Indoor Environmental Quality and Human Wellbeing

A special issue of Buildings (ISSN 2075-5309). This special issue belongs to the section "Building Energy, Physics, Environment, and Systems".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 March 2025 | Viewed by 11786

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
School of Civil Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China
Interests: indoor environment; human thermal comfort/health

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

When developing buildings with occupants’ wellbeing in mind, human-factor-engineering-based indoor environment creation is an important measure to improve the living environment and implement green and high-quality development for low-carbon buildings. Given various factors exist to affect the indoor environmental quality, including the thermal environment, indoor air quality, lighting, and acoustic environments, the coupled effects and their interactions with users play an important role for building design and control, which requires handling large amounts of information and knowledge in this field. In such a case, improving our understanding of the indoor environmental quality and their relations with human comfort, health, and work efficiency is worth exploring. Respond to the “people-oriented” development concept and the carbon neutralization goal in a global context can be simultaneous.

The main aim of this Special Issue is to explore the recent challenges and developments of environmental quality and human comfort/health in buildings. Topics include but are not limited to:

  • Thermal comfort/thermal adaption/outdoor thermal comfort;
  • Personal comfort system;
  • Machine learning on thermal comfort prediction;
  • Radiant/local heating‒cooling terminal;
  • Indoor pollutant exposure and health;
  • Moisture and mold in buildings;
  • Dynamic lighting;
  • Non-visual lighting and work efficiency;
  • Comfort soundscape.

Dr. Chenqiu Du
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • thermal comfort
  • indoor air quality
  • dynamic lighting
  • machine learning
  • building moisture

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Published Papers (10 papers)

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Research

18 pages, 6791 KiB  
Article
Optimization Strategy for Thermal Comfort in Railway Stations above Ground Level in Beijing
by Xiangyu Li, Wenxi Shi, Yixuan Liu and Nan Zhang
Buildings 2024, 14(9), 2843; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14092843 - 10 Sep 2024
Viewed by 560
Abstract
Urban rail transit, a convenient and fast public transportation mode with rapid construction and development, occupies fewer land resources and accommodates large passenger volumes. However, thermal comfort should be given more attention. Stations above ground level experience poor thermal comfort on the platforms, [...] Read more.
Urban rail transit, a convenient and fast public transportation mode with rapid construction and development, occupies fewer land resources and accommodates large passenger volumes. However, thermal comfort should be given more attention. Stations above ground level experience poor thermal comfort on the platforms, especially in hot summers. This study combines field research with a simulation analysis to propose a strategy for improving thermal comfort on above-ground urban rail transit platforms. This study analyzed the effects of the skylight opening rate, side window opening rate, design of transparent maintenance structure shading, and the platform profile shape on the thermal comfort of above-ground stations using field research, comparative experiments, and a simulation analysis with the PHOENICS (Command Prompt) software. The results indicate that adding longitudinal sunshade louvers to the skylight of the station platform is a cost-effective method to reduce the average temperature and PMV value, thereby improving thermal comfort. Increasing the skylight opening rate can result in a temperature rise. Adjusting the opening rate of the side windows to 20% and adding sun-shading louvers can also significantly enhance the station’s thermal comfort. Taking Wudaokou Station on Beijing Line 13 as an example, the simultaneous installation of additional longitudinal skylight shading and side window shading and increasing the side window opening rate to 20% on the platform resulted in a 2.6 °C decrease in the average temperature, a 4.7% increase in the average wind speed, and a 0.62 decrease in the PMV value, significantly enhancing thermal comfort for passengers. This study confirms that optimizing shading and ventilation systems can significantly reduce the platform temperature and improve passengers’ thermal comfort. This study provides theoretical support and innovative methods for optimizing thermal environments in similar environments. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Indoor Environmental Quality and Human Wellbeing)
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20 pages, 2054 KiB  
Article
Evaluation Method and the Influence of Visual Comfort of Ceramic Tiles in Indoor Environment—A Study Based on the Delphi and AHP
by Jiayin Chen, Yue Cheng and Qingyun Guo
Buildings 2024, 14(9), 2829; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14092829 - 8 Sep 2024
Viewed by 599
Abstract
People spend most of their time indoors, and the visual characteristics of indoor building materials affect not only the quality of the indoor environment, but also the well-being of individuals. Ceramic tiles are widely used in interior decoration of buildings due to their [...] Read more.
People spend most of their time indoors, and the visual characteristics of indoor building materials affect not only the quality of the indoor environment, but also the well-being of individuals. Ceramic tiles are widely used in interior decoration of buildings due to their aesthetic appeal and ease of maintenance. However, there is currently a lack of a comprehensive framework for assessing the visual comfort of ceramic tile design. This study established an evaluation system using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and the Delphi method to collect perceptual words, extract evaluation indices, and calculate weights. A visual comfort scale for ceramic tiles, comprising three dimensions and twelve indices, was developed. A total of 342 questionnaires were analyzed using six types of tiles, and the multidimensional visual comfort scores of the various ceramic tile samples were statistically examined. An analysis of variance was conducted to investigate the effects of tile brightness, texture, and participant gender on visual comfort. The findings indicate that tile brightness and texture significantly affect the overall visual comfort score (p < 0.001; p < 0.001), with light-toned, non-textured tiles providing higher visual comfort (3.949). Although gender did not significantly affect the overall visual comfort scores, it did influence the evaluation scores in certain dimensions. Men rated the aesthetic comfort of tiles lower than women (p = 0.035), but they rated the emotional comfort of medium-toned and non-textured tiles higher (p = 0.003; p = 0.017). In terms of theoretical significance, the establishment of this evaluation model can expand the research content and methods of ceramic tiles, which are crucial architectural decoration materials. In terms of practical significance, this study provides an evaluation method and partial evaluation information for designers, enabling them to assess and enhance the visual experience of tiles based on the specific needs of interior spaces and the characteristics of the visual subject. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Indoor Environmental Quality and Human Wellbeing)
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20 pages, 5317 KiB  
Article
Indoor Air Quality Management in Dubai: Assessing the Efficacy of Air Purifiers, Photocatalysts, and Window Ventilation in Reducing HCHO
by Chuloh Jung and Shams Mohammed Alshamasi
Buildings 2024, 14(9), 2815; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14092815 - 7 Sep 2024
Viewed by 843
Abstract
This study investigates the characteristics of formaldehyde (HCHO) concentration and its reduction in newly constructed apartment buildings in Dubai. It addresses the significant health risks of high HCHO levels due to poor ventilation and extensive use of VOC-emitting materials. The research explores the [...] Read more.
This study investigates the characteristics of formaldehyde (HCHO) concentration and its reduction in newly constructed apartment buildings in Dubai. It addresses the significant health risks of high HCHO levels due to poor ventilation and extensive use of VOC-emitting materials. The research explores the effectiveness of various mitigation strategies, including air purifiers, photocatalyst applications, and window ventilation, in the living room, master bedroom (MBR), Room 1, and Room 2. HCHO concentrations were measured under different conditions: sealed windows, operation of an air purifier with a VOCs filter, and the application of a photocatalyst. The study followed a quantitative approach, recording real-time HCHO levels over 24 h. Results indicated that sealing windows led to HCHO concentrations surpassing the domestic standard of 0.1 ppm, with the MBR recording the highest concentration at 0.73 ppm. The air purifier showed minimal impact within the first 8 h but achieved an 18% reduction after 24 h of operation. Applying a photocatalyst to room surfaces resulted in a 50% reduction in HCHO levels. Ventilation through window openings significantly improved air exchange rates, with the air exchange per hour (ACH) increasing proportionally with window opening size. Smaller rooms with larger window-to-volume ratios, such as Room 1 and Room 2, maintained HCHO concentrations below the WHO standard of 0.1 ppm with partial window openings. The study concludes that window ventilation is the most effective strategy for reducing HCHO concentrations, highlighting the importance of integrating comprehensive ventilation designs in modern residential buildings to ensure healthier indoor environments in Dubai. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Indoor Environmental Quality and Human Wellbeing)
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33 pages, 11569 KiB  
Article
Towards Climate, Bioclimatism, and Building Performance—A Characterization of the Brazilian Territory from 2008 to 2022
by Mario A. da Silva, Giovanni Pernigotto, Andrea Gasparella and Joyce C. Carlo
Buildings 2024, 14(8), 2568; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14082568 - 20 Aug 2024
Viewed by 794
Abstract
Representative weather data are fundamental to characterizing a place and determining ideal design approaches. This is particularly important for large countries like Brazil, whose extension and geographical position contribute to defining diverse climatic conditions along the territory. In this context, this study intends [...] Read more.
Representative weather data are fundamental to characterizing a place and determining ideal design approaches. This is particularly important for large countries like Brazil, whose extension and geographical position contribute to defining diverse climatic conditions along the territory. In this context, this study intends to characterize the Brazilian territory based on a 15-year weather record (2008–2022), providing a climatic assessment based on a climatic and bioclimatic profile for the whole country. The climate analysis was focused on temperature, humidity, precipitation, and solar radiation, followed by a bioclimatic analysis guided by the Givoni chart and the natural ventilation potential assessment. In both situations, the results were analyzed using three resolutions: country-level, administrative division, and bioclimatic zones. This study also identified representative locations for the Brazilian bioclimatic zones for a building-centered analysis based on the thermal and energy performance of a single-family house with different envelope configurations. The results proved that most Brazilian territories increased above 0.4 °C in the dry bulb temperature and reduced relative humidity. The precipitation had the highest reduction, reaching more than 50% for some locations. The warmer and drier conditions impacted also the Köppen–Geiger classification, with an increase in the number of Semi-Arid and Arid locations. The bioclimatic study showed that ventilation is the primary strategy for the Brazilian territory, as confirmed by the natural ventilation potential results, followed by passive heating strategies during the year’s coldest months. Finally, building performance simulation underlined that, in colder climates, indoor thermal comfort conditions and air-conditioning demands are less affected by solar absorptance for constructions with low U-values, while in warmer climates, low solar absorptance with intermediary U-values is recommended. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Indoor Environmental Quality and Human Wellbeing)
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21 pages, 5073 KiB  
Article
Adding Green to Architectures: Empirical Research Based on Indoor Vertical Greening of the Emotional Promotion on Adolescents
by Chengcheng Wang, Qizhi Hu, Zijun Zhou, Di Li and Linjia Wu
Buildings 2024, 14(7), 2251; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14072251 - 22 Jul 2024
Viewed by 786
Abstract
Good architectural space design can bring positive emotional stimulation and relaxation to users, but few studies have investigated the quantitative indicators in architectural space design and their impact on user emotions. This study takes the right-angle sandwich interface system in architecture as an [...] Read more.
Good architectural space design can bring positive emotional stimulation and relaxation to users, but few studies have investigated the quantitative indicators in architectural space design and their impact on user emotions. This study takes the right-angle sandwich interface system in architecture as an example to guide the next vertical greening simulation experiment by comparing the spatial quantitative differences in connection value, integration degree, and population agglomeration. Eighty adolescent volunteers were recruited into a control (artificial decorative wall) and experimental (green wall) group based on wall type. We compared their physiological and psychological indicators, including blood pressure and blood oxygen, and psychological indicators, including POMS and SIAI-S scales. Then, we made predictive factor judgements on vertical green elements. The quantification of the interior space of the building showed consistency in parameter changes, with the central area being the area of connectivity, integration, and crowd aggregation values. After the experiment, the experimental group showed a significant decrease in diastolic blood pressure, systolic blood pressure, and heart rate (p = 0.00) and a significant decrease in tension, anger, fatigue, depression, and panic (p = 0.00). The quantitative relationship between vertical greening elements and emotional promotion using stepwise linear exploration shows that the “vine” element is a significant predictive factor for diastolic blood pressure, T-A emotion, and SIAI-S values. The results enrich the indoor optimization and creation expansion paths of interface systems for various spatial experiences and further provide guidance for urban indoor green construction plans and green landscape facility planning via the emotional influence of indoor vertical space greening on young people. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Indoor Environmental Quality and Human Wellbeing)
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19 pages, 4730 KiB  
Article
Children’s Hospital Environment Design Based on AHP/QFD and Other Theoretical Models
by Haohua Zheng, Lingying Liu, Qi Zhang, Yihan Wang and Yangyang Wei
Buildings 2024, 14(6), 1499; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14061499 - 22 May 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1099
Abstract
Spatial environmental factors can effectively alleviate children’s fear of the medical environment when they seek medical treatment. This study focuses on the special environmental space of a children’s hospital, thoroughly considering the emotional needs of and the therapeutic effects on children as a [...] Read more.
Spatial environmental factors can effectively alleviate children’s fear of the medical environment when they seek medical treatment. This study focuses on the special environmental space of a children’s hospital, thoroughly considering the emotional needs of and the therapeutic effects on children as a unique group during medical treatment. By analyzing the existing design of children’s hospital environments, this research actively explores more suitable environmental design solutions for children’s healthcare settings. This study summarizes the user demand factors of children’s hospital environmental space design through field research and analysis interviews and calculates the weight indicators of user demand through AHP hierarchical analysis. On this basis, based on the QFD theoretical model, user needs are transformed into technical needs, and a house of quality is drawn to judge the conflicting needs through the positive and negative correlations between the factors. Finally, the forty invention principles of the TRIZ innovation theory are used to propose a solution to the environmental space program of children’s hospitals to obtain the optimal solution to the environmental space design effect. This study shows that incorporating theoretical models of AHP, QFD, and TRIZ into the environmental space design of children’s hospitals can improve and optimize the environmental space of children’s hospitals, and the example of a children’s hospital can be designed to meet children’s emotional needs according to this model. A series of interesting innovative practices, such as personalized digital information diagnosis and treatment, interesting visual guidance, and the implicit healing effect of color, can be realized. The aim is to create a modern, child-friendly medical environment that not only meets medical functional requirements but also effectively alleviates the stress of pediatric patients during diagnosis and treatment. This study preliminarily verifies the scientificity and rationality of the entire design process and provides a reference for the design practices of children’s hospital environments. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Indoor Environmental Quality and Human Wellbeing)
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19 pages, 3780 KiB  
Article
Impacts of Static Lighting in Confined Spaces on the Circadian Parameters, Alertness, Performance and Well-Being
by Tongyue Wang, Rongdi Shao, Yanni Wang, Juanjie Li and Luoxi Hao
Buildings 2024, 14(4), 1115; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14041115 - 16 Apr 2024
Viewed by 964
Abstract
The static lighting condition (SLC) in confined spaces may pose great challenges to the health of long-stay workers, inducing sleep disorders, cognitive decline, and negative emotions such as depression or anxiety. To explore human responses to the SLC (300 lx and 6000 K), [...] Read more.
The static lighting condition (SLC) in confined spaces may pose great challenges to the health of long-stay workers, inducing sleep disorders, cognitive decline, and negative emotions such as depression or anxiety. To explore human responses to the SLC (300 lx and 6000 K), 20 young subjects (22.6 ± 1.88 years old) were recruited in the underground confined lab for a week by measuring melatonin, core body temperature (CBT), subjective alertness (KSS score), sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, PSQI), Psychomotor Vigilance Task (PVT), Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD) and Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS). The results showed a posterior shift in circadian rhythm after 1 week of confinement, with 0.62 h delay of dim light melatonin onset (DLMO), higher melatonin concentrations in the evening, lower melatonin concentrations at midnight, a day-by-day increase in KSS and CBT at bedtime, but this decreased daily when waking up, with cumulative effects. There was a progressive increase in sleep latency, PSQI scores, response time and scores of subjective emotion scales, meaning worse sleep, performance and emotional state. Due to limited exposure to high-lighting stimuli during the daytime, the initial concentrations of melatonin increased in the evening and decreased before sleep. In confined spaces, active health interventions by dynamic lighting patterns were proposed to safeguard human health and performance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Indoor Environmental Quality and Human Wellbeing)
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26 pages, 6042 KiB  
Article
Acoustic Ambience and Simulation of the Bullring of Ronda (Spain)
by Manuel Martín-Castizo, Sara Girón and Miguel Galindo
Buildings 2024, 14(1), 298; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14010298 - 22 Jan 2024
Viewed by 1039
Abstract
The bullring of Ronda, one of the oldest in Spain, declared in 1993 as an Asset of Cultural Interest, occupies a paramount place among the buildings of its type thanks to its outstanding beauty. Its configuration as an open-air enclosure with a circular [...] Read more.
The bullring of Ronda, one of the oldest in Spain, declared in 1993 as an Asset of Cultural Interest, occupies a paramount place among the buildings of its type thanks to its outstanding beauty. Its configuration as an open-air enclosure with a circular floor plan, as an evocation of the ancient Roman amphitheaters, and its interior with galleries on two levels that house the audience play a fundamental role in the acoustic energy decay and diffusion of the space. The link between architecture and acoustics of the Ronda bullring has been carried out by using on-site measurements and simulation techniques. To this end, an acoustic model is created, which is adjusted by taking the set of 3D impulse responses recorded on-site. The presence of the public and the various sound sources that exist during the bullfight itself are analyzed in the simulations, whereby the conditions of occupation and vacancy are compared, as are the variations due to the location of the sources. Finally, speech intelligibility conditions are simulated with a human directivity source. The precision of the virtual acoustic model enables the sound architecture of this singular space to be ascertained and preserved, thereby incorporating sound as an associated intangible heritage. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Indoor Environmental Quality and Human Wellbeing)
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21 pages, 3100 KiB  
Article
A Predictive Model for the Growth Diameter of Mold under Different Temperatures and Relative Humidities in Indoor Environments
by Chenyang Wang, Yong Mei, Heqi Wang, Xinzhu Guo, Ting Yang, Chenqiu Du and Wei Yu
Buildings 2024, 14(1), 215; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14010215 - 13 Jan 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2446
Abstract
A substantial body of evidence suggests that indoor mold exposure is a cause of allergic and respiratory diseases in humans. While models exist for assessing the risk of mold growth on building materials, few study the characteristics of mold growth after germination. This [...] Read more.
A substantial body of evidence suggests that indoor mold exposure is a cause of allergic and respiratory diseases in humans. While models exist for assessing the risk of mold growth on building materials, few study the characteristics of mold growth after germination. This study conducted mold growth experiments in a constant temperature chamber, using four temperature settings of 15, 20, 25 and 30 °C, and three relative humidities of 56 to 61%, 75 to 76% and 83 to 86%. A mold growth prediction model was established using temperature and relative humidity. The accuracy of the model was verified by comparing the sampling and the predicted values in a laboratory environment. The results indicated that reducing the environmental temperature and relative humidity could significantly inhibit the growth of mold, although the inhibitory effects varied. Temperature might play a more critical role. At higher temperatures (25 °C and 30 °C), the growth rate and lag time of mold tended to be consistent and there were differences in the maximum diameter. In the predictive model, the polynomial secondary model for the maximum growth rate and lag time and the Arrhenius–Davey secondary model for the maximum diameter (A) had good predictive effects (Adj.R2 > 0.850). It is speculated that temperature is the key factor affecting the maximum growth diameter of mold. The mold growth prediction model could better predict the growth of mold in actual environments without wind Adj.R2 > 0.800), but the accuracy of the model decreased under windy conditions (wind velocity < 1 m/s). The mold growth predictive model we established could be used to predict the growth characteristics of mold in windless environments. It also provides control suggestions for the regulation of temperature and relative humidity in indoor environments, supporting indoor thermal environment management and pollutant control, and ensuring indoor human health. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Indoor Environmental Quality and Human Wellbeing)
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22 pages, 1140 KiB  
Article
The Association between Perceived Housing Environment and Health and Satisfaction among the Older Adults during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Survey in Northern China
by Fang Liu, Yafei Li, Xuezhi Gao and Jiangtao Du
Buildings 2023, 13(11), 2875; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings13112875 - 16 Nov 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1469
Abstract
China lacks design strategies to improve home-based care environments for its older adults. This study investigated the perception of indoor environmental quality in housing environments and analyzed its impact on health and satisfaction among home-living older adults. A cross-sectional survey in Northern China [...] Read more.
China lacks design strategies to improve home-based care environments for its older adults. This study investigated the perception of indoor environmental quality in housing environments and analyzed its impact on health and satisfaction among home-living older adults. A cross-sectional survey in Northern China was conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic (October 2021–March 2022) to test the effects of five housing environmental factors on home-living older adults’ health and satisfaction, including noise, lighting and view, temperature and humidity, air quality, and maintenance and cleanliness. A total of 356 home-living adults aged 60 years and older participated in the survey. The 12-item Short Form Health Survey was used to measure health-related quality of life among respondents. Using multiple regression analyses, we found that overall satisfaction can be positively predicted by four housing environmental qualities: lighting and view, temperature and humidity, air quality, and maintenance and cleanliness. Air quality was found to be a predictor of respondents’ physical health. Only noise had a significant predictive effect on respondents’ mental health. Age, marital status, and health status (cardiovascular and chronic diseases) were significantly correlated with the physical health of the respondents, whereas educational status, monthly income, and alcohol consumption could predict their mental health. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Indoor Environmental Quality and Human Wellbeing)
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