilers and chillers that ensure sustainable buildings.