Improving IAQ and saving energy

[Guest guest]

Dear Colleagues:

In trying to achieve the stated goal of the information below, that of trying :

To improve IAQ and reduce symptoms of SBS adequate ventilation and fresh air,

which will reduce volatile compounds, maintaining thermal comfort (with humidity

not exceeding 60%), and adequate lighting should be ensured.

I have found the use of shared-sensor centralized monitoring of both carbon

dioxide (CO2) concentrations and dew point temperatures (a measure of absolute

humidity) to be a very powerful tool in balancing the conflicting needs of

providing a healthy and productive indoor environment while minimizing the

HVAC-related energy use. The CO2 measurements continually assess the amount of

ventilation provided to the building occupants, and the absolute humidity

measurements assess the effectiveness of moisture management as well as

providing an early warning should there be localized elevated moisture levels

due to either water leaks or intrusions through the building envelope.

Respectfully submitted,

W. Bearg, PE, CIH

--

Director of IAQ Programs

AIRxpert Systems

20 Darton Street

Concord, MA 01742-5710

www.AIRxpert.com

-------------- Original message ----------------------

>

> Harefuah. 2008 Jul;147(7):607-8, 662.

>

>

> [sick building syndrome]

>

> http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18814520?dopt=AbstractPlus

> [Article in Hebrew]

> Epstein Y.

>

> Over the past 50 years, a new man-made ecosystem has developed--the controlled

> indoor environment within the sealed exterior shells of modern non-industrial

> buildings. Emitted toxic volatile compounds from building materials,

> furnishings, and equipment, and inappropriate ventilation (resulting from the

> need to reduce expenses) contribute to reduce indoor air quality (IAQ), which

> has considerable potential to affect public health. Consequently, health

> problems related to this ecosystem have emerged.

>

>

> " Building-related illnesses " (BRI) refers to a group of illnesses with a

fairly

> homogeneous clinical picture, objective abnormalities on clinical or

laboratory

> evaluation, and one or more identifiable sources or agents known to cause

> infectious, immunologic, or allergic diseases. The term " sick building

syndrome "

> (SBS) is used to refer to a heterogeneous group of work-related

> symptoms--including irritation of the skin and mucous membranes of the eyes,

> nose, and throat, headache, fatigue, and difficulty concentrating. These are

> considered illnesses because of the occurrence of symptoms, even though

affected

> workers do not have objective clinical or laboratory abnormalities and

causative

> agents cannot be found. The clinical symptoms of SBS, although not

> life-threatening are disruptive: they reduce productivity and increase

> absenteeism from work. Noteworthy, the association of symptoms with

psychosocial

> factors does not mean that " the problem is all in the workers' heads " . The

> results of psychological testing of symptomatic and asymptomatic office

workers

> are similar. To improve IAQ and reduce symptoms of SBS adequate ventilation

and

> fresh air, which will reduce volatile compounds, maintaining thermal comfort

> (with humidity not exceeding 60%), and adequate lighting should be ensured.

>

>

> PMID: 18814520 [PubMed - in process]

> _________________________________________________________________

>

>

Harefuah. 2008 Jul;147(7):607-8, 662.

[sick building syndrome]

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18814520?dopt=AbstractPlus

[Article in Hebrew]

Epstein Y.

Over the past 50 years, a new man-made ecosystem has developed--the controlled indoor environment within the sealed exterior shells of modern non-industrial buildings. Emitted toxic volatile compounds from building materials, furnishings, and equipment, and inappropriate ventilation (resulting from the need to reduce expenses) contribute to reduce indoor air quality (IAQ), which has considerable potential to affect public health. Consequently, health problems related to this ecosystem have emerged.

"Building-related illnesses" (BRI) refers to a group of illnesses with a fairly homogeneous clinical picture, objective abnormalities on clinical or laboratory evaluation, and one or more identifiable sources or agents known to cause infectious, immunologic, or allergic diseases. The term "sick building syndrome" (SBS) is used to refer to a heterogeneous group of work-related symptoms--including irritation of the skin and mucous membranes of the eyes, nose, and throat, headache, fatigue, and difficulty concentrating. These are considered illnesses because of the occurrence of symptoms, even though affected workers do not have objective clinical or laboratory abnormalities and causative agents cannot be found. The clinical symptoms of SBS, although not life-threatening are disruptive: they reduce productivity and increase absenteeism from work. Noteworthy, the association of symptoms with psychosocial factors does not mean that "the problem is all in the workers' heads". The results of psychological testing of symptomatic and asymptomatic office workers are similar. To improve IAQ and reduce symptoms of SBS adequate ventilation and fresh air, which will reduce volatile compounds, maintaining thermal comfort (with humidity not exceeding 60%), and adequate lighting should be ensured.

PMID: 18814520 [PubMed - in process]Upgrade to Hotmail Plus and share more photos with bigger attachments. Click here to find out how Click here to find out how