Abstract
Optimum thermal comfort and good indoor air quality (IAQ) is important for occupants. In tropical region offices, an air conditioner is indispensable due to extreme high temperatures. However, the poor ventilation causes health issues. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to propose an improving IAQ method with low energy consumption. Temperature, relative humidity, and CO2 and CO concentration were monitored in a poorly ventilated office for one year to observe seasonal variation. The results showed that the maximum CO2 concentration was above the recommended level for comfort. Simple ventilated practices and placing a number of Sansevieria trifasciata (S. trifasciata) plants were applied to improve the IAQ with the focus on decreasing CO2 concentration as well as achieving energy saving. Reductions of 19.9%, 22.5%, and 58.2% of the CO2 concentration were achieved by ventilation through the door during lunchtime, morning, and full working period, respectively. Placing S. trifasciata in the office could reduce the CO2 concentration by 10.47%–19.29%. A computer simulation was created to observe the efficiency of simple practices to find the optimum conditions. An electricity cost saving of 24.3% was projected for the most feasible option with a consequent reduction in global warming potential, which also resulted in improved IAQ.
Highlights
In tropical regions, where the mean annual temperature (T) exceed 30 ◦ C, [1,2], air conditioning (AC) is often used in buildings to make the conditions more comfortable for occupants and it can be found in commercial buildings, government buildings, factories, universities, schools, and homes
The desire to save energy and a lack of awareness regarding health and safety issues relating to indoor air quality (IAQ) have resulted in rooms being designed in tropical countries, including Thailand, which allow for all doors and windows to be closed, causing poor ventilation, in hotels [6]
Without reconstruction of the office space and the installation of a ventilation system, Case 3/C was the best option with good IAQ, and it would achieve a reduction of electricity consumption of 24.3% based on the situation without taking any mitigating action
Summary
In tropical regions, where the mean annual temperature (T) exceed 30 ◦ C, [1,2], air conditioning (AC) is often used in buildings to make the conditions more comfortable for occupants and it can be found in commercial buildings, government buildings, factories, universities, schools, and homes. AC is often used in closed rooms with low ventilation in order to prevent ambient air pollution [3], caused by high occupancy [4] as well as to maintain low T and save energy [5]. The desire to save energy and a lack of awareness regarding health and safety issues relating to indoor air quality (IAQ) have resulted in rooms being designed in tropical countries, including Thailand, which allow for all doors and windows to be closed, causing poor ventilation, in hotels [6]. It is generally accepted that GHG emissions have a considerable impact by raising ambient T [9], which results in higher energy use for air conditioning to make rooms comfortable for their occupants, creating a vicious circle
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