Low Indoor Research Articles

Spatial effects of ecological cognition on firewood collection by households in protected areas: An analysis based on the giant panda nature reserves

The issues of unbalanced and inadequate energy development in rural China remain prominent, particularly in areas rich in natural resources, such as nature reserves, where households still tend to rely on traditional energy utilization modes. On one hand, the traditional use of firewood for energy results in low energy efficiency and indoor air pollution; On the other hand, it exacerbates problems such as habitat degradation for wildlife and environmental collapse. Although previous studies have explored rural energy source utilization from varies of aspects, there are still limitations in examining the impact of ecological cognition on household behaviors from a spatial correlation perspective. This study conducts a field survey of rural households in the giant panda nature reserves in Sichuan and Shaanxi Provinces to explore the impact of ecological cognition on rural households' firewood collection behaviors. By incorporating a spatial weight matrix, the study further analyzes the spatial spillover effects and the spatial heterogeneity of ecological cognition on rural households' firewood collection. The results show that: (1) ecological cognition significantly reduces firewood collection behaviors; (2) household income also decreases the consumption of firewood energy; (3) ecological cognition exhibits spatial spillover effects on rural households' firewood collection, indicating that household ecological cognition can impact surrounding households' ecological cognition and indirectly affect their firewood collection behaviors; and (4) significant spatial heterogeneity exists inside and outside the protected area. Ecological cognition significantly influences the firewood utilization of rural households within protected areas through spatial spillover effects, whereas its impact outside the protected areas is minimal. Strengthening forest ecological education to further raise ecological awareness, focusing on low-income households to provide energy subsidies, and utilizing the spatial spillover effects to enhance information dissemination channels are recommended for policy implications.

Thermal Condensation of Dehydrogenation Polymer (DHP) with Xylose.

Conventional adhesives used in wood-based panels typically contain volatile organic compounds, including formaldehyde, which can potentially lower indoor air quality and damage human health. Lignin, a natural adhesive present in wood, offers significant advantages over other materials due to its ready availability, renewable nature, rich aromatic rings, and aliphatic and aromatic hydroxyl groups, as well as quinone groups. However, when modified as an adhesive for wood-based panels, lignin suffers from poor water resistance and formaldehyde release. Dehydrogenation polymer (DHP), as a lignin model compound, possesses a structure similar to lignin and excellent water resistance, making it a potential substitute for lignin as a formaldehyde-free adhesive. A DHP-xylose complex was obtained from a condensation reaction between DHP and xylose in hemicellulose in a simulated hot-pressing environment. The feasibility of DHP bonding with hemicellulose components was verified using FT-IR and NMR spectroscopic methods. In addition, the structure of the adduct and condensation process were also studied. DHP and xylose underwent condensation under simulated hot-pressing conditions. Xylose and DHP may be linked by C-C bonds. The thermal condensation of DHP with xylose was investigated. This may contribute to a better understanding of the adhesive bonding process for xylose during hot-pressing and offer support for practical applications.

Exploring Biomaterial-Based CoolRoofs: Empirical Insights into Energy Efficiency and CO2 Emissions Reduction

The Cool Roof concept, known for its efficiency in summer due to high temperatures during this period, employs a light coating that covers the roof to prevent the absorption of heat and maintain lower indoor temperatures. This study integrates a chemical component with biomaterials to enhance performance and reduce CO2 emissions. The composition investigated in this research is recognized for its durability and ability to lower outside temperatures, thereby mitigating the urban heat island effect. This experimental study evaluates the sustainability of CoolRoofs in a cold room located in Signes, France. Temperature measurements are conducted from 25 September 2023 to 27 July 2024, both with and without the coating, to assess energy performance and CO2 emissions. The selection of the building type ensures optimal performance in both summer and winter. Results show that the maximum outside and inside surface temperatures for a Cool Roof are 48.7 °C and 25.6 °C, respectively, compared to 72.9 °C and 32.2 °C for an uncoated roof. Additionally, implementing a CoolRoof reduces thermal load through the cold room by 56%, while CO2 emissions can be reduced by up to 27.31 kg CO2/m2 over a 20-year period. This study presents a solution for enhancing energy and environmental performance year-round using a resilient composite.

Indoor Thermal Comfort Impact of Windcatcher Ventilation in Tropical Climates: A Case Study in Panama via Fluid Dynamics Simulation

Abstract Different ventilation approaches are recommended to address the effects of low indoor air quality while reducing electrical consumption. One of these approaches follows the natural ventilation strategy, such as windcatchers. This results in a practical method to improve occupant health by positively influencing air quality and reducing electrical consumption for air conditioning. Due to the small temperature difference between a building’s inner and outer spaces, windcatchers prove effective even in tropical climates. Thus, this research aimed to evaluate the potential of windcatchers with local indicators, such as air velocity, pressure, and temperature, using the Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) module integrated into DesignBuilder software v7. This study consists of two CFD analyses of a single-zone and single-story building in Panama City with a short semicircular windcatcher. Results showed that implementing natural ventilation combined with a windcatcher is effective during seasons with high wind velocities, as the model experienced an inlet airflow velocity of 0.67 m/s and an outlet airflow velocity of 0.43 m/s. Meanwhile, during low wind velocities, the model experimented with inlet and outlet airflow velocities of 0.26 m/s and 0.07 m/s, respectively. Therefore, incorporating a windcatcher is an effective way to reduce energy consumption and improve comfort. Future studies will focus on developing improvements in its geometry and characteristics.

WC-CP: A Bluetooth Low Energy Indoor Positioning Method Based on the Weighted Centroid of the Convex Polygon

Indoor navigation has attracted significant attention from both academic and industrial perspectives. Indoor positioning is a critical component of indoor navigation. Several solutions or technologies have been proposed, such as Wi-Fi, UWB, and Bluetooth. Among them, Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) is cost-effective, easily deployable, flexible, and efficient. This paper focuses on indoor positioning solely based on BLE. Motivated by two observations, namely, that (i) involving more anchor nodes can enhance positioning accuracy, and that (ii) narrowing the area for unknown location determination can also lead to improved accuracy, a new distance-based method, the Weighted Centroid of the Convex Polygon (WC-CP), is proposed. While it is generally acknowledged that incorporating more anchor nodes can enhance indoor positioning performance, the current state of the art lacks a robust methodology for selecting and utilizing these nodes. The WC-CP approach addresses this gap by introducing a systematic and efficient method for identifying and employing the most suitable anchor nodes. By avoiding nodes that could potentially introduce significant errors or lead to incorrect localization, our method ensures more accurate and reliable indoor positioning. The efficacy of WC-CP is demonstrated in an indoor environment, achieving an RMSE of 1.35 m. This result shows significant improvements over three state-of-the-art approaches, about 34.15% better than LSBM, 32.50% better than TWCBM, and 30.05% better than ITWCBM. These findings underscore the potential of WC-CP for enhanced accuracy and reliability in indoor positioning based on BLE.

Development of operable modular louvers Sited in a single-sided ventilated room through 3D parametric optimization

The current design practices of buildings to respond to environmental inputs have led to operable envelopes with external louver blinds systems. The key aspect of any openable louver flap design is to optimize inlets that might induce ventilation for occupants with low indoor airflow. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) in 3D parametric modeling investigated the influence of openable louver inlet geometries (right trapezoid) and positions in a ventilated room. A single-sided ventilated room designed with two mirrored split blocks of inlets attached to that wall perpendicular to the wind was employed for this study. Twenty-eight different inlet shape geometries with their cross-sectional changes were investigated. In addition, the inlets' rotation, orientation, and elevation differences were also studied. Wind tunnel experiments were conducted to measure airflows inside the model room to validate the CFD simulations. A discernible impact was observed when the inclined side of the right trapezoid was oriented upward or downward, where inlet flaps open to the sides of the window. The mean air velocity in the ventilated room becomes more than double when inlet flaps open to the sides of the window, where the elevation difference in the inlet blocks introduces the pressure difference compared to no elevation difference in inlets. This study guides into refining an operable modular louver design to enhance air circulation and natural ventilation in dwelling spaces.

Performance Evaluation of Low Thermal Bridging Drywall System with Separating Clips for C-Studs

Drywall systems comprising gypsum boards and steel C-studs are widely used due to their lightweight structure, rapid construction, and ease of installation. These systems must meet the required thermal insulation performance for their specific applications. However, metal C-studs penetrate the insulation layer at intervals, leading to additional heat loss, reduced thermal insulation performance, and lower indoor surface temperatures, which can result in condensation and mold growth. To address these issues, this study proposes a drywall system with low thermal bridging studs made up of two small-sized studs and four or five separating clips made of reinforced plastic. These clips separate the studs to minimize heat transfer through metal elements, maintain structural stability despite the spacing between them, and facilitate easy assembly. The results from mock-up tests showed that the proposed system’s thermal transmittance was 0.370 W/m2K, which is 28.8% lower than the 0.52 W/m2K observed with conventional C-studs. The proposed drywall system also met Korean regulations for acoustic insulation level 3 and the 2 h fire resistance criteria, similar to existing drywall systems with conventional C-studs. Moreover, the maximum and residual displacements were within an acceptable range for a horizontal load of 3000 N applied vertically to the non-load-bearing wall. Building energy analysis indicated that using the proposed drywall adjacent to unconditioned spaces could reduce the annual heating and cooling load by 2.5–3.0%, despite a 1.5–1.9% increase in the annual cooling load. The annual heating load decreased by 4.8–5.9% under infiltration rates of 0.5 to 1.5 air changes per hour for adjacent unconditioned spaces, making this drywall system’s improved insulation quality crucial for achieving heating-dominant zero-energy buildings.

Association between window ventilation frequency and depressive symptoms among older Chinese adults

ObjectivesIndoor air pollution exposure is harmful to people's physical and mental health, especially in the elderly population. Depressive symptoms are the most common mental health issue among elderly individuals. However, evidence linking the frequency of indoor natural ventilation to depressive symptoms in the elderly population is limited. MethodsThis study included 7887 individuals 65 years and older from 2017 to 2018 the China Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS). The frequency of indoor window ventilation was measured as the self-reported times of ventilation of indoor window per week in each season, and the four seasons' scores were added up to calculate the annual ventilation frequency. Depressive symptoms were measured by the 10-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Short Depression Scale (CESD). Using three models adjusted for demographic, socio-economic, health status, and environmental factors successively, the correlation between indoor window ventilation frequency and depressive symptoms was verified through logistic regression. ResultsAmong the 7887 elderly people included in this study, 1952 (24.7 %) had depressive symptoms. In the fully adjusted model, compared with the lower indoor annual ventilation frequency group, high indoor annual ventilation frequency group was significantly associated with a 33 % (OR: 0.67, 95%CI: 0.51–0.88) lower probability of depressive symptoms. Subgroup analysis and sensitivity analysis yielded similar results. ConclusionsHigh frequency of window ventilation is significantly associated with the lower risk of depressive symptoms in Chinese individuals aged 65 and older. This result provides strong evidence for health intervention and policy formulation.

Winter thermal study in coastal rural dwellings: focus on elderly comfort in Chinese cold coastal regions

ABSTRACT With the continuous progress of China’s rural revitalization and the increasing aging population in coastal rural areas, it has become a research focus to make the indoor thermal environment more suitable for the elderly, especially in winter. This study took Qingdao’s coastal rural areas in the cold region of China as an example. A field survey was conducted in 110 coastal rural dwellings, and four typical dwellings were selected for on-site measurements. This study collected information on the characteristics of local residential buildings, the primary living spaces for the elderly, heating methods, and thermal satisfaction. It also documented the energy expenditure and thermal conditions of the surveyed dwellings. The research findings indicate that the current heating system, while capable of partially improving the indoor thermal environment, is still affected by poor thermal insulation performance. As a result, there are issues such as low average indoor temperature, significant temperature fluctuations, and overall thermal instability. The findings of this study provide comprehensive information on the heating modes used in coastal rural dwellings, and the results can be utilized to evaluate and further improve the thermal environment of dwellings in cold coastal rural areas.

A novel model to detect abnormal thermal energy consumption in existing buildings with limited metering infrastructure

In EU, excessive energy waste occurs in existing buildings due to multiple reasons, such as inadequate building design, frequent operation of the technical building systems far from the design and reference conditions, lack of proper maintenance, lack of building automation and control systems, unexpected or exceptional weather conditions and inappropriate end-user behaviours. In this context, the detection of “abnormal” energy consumption is crucial both to increase end-users’ awareness and to help energy managers and technicians in the energy diagnosis. In this paper, the authors present a novel model to detect abnormal thermal energy consumption in existing buildings equipped with limited metering infrastructure. Four heating seasons of daily thermal energy consumption and indoor environmental data of a case study building located in Central Italy were analysed to develop, train and test the model for data processing, benchmarking, abnormal energy consumption identification and diagnosis. The results of the test phase show the ability of the model to detect behavioural faults, such as the low consumption and indoor air temperature in two dwellings and the high ones in one other. Also, the poor thermal insulation properties of the building were clearly highlighted by the proposed model.

FC47: Association between indoor ventilation frequency and depressive symptoms among older Chinese adults

Objectives: Indoor air pollution exposure is harmful to people’s physical and mental health, especially in the elderly population, and represents a major issue for human health. Natural ventilation can improve indoor air quality and remove indoor contamination, thus reducing the adverse effects of indoor air pollution exposure on physical and mental health. Depressive symptoms are the most common mental health issue among elderly individuals. However, evidence linking the frequency of indoor natural ventilation to depressive symptoms in the elderly population is limited.Methods: This study included 7887 individuals 65 years and older from 2017 to 2018 in the China Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS). The frequency of indoor natural ventilation was measured as the self-reported frequency of window opening per week in each season. Depressive symptoms were measured by the 10-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Short Depression Scale (CES-D). Using a model adjusted for demographic, socio- economic, health status, and environmental factors, the correlation between indoor ventilation frequency and depressive symptoms was verified through logistic regression.Results: Among the 7887 elderly people included in this study, 1952 (24.7%) had symptoms of depression. In the fully adjusted model, compared with the lower indoor overall ventilation frequency group (indoor ventilation frequency: 0–3 times/week), the higher indoor overall ventilation frequency group (indoor ventilation frequency: 6–8 times/week) showed a decrease in depressive symptoms by 33 % [OR: 0.67, 95 % (CI): 0.51–0.88]. Subgroup analysis and sensitivity analysis yielded similar results.Conclusions: High frequency of indoor ventilation is significantly associated with the reduction of depressive symptoms in Chinese individuals 65 years old or older. This result provides strong evidence for health intervention and policy formulation. Encouraging an increase in indoor ventilation frequency will be an economically beneficial measure to promote healthy aging of the Chinese population.

A Dual-Branch Convolutional Neural Network-Based Bluetooth Low Energy Indoor Positioning Algorithm by Fusing Received Signal Strength with Angle of Arrival

Indoor positioning is the key enabling technology for many location-aware applications. As GPS does not work indoors, various solutions are proposed for navigating devices. Among these solutions, Bluetooth low energy (BLE) technology has gained significant attention due to its affordability, low power consumption, and rapid data transmission capabilities, making it highly suitable for indoor positioning. Received signal strength (RSS)-based positioning has been studied intensively for a long time. However, the accuracy of RSS-based positioning can fluctuate due to signal attenuation and environmental factors like crowd density. Angle of arrival (AoA)-based positioning uses angle measurement technology for location devices and can achieve higher precision, but the accuracy may also be affected by radio reflections, diffractions, etc. In this study, a dual-branch convolutional neural network (CNN)-based BLE indoor positioning algorithm integrating RSS and AoA is proposed, which exploits both RSS and AoA to estimate the position of a target. Given the absence of publicly available datasets, we generated our own dataset for this study. Data were collected from each receiver in three different directions, resulting in a total of 2675 records, which included both RSS and AoA measurements. Of these, 1295 records were designated for training purposes. Subsequently, we evaluated our algorithm using the remaining 1380 unseen test records. Our RSS and AoA fusion algorithm yielded a sub-meter accuracy of 0.79 m, which was significantly better than the 1.06 m and 1.67 m obtained when using only the RSS or the AoA method. Compared with the RSS-only and AoA-only solutions, the accuracy was improved by 25.47% and 52.69%, respectively. These results are even close to the latest commercial proprietary system, which represents the state-of-the-art indoor positioning technology.

The preferential orientation controlling for efficient Sb2S3 and low Se content Sb2SeyS3-y indoor photovoltaics

Sb2S3 is a promising absorber material for indoor photovoltaics due to the appropriate direct bandgap of 1.75 eV, high element abundance, low toxicity, stability, and single phase. Considering the indoor lighting irradiance is very low and the resulting carrier numbers are relatively less and Sb2S3 is quasi-one-dimensional crystal structure, the preferential orientation controlling of Sb2S3 is very important to improve the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of Sb2S3 indoor photovoltaics. Herein, Sb2S3 and low Se content Sb2SeyS3-y films are prepared by chemical bath deposition and the preferential orientation of Sb2S3 films is controlled by introducing SbCl3 and selenourea in the growth solution. The uniformity of the S and Se distribution in low Se content Sb2SeyS3-y films is adjusted by introducing EDTA-2Na. Using the warm white LED with a color temperature of 3347 K and illuminance of 1000 lux, Sb2S3 and low Se content Sb2SeyS3-y indoor photovoltaics achieve the PCE of 16.58% for Sb2S3 and 17.62% for Sb2SeyS3-y, which is the highest PCE for antimony chalcogenide indoor photovoltaics. Therefore, the preferential orientation controlling by introducing SbCl3 and selenourea into the growth solution is an efficient strategy for fabricating high-efficiency Sb2S3 and low Se content Sb2SeyS3-y indoor photovoltaics.

Lower indoor spatial frequency increases the risk of myopia in children

Background/aimsAnimal models have shown that the absence of high-frequency visual information can precipitate the onset of myopia, but this relationship remains unclear in humans. This study aims to explore the...

Evaluating Indoor Air Quality in Schools: Is the Indoor Environment a Haven during High Pollution Episodes?

Pollution data were collected at five schools in Hong Kong using low-cost, sensor-based monitors both indoors and outdoors during two consecutive high pollution episodes. The pollutants monitored included NO2, O3, PM2.5, and PM10, which were also used as input to a health risk communication protocol known as Air Quality Health Index (AQHI). CO2 was also measured simultaneously. The study aimed to assess the relationship between indoor pollutant concentrations and AQHI levels with those outdoors and to evaluate the efficacy of building operating practices in protecting students from pollution exposure. The results indicate that the regular air quality monitoring stations and outdoor pollutant levels at schools exhibit similar patterns. School AQHI levels indoors were generally lower than those outdoors, with PM10 levels showing a larger proportional contribution to the calculated values indoors. NO2 levels in one school were in excess of outdoor values. CO2 monitored in classrooms commonly exceeded indoor guidelines, suggesting poor ventilation. One school that employed air filtration had lower indoor PM concentrations compared to other schools; however, they were still similar to those outdoors. O3 levels indoors were consistently lower than those outdoors. This study underscores the utility of on-site, sensor-based monitoring for assessing the health impacts of indoor and community exposure to urban air pollutants. The findings suggest a need for improved ventilation and more strategic air intake placement to enhance indoor air quality.

Associations between indoor fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and sleep-disordered breathing in an urban sample of school-aged children

ObjectivesEnvironmental risk factors may contribute to sleep-disordered breathing. We investigated the association between indoor particulate matter ≤2.5µm in aerodynamic diameter (PM2.5) and sleep-disordered breathing in children in an urban US community. MethodsThe sample consisted of children aged 6-12years living in predominantly low-income neighborhoods in Boston, Massachusetts. Indoor PM2.5 was measured in participants’ main living areas for 7days using the Environmental Multipollutant Monitoring Assembly device. High indoor PM2.5 exposure was defined as greater than the sample weekly average 80th percentile level (≥15.6 μg/m3). Sleep-disordered breathing was defined as an Apnea-Hypopnea-Index (AHI) or Oxygen-Desaturation-Index (ODI) (≥3% desaturation) of ≥5 events/hour. Habitual loud snoring was defined as caregiver-report of loud snoring (most or all the time each week) over the past 4weeks. We examined the associations of PM2.5 with sleep-disordered breathing or snoring using logistic regression adjusting for potential confounders. ResultsThe sample included 260 children (mean age 9.6years; 41% female), with 32% (n = 76) classified as having sleep-disordered breathing. In a logistic regression model adjusted for socioeconomics and seasonality, children exposed to high indoor PM2.5 levels (n = 53) had a 3.53-fold increased odds for sleep-disordered breathing (95%CI: 1.57, 8.11, p = .002) compared to those with lower indoor PM2.5. This association persisted after additional adjustments for physical activity, outdoor PM2.5, environmental tobacco smoke, and health characteristics. Similar associations were observed for snoring and indoor PM2.5. ConclusionsChildren with higher indoor PM2.5 exposure had greater odds of sleep-disordered breathing and habitual loud snoring, suggesting that indoor air quality contributes to sleep disparities.

Efficient Sb2S3 and Low Se Content Sb2SeyS3-y Indoor Photovoltaics.

Herein, the precise fabrication of Sb2S3 and low Se content Sb2SeyS3-y indoor photovoltaics is reported, and a measurement protocol for photovoltaic performance is suggested and applied. Insertion of the SnO2 buried layer decreases the thickness and parasitic absorption of the CdS layer. The introduction of minor Se into Sb2S3 and the use of spiro-OMeTAD:TMT-TTF improve the charge transport of indoor photovoltaics. Using a white light-emitting diode (LED) under illuminance of 1000, 500, and 200 lx with color temperatures of 3347 and 6103 K, indoor photovoltaics with fluorine doped tin oxide (FTO)/SnO2 (17 nm)/CdS (20 nm)/Sb2S3/spiro-OMeTAD:TMT-TTF/Au exhibit power conversion efficiency (PCE) values of 17.59, 16.66, 16.44, 16.56, 15.50, and 14.07%, respectively. Indoor photovoltaics with FTO/SnO2 (17 nm)/CdS (20 nm)/Sb2SeyS3-y(Sb/S/Se = 1:1.42:0.06)/spiro-OMeTAD:TMT-TTF/Au achieve PCE values of 18.53, 17.62, 17.07, 17.30, 16.24, and 15.38%, respectively. The PCE values of 17.59, 16.66, and 16.44% are the highest values reported for Sb2S3 indoor photovoltaics, and the other PCEs are all reported for the first time. Considering the trillion-dollar-sized market from the Internet of Things (IoT), this work can further bring an unprecedented thrust to the development of self-powered IoT devices by harvesting energy from indoor photovoltaics, thereby realizing the recycling of photon energy and reducing the use of batteries and the emission of CO2.

Functional ventilation building envelope integrated photovoltaic modules and phrase change material in subtropical climate: An in-depth numerical investigation

Most of existing solar ventilation envelope systems adopt a single structure including a glass cover a massive wall, which possesses the drawbacks of low thermal efficiency and poor stability. In recent decades, auxiliary power generation devices, led by photovoltaic (PV), have made epochal achievements in integrated building applications, while the superior thermal regulation capability of thermal storage materials, represented by phrase change materials (PCM), has further helped to improve the thermal environment of buildings, and the above two technologies have demonstrated great energy conservation potential. In order to explore the application and synergistic effect of the above two energy-conservation technologies in passive ventilation envelopes, a novel functional ventilation building envelope (FVBE) integrated with PV panel and PCM is proposed in this paper. A comprehensive exploration of the influence of various key parameters on the thermal performance of the FVBE-PV/PCM system. The electrical and thermal performance of the system is explored based on different seasonal climates. Specifically, effects of thickness as well as the melting temperature of PCM and the air channel width has been provided in this study. Taking the inner wall surface temperature (Tinner_wall), equivalent indoor load (Qload) and electrical efficiency (ηe) as evaluation indexes, the thermal efficiency, electrical performance and the coupling mechanism was assessed. Specifically, the coupling mechanism between the thermal performance and electrical performance of the FVBE-PV/PCM system was analyzed from the perspective of combined heat and power, revealing the functional characteristics of the system. Meanwhile, the article conducted a comparative study on the thermal and electrical performance of a typical building integrated PV (BIPV), FVBE-PV system FVBE-PV/PCM system. In particular, energy and exergy analysis is carried out to characterize the energy utilization of the FVBE-PV/PCM system in different structural systems. The research found that increasing the thickness of both the PCM and air channel leads to lower indoor temperature and heat flux, with different optimal phase transition temperatures for summer and winter. Although the FVBE-PV system exhibited a maximum 3.12 % reduction in power generation efficiency compared to the BIPV system due to increased PV temperature caused by air layer insulation, incorporating PCM can reduce exergy losses by an average of 31.731 % to mitigate this drawback and improve energy efficiency. Additionally, the analysis revealed varying coupling correlations between thermal performance and power generation based on two key parameters. This study could contribute to the functional improvement of the building envelope and simultaneous indoor thermal regulation.

Research on Microclimate Optimization of Traditional Residential Buildings in Central Anhui Based on Humid and Hot Climate Characteristics and Regional Architectural Features

This study examines how building space, materials, and structure affect the microclimate of Liu Tong Xinglongzhuang in central Anhui, known for its hot, humid climate and distinct architecture. Using qualitative and quantitative methods, including field monitoring, PHOENICS simulation, and Ladybug Tools, the following conclusions were drawn: (1) Building materials: wood reduces indoor temperature; a glass roof over the patio lowers temperature and improves wind speed; and reducing tile area decreases solar radiation. (2) Building space: optimal comfort in stairwells is achieved with a length-to-width ratio of 1.5:1 and height-to-width ratio of 2:1; courtyards are most comfortable with a length-to-width ratio of 2.5:1 and height-to-width ratio of 1.5:1; walk-through halls are optimal with a length-to-width ratio of 2:1 and height-to-width ratio of 1.5:1; and wings achieve the highest comfort with a length-to-width ratio of 2.5:1 and height-to-width ratio of 1.5:1. (3) Building structure: optimal wind speed and temperature are achieved with specific window height-to-width ratios of 1:1 for exterior and 1.5:1 for interior windows; the lowest temperatures occur at 2:1 ratios; hexagonal exterior and circular interior windows maximize wind speed and temperature reduction; and smaller exterior door openings lower indoor temperatures and are best achieved with an interior door ratio of 2:1. These findings offer valuable data and methods for optimizing the microclimate of traditional houses, with significant practical implications.

Compliance with tobacco advertising and promotion laws at points-of-sale in Ethiopia: an observational study in 10 cities

BackgroundEthiopia enacted a comprehensive tobacco control law in 2019, which bans tobacco advertising and promotion activities. However, compliance with these laws at points-of-sale (PoS) has not been studied, resulting in a lack of research evidence on how the regulations are implemented. The purpose of the study was to assess compliance with tobacco advertising and promotion laws at PoS in 10 cities in Ethiopia.MethodsMulti-stage cluster sampling was used to select 1468 PoS (supermarkets, minimarkets, merchandise stores, regular shops, permanent kiosks, khat shops, street vendors, and food and drink wholesalers). Data were collected using standardized observational checklists. Tobacco advertising and promotion indicators were used to compute indoor and outdoor compliance. Poisson regression models with log link function and robust variance were used to assess factors associated with open display of cigarette packages and indoor non-compliance.ResultsThe average indoor compliance rate was 92.9% (95% CI:92.3–93.5). Supermarkets had the highest compliance (99.7%), while permanent kiosks showed the lowest compliance (89.8%). The highest average indoor compliance was observed at PoS in Addis Ababa (98.0%). About 60% of PoS were fully compliant in indoors. Indoor open display of cigarette packages was prevalent (32.5%, 95% CI:30.0-35.1). The average outdoor compliance was 99.6% (95% CI:99.5–99.7). Outdoor full compliance was 96.5%. Open display of cigarettes was significantly higher in permanent kiosks (adjusted prevalence ratio (adjPR) 6.73; 95% CI: 3.96–11.42), regular shops (adjPR 5.16; 95% CI: 3.05–8.75), and khat shops (adjPR 2.06; 95% CI: 1.11–3.83), while indoor non-compliance was significantly higher in these same types of PoS.ConclusionsWhile outdoor compliance rates were relatively high, the lower indoor compliance rates particularly due to the high prevalence of open cigarette package displays indicates a major area for improvement in enforcing anti-tobacco advertising and promotion laws.