Building to breathe: a modelling study of the impact of building design on indoor air quality

Please be aware this is one of 3 competition funded projects to choose from, with the remaining two Projects linked below:

https://www.findaphd.com/phds/project/how-do-multiple-tidal-energy-sites-interact-and-do-any-ecological-impacts-worsen/?p140668 - Dr Jon Hill

https://www.findaphd.com/phds/project/identifying-the-unknown-application-of-machine-learning-tools-to-mass-spectrometry/?p140669 - Dr Brett Sallach

Project details

As the climate emergency evolves, there is more pressure on governments to introduce energy efficiency measures into homes, such as double glazing and increased ventilation. Home design has also shifted in recent years with a move to smaller homes for most and more open plan living. However, these energy efficiency measures make homes more airtight meaning that residents could be exposed to higher indoor air pollutant concentrations following indoor activities such as cooking and cleaning. Open plan living means that occupants can be more easily exposed to pollutant sources within the home. This project will involve using a world-leading model for indoor air chemistry to explore how building design can impact on indoor air chemistry. It will explore the issues highlighted above, as well as others such as how lighting and air cleaning technologies affect pollutant formation indoors. It will then make recommendations on how building design and operation can be used to optimise indoor air quality. Although predominantly based on modelling, there will be the opportunity to be involved with several ongoing research programmes that will provide experimental data that can inform the modelling studies. There will also be the opportunity to collaborate with colleagues in the new Department of Architecture.