Air Quality Requirements Research Articles

Sustainable Developments for Future Building

Welcome to this special issue of Indoor and Built Environment. This special issue of journal papers is based on the advanced research studies that had been carried out by the Center for Sustainable Healthy Buildings (CSHeB) in Korea. The 20 papers in this special issue of Indoor and Built Environment were selected from a symposium presentation held on February 10, 2011, in Seoul, South Korea. These papers were further developed by the authors and peer reviewed by experts. The International Society of the Built Environment (ISBE) is proud to be associated with this special issue and recommend you to study the papers presented. ISBE shares the same missions and beliefs with the CSHeB of Korea. We hope by our disseminations, we may contribute to the further advancement of innovative technologies for sustainable built environments; better designs that will improve health and wellbeing for everyone and an influence on policies and planning for sustainable development of healthy buildings for all cultures and nationalities. CSHeB has become one of the leading research organizations in all the subjects concerning the built environment, emphasizing the need for interdisciplinary research into architectural, medical, psychological, physiological, social and environmental aspects of healthy buildings. Progress has been made in understanding the need for social integration, design, construction, maintenance and occupants’ requirements for development of sustainable and healthy buildings. A number of reports and studies have been published providing the latest ‘‘state-of-the-art’’ dissemination of research relating to lighting, ventilation, social environment, indoor air quality, acoustics, thermal comfort, moisture and structure for the built environment. The main focus of this special issue of papers was on the sustainable developments required for future building and considering the need for a future society with an increasing portion of elderly to relative young population, and also the governments’ demand for energy-efficient buildings with low carbon emissions. There is a need to consider the implication to building design and planning to accommodate and to provide a proper provision for the aged and to ensure how healthy environments can be achieved within low-carbon architecture, to satisfy the occupants’ requirements for comfort, environmental quality and minimization of environmental harm that could affect the health and wellbeing of people living and working in these future built environments. This special issue is of interest to broad interdisciplinary readers including academics, practitioners and consultants. Sustainable development and sustainable buildings are important part of architecture and governments’ guidelines and building regulations in many countries of the world. Many governments of the world including the UK and Europe, Korea, Japan and China are setting targets for reduction in carbon emissions and therefore higher energy efficiency standards in buildings and this has an important implication on the materials used due to the embodied carbon, ventilation and indoor air quality requirements due to increasing air-tightness of buildings and more efficient lighting systems and a control of glare. There is also the consideration to look after our elderly, so they will be able to live with dignity with adequate provision for their care and needs within a holistic, healthy community such as in Korea.

Smart Growth Planning for Climate Protection

Problem: To help achieve climate policy goals, California recently adopted measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) by promoting more efficient development. One policy, Senate Bill (SB) 375, gained widespread attention as “the nation's first law to combat greenhouse gas emissions by reducing sprawl” (Office of the Governor of California, 2008). What does experience to date indicate about the effectiveness of California's institutional model for achieving GHG reductions from transportation and land use? Purpose: SB 375, adopted in 2008, requires California's urban regions to achieve mandated GHG reductions through coordinated transportation and land use. After its passage, the California Air Resources Board moderated a lively, contentious negotiation process with the state's 18 Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) to define potential GHG reductions and assign the mandated targets. We evaluate progress toward achieving SB 375 goals, analyzing the target-setting process and local government engagement. We assess the viability of California's largely voluntary model for achieving climate goals through smart growth. Methods: We consider the two-year-long SB 375 target-setting process as an exercise in institution building, creating new planning requirements that build on existing regional processes but also require the development of new techniques for systematically evaluating policy options and assigning regional responsibility. We evaluate MPO data on the potential of various smart growth policy options for reducing GHGs, and consider the activities and perspective of local planners by incorporating findings from surveys and interviews. Results and conclusions: SB 375 demonstrates that regional smart growth climate policy can be built on existing planning processes, particularly for transportation and associated air quality requirements. However, regional and local planners express concerns about inadequate resources for implementation. Without strong state or federal mandates or incentives that favor the policy outcomes envisioned in SB 375, the law expects more from MPOs than they can easily accomplish. As executed so far, SB 375 adds only a modest contribution to state efforts to reduce GHGs by 2020. At the local level, we document a sharp rise in climate policymaking, but also gaps between regional and local assessment and mitigation strategies. Takeaway for practice: It is possible to systematize collaborative climate goal setting for development planning across regions, but negotiating fair share responsibilities is inherently political and requires strong institutions in order to succeed. Effective smart growth climate planning requires matching responsibility and authority with incentives that integrate state, regional, and local needs and responsibilities; tough performance mandates and/or strong incentives are needed to bridge the traditional regional–local divide. To reinforce climate policy through local environmental review, requirements must be linked to regional plans; otherwise, project-by-project mitigation may work at cross-purposes with wider strategies.

Annual Variations of Odor Concentrations and Emissions from Swine Gestation, Farrowing, and Nursery Buildings

ABSTRACT To obtain annual odor emission profiles from intensive swine operations, odor concentrations and emission rates were measured monthly from swine nursery, farrowing, and gestation rooms for a year. Large annual variations in odor concentrations and emissions were found in all the rooms and the impact of the seasonal factor (month) was significant (P < 0.05). Odor concentration was low in summer when ventilation rate was high but high in winter when ventilation rate was low, ranging from 362 (farrowing room in July) to 8934 (nursery room in December) olfactory unit (OU) m−3. This indicates that the air quality regarding odor was significantly better in summer than that in winter. Odor emission rate did not show obvious seasonal pattern as odor concentration did, ranging from 2 (gestation room in November) to 90 (nursery room in April) OU m−2 sec−1; this explains why the odor complaints for swine barns have occurred all year round. The annual geometric mean odor concentration and emission rate of the nursery room was significantly higher than the other rooms (P < 0.05). In order to obtain the representative annual emission rate, measurements have to be taken at least monthly, and then the geometric mean of the monthly values will represent the annual emission rate. Incorporating odor control technologies in the nursery area will be the most efficient in reducing odor emission from the farm considering its emission rate was 2 to 3 times of the other areas. The swine grower-finisher area was the major odor source contributing 53% of odor emission of the farm and should also be targeted for odor control. Relatively positive correlations between odor concentration and both H2S and CO2 concentrations (R 2 = 0.58) means that high level of these two gases might likely indicate high odor concentration in swine barns. IMPLICATIONS The emissions of air pollutants including odors, greenhouse gases, and toxic gases have become a major environmental issue facing animal farms in the U.S.A. and Canada. To ensure the air quality in the vicinity of intensive livestock farms, air dispersion models have been used to determine setback distances between livestock facilities and neighboring residences based on certain air quality requirement on odor and gases. Due to the limited odor emission data available, none of the existing models can take account of seasonal variations of odor emissions, which may result in great uncertainties in setback distance calculations. Therefore, the obtained seasonal odor and gas emission rates by this study can be used by the government regulatory organizations and researchers in air dispersion modeling to get improved calculation of setback distances.

Benzene air pollution measuring in the city of Pancevo

The city of Pancevo is located at the confluence of the Tamis and Danube rivers, 8 km from the country?s capital Belgrade. The basic pollution sources are HIP Petrohemija (Oil industry) and NIS Rafinerija nafte (Oil refinery) which are located south from the city. The measurements of air pollution were done according to the standard methods defined by the regulations of monitoring conditions and air quality requirements, as well as by the procedures for measuring benzene concentration (taking samples with the pump, thermal desorption and gas chromatography). Pancevo has the elaborate system of the measuring points as part of the local system of urban stations for measuring basic and specific polluters. Using this system the measurements were carried out during the course of 24 hours every day in the year 2009 at two measuring points named ?Vatrogasni dom? and ?Zavod?. By analyzing the obtained results, average yearly concentration is lower at ?Vatrogasni dom? measuring point (2,8g/m3) then at ?Zavod? (4,1g/m3). The results that obtained at both measuring points did not exceed the allowed limited value of 5 g/m3.

Applications of ultraviolet germicidal irradiation disinfection in health care facilities: Effective adjunct, but not stand-alone technology

This review evaluates the applicability and relative contribution of ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) to disinfection of air in health care facilities. A section addressing the use of UVGI for environmental surfaces is also included. The germicidal susceptibility of biologic agents is addressed, but with emphasis on application in health care facilities. The balance of scientific evidence indicates that UVGI should be considered as a disinfection application in a health care setting only in conjunction with other well-established elements, such as appropriate heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems; dynamic removal of contaminants from the air; and preventive maintenance in combination with through cleaning of the care environment. We conclude that although UVGI is microbiocidal, it is not “ready for prime time” as a primary intervention to kill or inactivate infectious microorganisms; rather, it should be considered an adjunct. Other factors, such as careful design of the built environment, installation and effective operation of the HVAC system, and a high level of attention to traditional cleaning and disinfection, must be assessed before a health care facility can decide to rely solely on UVGI to meet indoor air quality requirements for health care facilities. More targeted and multiparameter studies are needed to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and incremental benefit of UVGI for mitigating reservoirs of microorganisms and ultimately preventing cross-transmission of pathogens that lead to health care-associated infections.

Energy conservative building air conditioning system controlled and optimized using fuzzy-genetic algorithm

In this work, the combined effect of the energy conservative variable refrigerant volume (VRV) system and the variable air volume (VAV) system was experimentally investigated using genetic fuzzy optimization method that yielded better thermal comfort, indoor air quality (IAQ) requirements without compromising on the energy savings potential. The proposed system was tested using the demand controlled ventilation (DCV) combined with the economizer cycle ventilation (ECV) techniques and examined for a year-round building air conditioning (A/C) application. The supply air temperature (SAT) set points were varied under three distinct strategies and the optimal solutions obtained for the fuzzy systems designed resulted in an enhanced energy conservative potential. The test results of the proposed system were compared with the conventional fan coil A/C system. Based on the three strategies of the supply air temperature, the proposed system yielded an improved per day energy savings potential of 54% in summer and 61% in winter design conditions. Furthermore, for the strategies considered the proposed system achieved an annual energy conservative potential of 36% and exhibited more possible ways to achieve thermal comfort, IAQ and energy conservation.

Life cycle inventory of buildings: A calculation method

Traditionally, life cycle assessment (LCA) is mostly concerned with product design and hardly considers large systems, such as buildings, as a whole. Though, by limiting LCA to building materials or building components, boundary conditions, such as thermal comfort and indoor air quality, cannot be taken into account. The life cycle inventory (LCI) model presented in this paper forms part of a global methodology that combines advanced optimisation techniques, LCI and cost-benefit assessment to optimise low energy buildings simultaneously for energy, environmental impact and costs without neglecting the boundary conditions for thermal comfort, indoor air quality and legal requirements for energy performance. This paper first outlines the goal and scope of the LCI. Then, the partial inventory models as well as the overall building inventory model are presented. Finally, the LCI results are shown and discussed for one reference dwelling for the context of Belgium.

Remote Sensing of Particulate Pollution from Space: Have We Reached the Promised Land?

The Critical Review of Hoff and Christopher, along with the discussants, provides an important perspective on the interface between satellite measurement science and air quality observations. A top-down picture of the usefulness of satellite observations in terms of air quality regulatory and technical support requirements can be summarized. The air quality requirements are (1) determination of compliance with the ambient air quality standards, (2) inference of human and ecosystem exposure, (3) identification of intra- and intercontinental events relevant to EE, (4) establishment of trends in ambient concentrations relevant to accountability, (5) regulatory and forecast model applications, and (6) extension of fundamental knowledge relevant to air quality. Each of these topics is important to air quality management, and each has detailed technical issues associated with spatial and temporal resolution, accuracy, and precision, etc. In any case, one can summarize the broad capabilities of measurement systems to address these requirements as listed in Table 1. From this rather superficial summary table, investigators should be encouraged to forward increased interaction between the various measurement communities and to facilitate the utility of a comprehensive portfolio of measurements and adjunct analyses for improved air quality applications. The Critical Review has done much to educate air quality scientists on the possibilities for using satellite remote sensing for various purposes. However, space scientists also need a better education on air quality science. Recently published reviews on PM air quality measurements are available that complement the Hoff-Christopher paper on this topic. The need for greater collaboration of air quality and space scientists is evident in an article published in the July issue of the journal. Al-Hamdan et al. provide an interesting and useful analysis of relationships between surface air quality and space-based satellite AOD to estimate human exposure. They obtain mostly urban PM data from EPA's Air Quality System (AQS), but they neglect the potentially more useful PM2.5 and chemical speciation data from the nonurban Interagency Monitoring of Protected Visual Environments (IMPROVE) and the Southeastern Aerosol Research and Characterization (SEARCH) networks. They correlate PM2.5 mass with optical depth, although visibility assessments show that light extinction is better represented by a weighted sum of PM2.5 sulfate, nitrate, organic carbon, elemental carbon, and soil dust. Their comparison of hourly measurements with filter measurements does not specify the source of the hourly values as TEOM or BAM. Spatial outliers for ground-level measurements are removed to improve the correlation of PM2.5 with AOD, although these "outliers" are probably real values that relate to human exposure or a nearby source effect. The point here is not to overly criticize a good publication that will be highly cited. The intent is to demonstrate the value of air quality and space scientists working together more closely on this topic. This is something the review authors alluded to in their review, but if, as they concluded, the "promised land" has not been reached, then perhaps it is an appropriate time for the atmospheric community to ask, "Can near-term satellite observations play a role in characterizing broad-based (outdoor) exposure to pollutants and consequently influence public health improvement?" and, if so, then, "What comprehensive, integrated system is needed if satellite observations are to be used together with ground-based observations and modeling to continue improving air quality management options?"

Species and temperature exchange in the atmosphere of “BION-M” spacecraft

On going flights of Foton satellites allow to carry out research in the following domains: effect of space flight and outer space factors such as microgravity, artificial gravity and space radiation on physical processes and biological organisms. Experts from many Russian and foreign scientific institutions participated in the research. Over a period of time from 1973 to 1997 there were launched 11 BION satellites designed by the Central Specialized Design Bureau for carrying out fundamental and applied research in the field of space biology, medicine, radio physics and radiobiology with participation of specialists from the foreign countries. The goal of the present investigation was in developing a numerical simulator aimed at determining gas concentration and temperature fields established inside the scientific module of the spacecraft “Bion-M” and to perform optimization studies, which could meet strong requirements for air quality and temperature range allowable for operation of different biological experiments.

Concept and Spatial Analysis Method of Urban Environmental Traffic Capacity

A method to determine the intensity of traffic is a key issue for the control of air pollution from urban transport in order to meet air quality requirements. In this study, by combining the definitions of environmental capacity and traffic capacity, the concepts of traffic-related environmental capacity and environmental traffic capacity are discussed. A mesh analysis method for environmental traffic capacity in urban areas has been developed by integrating the spatial segmentation method applied for the analysis of urban traffic system with the environmental spatial segmentation method. To calculate the spatial transfer coefficients of air pollutants between grids, a method of backing virtual point sources was established and applied to this case. The linear optimization model of traffic-related environmental capacity was established on a basis of the diffusion and transmission theories for air pollutants. Taking peak hours as an analytical period, we have established an urban environmental traffic capacity analysis model aimed at controlling various air pollutants emitted by vehicles. A case study shows that the model can analyze and calculate vehicle traffic volumes, which satisfy air quality requirements within specified temporal and spatial ranges.

Quantification of the impact of climate uncertainty on regional air quality

Abstract. Uncertainties in calculated impacts of climate forecasts on future regional air quality are investigated using downscaled MM5 meteorological fields from the NASA GISS and MIT IGSM global models and the CMAQ model in 2050 in the continental US. Differences between three future scenarios: high-extreme, low-extreme and base case, are used for quantifying effects of climate uncertainty on regional air quality. GISS, with the IPCC A1B scenario, is used for the base case simulations. IGSM results, in the form of probabilistic distributions, are used to perturb the base case climate to provide the high- and low-extreme scenarios. Impacts of the extreme climate scenarios on concentrations of summertime fourth-highest daily maximum 8-h average ozone are predicted to be up to 10 ppbV (about one-seventh of the current US ozone standard of 75 ppbV) in urban areas of the Northeast, Midwest and Texas due to impacts of meteorological changes, especially temperature and humidity, on the photochemistry of tropospheric ozone formation and increases in biogenic VOC emissions, though the differences in average peak ozone concentrations are about 1–2 ppbV on a regional basis. Differences between the extreme and base scenarios in annualized PM2.5 levels are very location dependent and predicted to range between −1.0 and +1.5 μg m−3. Future annualized PM2.5 is less sensitive to the extreme climate scenarios than summertime peak ozone since precipitation scavenging is only slightly affected by the extreme climate scenarios examined. Relative abundances of biogenic VOC and anthropogenic NOx lead to the areas that are most responsive to climate change. Overall, planned controls for decreasing regional ozone and PM2.5 levels will continue to be effective in the future under the extreme climate scenarios. However, the impact of climate uncertainties may be substantial in some urban areas and should be included in assessing future regional air quality and emission control requirements.

Ventilation Strategies for Good Indoor Air Quality and Energy Efficiency

The requirements for good indoor air quality and energy efficiency have often been considered to be in conflict with each other. However, buildings with low energy consumption in Europe also seem to have a lower rate of building related health symptoms. This indicates the importance of proper design and installation as well as qualified, well trained operational personnel, who understand both the requirements for good indoor air quality and energy efficiency. Several strategies for ventilation are described in this paper. It is shown that, by selecting an appropriate strategy, the indoor air quality can be maintained or improved while reducing energy consumption. Aspects include: proper target and design values of indoor air quality and climate, source control, the efficient removal of contaminants, proper location of fresh air intakes, cleaning of intake air, efficient air distribution in rooms by means of improved ventilation efficiency, heat recovery from exhaust air, control of ventilation rates by air quality, correct balancing of airflows, controlling of indoor climate locally and using ventilation for night cooling.

Vinyl meeting today's and tomorrow's indoor air quality requirements

AbstractThe growth of the “green” building market has raised new questions about the indoor air performance of building products. Indoor air pollution can consist of chemical, biological, and particulate irritants. Vinyl products have been shown to be well suited with respect to indoor air criteria as defined in current standards and “green” building guidelines. People spend more that 80% of their time indoors. Measurements have shown that levels of some indoor air contaminants can be many times higher than those outdoors. Known sources and factors for poor indoor air quality include tobacco smoke, radon, microbial contamination, dust, pet dander, fibers, and particulates. But they seem to be secondary to public concern for chemical emissions from products. Concerns of health effects from certain chemical air pollutants at even very low concentrations (parts per billion) in the workplace and the home have driven suppliers to test their products for emissions in order to assess the impact of those products on indoor air quality. Technology and methods to evaluate the indoor air performance of products have advanced over the past decade. State, federal, and green building rating guidelines with health‐based exposure limits have evolved both domestically and globally. At the same time, the use of vinyl as a replacement for traditional materials and products in the building and construction sector continues to grow. New uses such as vinyl decking and rail, vinyl moldings and trims, along with new flooring and wall covering designs, have increased the use of vinyl in both exteriors and interiors of buildings. Product manufacturers' attention to impacts of products on indoor air quality has resulted in the development of new innovative vinyl compounds and new installation methods. Taken together, these improvements allow vinyl products to meet and exceed even the evolving target for product performance from an indoor air quality perspective. Many of these products require less maintenance and cleaning, thus resulting in lowering of indoor pollutants. Although technical successes have evolved, commercial success will depend on a conscientious consumer. J. VINYL ADDIT. TECHNOL., 13:138–142, 2007. © 2007 Society of Plastics Engineers

Energy Cost and its Impact on Regulating Building Energy Behaviour

The need to improve building energy behaviour was born out of the price shock caused by the oil crises in the 1970s. The response was expressed by national legislative acts regulating the demand for heating and ventilation. The results were important, though not always without side effects, for example, in the field of indoor air quality. Furthermore, economic and environmental considerations played an important role in determining the policies applied, the latter particularly in the 1990s and as a result of the Kyoto and Montreal Protocols. Finally, new problems, like the increasing demand for air conditioning and its impact on national electricity systems began to influence the way in which a building's energy behaviour is considered. The enforcement of the European Directive on the Energy Performance of Buildings (2002/91/EC) seems to provide for the first time an integrated regulatory tool, enabling the simultaneous consideration of the energy, environmental and economic parameters of buildings design. Its implementation, which is still facing delays, will prove the degree of its efficiency. This paper discusses the evolution of these developments within the framework of energy regulation over the last 30 years, with specific examples from Europe. The discussion focuses on the thermal insulation of the building's envelope, the requirements for indoor air quality and the use of air conditioning, in order to narrow a subject that is too broad to be covered in its entirety. Developments from the first regulations in 1976 to Directive 2002/91 were neither straightforward nor solely driven by the rise of energy costs. They are based on the quest for an energy conscious, environmentally friendly and financially feasible building, which must also be friendly to its users.

Case Study of Micro-Contamination Control

Airborne contaminants (gases and particles) pose serious threats to hi-tech industries with the critical dimension of a micro-electronics chip quickly shrinking to nano-scale and the glass substrate of an LCD panel substantially enlarging to 1.9 m by 2.2 m (Generation 7.5). Due to the fast technology evolution, the cleanliness requirement of cleanroom air quality is highly critical. For example, for the 45 nm technology node, ammonia concentration is required to be less than 2.5 part-per-billion (ppb) and concerned particle size is down to 23 nm. To tackle the contamination problem for the rapidly evolving processes, the related information and technique should be shared and learned quickly. In this study, four cases of contamination control are described and they are: (1) corrosive gases (e.g., HBr, HCl, HF, SiF4) outgassing from newly dry-etched wafers, (2) gas leaking from an exhaust pipeline in a semiconductor cleanroom, (3) optical lens hazed by fine particles in a thin-film-transistor liquid-crystal-display (TFT-LCD) fab, and (4) re-entrained boron contaminating the glass substrates inside an LCD stocker. By sharing the case scenarios, it is expected that similar micro-contamination problems could be avoided and the product yield be enhanced. Besides, new monitoring and control techniques for micro-contamination might also be developed based on the results found in this study.

Comparative Energy Analysis of a Constant Air Volume (CAV) System and a Variable Air Volume (VAV) System for a Software Laboratory

The objective of heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) systems is to satisfy users when it comes to health, indoor air quality (IAQ), and thermal comfort. Air conditioning systems employed to provide thermal comfort and indoor air quality consume a significant part of building energy requirements. Any effort to minimise energy consumption improves cost effectiveness and economics. A variable air volume (VAV) system is a choice in that direction. In this research, a relative energy consumption analysis of a constant air volume (CAV) system and VAV system has been performed. For the purpose of this study, a software laboratory was taken and the load pattern was determined. For the derived load pattern an energy analysis of major components of the HVAC system was carried out. It was found that energy savings in the chiller varied from 14 % to 20 % and that fan energy savings were between 20 % and 48 %. To meet indoor air quality (IAQ) requirements a ventilation strategy based on air quality demand control ventilation (DCV) was evaluated. This took into account the contaminants generated from both human and other sources such as the building and equipment, etc.

Transient response of vapor-phase biofilters

Biofilters are a relatively inexpensive management method for biodegradable gas-phase contaminants, capable of meeting stringent air quality requirements. However, the nominally plug flow configuration of conventional unidirectional flow (UF) biofilters results in the microbial community having higher population densities and greater activity near the inlet. When transient loadings occur in conventional biofilters either the mass transfer capacity or the reaction capacity of the initial sections of the bed may be exceeded and contaminants move into the downstream sections where the microbial populations and reaction capacities are low and contaminant breakthrough may occur. Flow-directional-switching (FDS) operation incorporates the advantages believed to accrue from feast/famine operation of microbial processes and improved mass transfer characteristics of uniformly distributed biofilms. In this study, step function changes in toluene concentration were applied to UF and FDS laboratory reactors operated in parallel. Contaminant concentration was monitored at several points along the packed beds. FDS operation produced a more uniform (dispersed) distribution of biomass and microbial reaction capacity along the length of the packed bed without diminishing activity and removal capacity in the inlet section. Maximum mass removal rates in the FDS biofilter were approximately twice that of the conventional UF biofilter. In addition, FDS operation significantly improved biofilter response during an extended period of operation with intermittent feed and following a period of non-operation.

Sensory pollution sources in buildings.

Indoor air in non-industrial buildings is polluted by people, their activities, tobacco smoking, heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems, building and furnishing materials, and electronic equipment. The sensory pollution loads on the air indoors quantified with an olf unit are summarized. They can be used to predict the impact of indoor pollution sources on the perceived air quality. Despite some limitations, they at present seem to be a suitable pragmatic tool for estimating the ventilation requirements for acceptable indoor air quality, based on perceived air quality. Control of pollution sources indoors and the avoidance of superfluous pollution sources is the most effective method to reduce sensory pollution loads in buildings. Data on sensory pollution loads can be used to predict ventilation requirements for acceptable perceived indoor air quality.

AIR EMISSION AND ODOR CONTROL AT THE CITY OF LAS VEGAS WATER POLLUTION CONTROL FACILITY

AIR EMISSION AND ODOR CONTROL AT THE CITY OF LAS VEGAS WATER POLLUTION CONTROL FACILITYThe City of Las Vegas Water Pollution Control Facility (WPCF) is completing an expansion from 66 mgd to 91 mgd. Concurrent with the expansion, there has been an increase in development around the perimeter of the facility. This, coupled with the need to meet air quality requirements, and an increase in solids that will be coming into the WPCF from a new reclamation facility, has prompted the City...Author(s)Bruce A. JohnsonJay WitherspoonDavid MendenhallLori WohletzDan GraberSourceProceedings of the Water Environment FederationSubjectSession 14 - Management of Odors and VOCs: A Breath of Fresh Air: New Technologies Improve Air EmissionsDocument typeConference PaperPublisherWater Environment FederationPrint publication date Jan, 2003ISSN1938-6478SICI1938-6478(20030101)2003:11L.214;1-DOI10.2175/193864703784756228Volume / Issue2003 / 11Content sourceWEFTECFirst / last page(s)214 - 224Copyright2003Word count456

Estimation of optimum requirements for indoor air quality and energy consumption in some residences in Kuwait

Contrasting effects of the dilution of indoor generated pollutants and the energy efficiency of heating and ventilating air conditioning systems (HVAC) for indoor air quality (IAQ) and thermal comfort were studied for 10 Kuwaiti residences. The levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and the calculated cooling load of the HVAC systems were used as indicators for the IAQ and for the energy consumption, respectively. Air exchange rates and VOCs levels (both indoor and outdoor) were measured. It was found that the outdoor VOC concentrations were always less than the indoor values. Therefore reduction of indoor VOC levels can be accomplished either by increasing the ratio of the makeup air to the recirculation air of the HVAC system or by increasing the infiltration airflow rate through openings. A single compartment IAQ model, modified by the authors, was used to test for the variation in the above two dilution modes and to test the performance sensitivity. Hence, the optimum parameters in terms of IAQ and energy consumption were determined. The results indicated that it was necessary to increase the ratio of the makeup air to the recirculation air from its typical design value of 0.5 to a range of 0.7–1.3 in order to reduce indoor VOC to acceptable levels.