Visual effects of wood on thermal perception of interior environments

There is a general consensus, supported by preliminary evidence, that exposed wood improves human perception of thermal comfort, though this idea has yet to be supported by meaningful effect sizes. This study sought to quantify human perception of thermal comfort of wood materials in a controlled laboratory setting. Participants experienced one of two wall treatments: exposed wooden wall panels and white-painted walls in a thermal environment set directly between "neutral” and "slightly warm” (81.5°F, 4Q%RH, PMV +Q.5). We hypothesized that participants exposed to the wood walls would gauge their thermal preference to be closer to neutral than that of participants who experienced the same thermal environment but with the white wall treatment. Wood was found to have a significant and moderate effect on thermal comfort, with the mean response of the participants who received the wood wall treatment being thermally preferable over that of the white wall (wood wall: M = Q.46, SD = Q.56; white wall: M = Q.68, SD = Q.51; p<Q.Q1)

Sensitivity Study of Annual and Point-in-Time Daylight Performance Metrics: A 24 Space Multi-Year Field Study

9 pagesWith the latest published version LEED (v4), and the IES codifying two recommended annual-climate-based daylighting metrics and performance criteria, annual daylighting simulation has become even more important to the design professions than ever before. However, interpretation and application of annual-climate-based daylighting data are still relatively novel. This paper documents a 8-year human factors daylighting field research project using students’ qualitative assessments of daylight sufficiency and corresponding point-in-time and annual-climate-based daylighting simulation in a variety of building types (n=24) in order to provide insight to the building performance simulation community about application of these new annual daylighting metrics

Evaluating Volatile Organic Compound Emissions from Cross-Laminated Timber Bonded with a Soy-Based Adhesive

Volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions from indoor sources are large determinants of the indoor air quality (IAQ) and occupant health. Cross-laminated timber (CLT) is a panelized engineered wood product often left exposed as an interior surface finish. As a certified structural building product, CLT is currently exempt from meeting VOC emission limits for composite wood products and confirming emissions through California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Standard Method testing. In this study, small chamber testing was conducted to evaluate VOC emissions from three laboratory-produced CLT samples: One bonded with a new soy-based cold-set adhesive; a second bonded with a commercially available polyurethane (PUR) adhesive; and the third assembled without adhesive using dowels. A fourth commercially-produced eight-month-old sample bonded with melamine formaldehyde (MF) adhesive was also tested. All four samples were produced with Douglas-fir. The test results for the three laboratory-produced samples demonstrated VOC emissions compliance with the reference standard. The commercially-produced and aged CLT sample bonded with MF adhesive did not meet the acceptance criterion for formaldehyde of ≤9.0 µg/m3. The estimated indoor air concentration of formaldehyde in an office with the MF sample was 54.4 µg/m3; the results for the soy, PUR, and dowel samples were all at or below 2.5 µg/m3

2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic: Built Environment Considerations To Reduce Transmission.

With the rapid spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) that results in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), corporate entities, federal, state, county, and city governments, universities, school districts, places of worship, prisons, health care facilities, assisted living organizations, daycares, homeowners, and other building owners and occupants have an opportunity to reduce the potential for transmission through built environment (BE)-mediated pathways. Over the last decade, substantial research into the presence, abundance, diversity, function, and transmission of microbes in the BE has taken place and revealed common pathogen exchange pathways and mechanisms. In this paper, we synthesize this microbiology of the BE research and the known information about SARS-CoV-2 to provide actionable and achievable guidance to BE decision makers, building operators, and all indoor occupants attempting to minimize infectious disease transmission through environmentally mediated pathways. We believe this information is useful to corporate and public administrators and individuals responsible for building operations and environmental services in their decision-making process about the degree and duration of social-distancing measures during viral epidemics and pandemics

Evaluating Volatile Organic Compound Emissions from Cross-Laminated Timber Bonded with a Soy-Based Adhesive

11 pagesVolatile organic compound (VOC) emissions from indoor sources are large determinants of the indoor air quality (IAQ) and occupant health. Cross-laminated timber (CLT) is a panelized engineered wood product often left exposed as an interior surface finish. As a certified structural building product, CLT is currently exempt from meeting VOC emission limits for composite wood products and confirming emissions through California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Standard Method testing. In this study, small chamber testing was conducted to evaluate VOC emissions from three laboratory-produced CLT samples: One bonded with a new soy-based cold-set adhesive; a second bonded with a commercially available polyurethane (PUR) adhesive; and the third assembled without adhesive using dowels. A fourth commercially-produced eight-month-old sample bonded with melamine formaldehyde (MF) adhesive was also tested. All four samples were produced with Douglas-fir. The test results for the three laboratory-produced samples demonstrated VOC emissions compliance with the reference standard. The commercially-produced and aged CLT sample bonded with MF adhesive did not meet the acceptance criterion for formaldehyde of ≤9.0 μg/m3. The estimated indoor air concentration of formaldehyde in an office with the MF sample was 54.4 μg/m3; the results for the soy, PUR, and dowel samples were all at or below 2.5 μg/m3.This research was funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service [USDA ARS Agreement 58-0204-6-002]

Accurate Measurement of Daylit Interior Scenes Using High Dynamic Range Photography

10 pagesThis paper investigates accuracy in typical High Dynamic Range (HDR) photography techniques used by researchers measuring high resolution luminance information for visual comfort studies in daylit spaces. Vignetting effects of circular fisheye lenses are investigated for reproducibility between different lenses of the same model and sharing between researchers. The selection of aperture size is related to vignetting intensity, dynamic range and potential for lens flare. Lighting variability during capture processes is also tracked, and it is recommended to measure vertical illuminance in order to validate the stability of a scene. Finally, luminous overflow—a concept where a HDR photograph cannot measure the true luminous environment—is introduced. Its effect on the glare metrics UGR and DGP is investigated by using neutral density (ND) filters to increase the dynamic range of photographs under direct sunlight. It is recommended to use ND filters in scenes with vertical illuminances greater than 5 000 lx or with direct vision of the sun

Improving the Accuracy of Measurements in Daylit Interior Scenes Using High Dynamic Range Photography

8 pagesMeasuring the luminous environment enables researchers and practitioners to study perception and visual comfort in existing environments in order to decipher the components that contribute to good or problematic lighting characteristics. High dynamic range photography is commonly used to study visual perception and comfort. This paper presents new findings and specific methods of capturing interior scenes that may include peaks caused by a direct view of the sun and specular reflections. Methods are tested to improve the range of luminance values that can be captured, and new guidelines are proposed to improve the accuracy of computed visual comfort indices. Keywords: daylighting, high dynamic range imagery, visual comfort, glare, luminous overflow

A Novel VOC Breath Tracer Method to Evaluate Indoor Respiratory Exposures in the Near- and far-fields; implications for the spread of respiratory viruses

Background Several studies suggest that far-field transmission (\u3e6 ft) explains a significant number of COVID-19 superspreading outbreaks. Objective Therefore, quantifying the ratio of near- and far-field exposure to emissions from a source is key to better understanding human-to-human airborne infectious disease transmission and associated risks. Methods In this study, we used an environmentally-controlled chamber to measure volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released from a healthy participant who consumed breath mints, which contained unique tracer compounds. Tracer measurements were made at 0.76 m (2.5 ft), 1.52 m (5 ft), 2.28 m (7.5 ft) from the participant, as well as in the exhaust plenum of the chamber. Results We observed that 0.76 m (2.5 ft) trials had ~36–44% higher concentrations than other distances during the first 20 minutes of experiments, highlighting the importance of the near-field exposure relative to the far-field before virus-laden respiratory aerosol plumes are continuously mixed into the far-field. However, for the conditions studied, the concentrations of human-sourced tracers after 20 minutes and approaching the end of the 60-minute trials at 0.76 m, 1.52 m, and 2.28 m were only ~18%, ~11%, and ~7.5% higher than volume-averaged concentrations, respectively. Significance This study suggests that for rooms with similar airflow parameters disease transmission risk is dominated by near-field exposures for shorter event durations (e.g., initial 20–25-minutes of event) whereas far-field exposures are critical throughout the entire event and are increasingly more important for longer event durations

Open Home Project: Designing Modular Housing and Landscapes for Resilient Communities

16 pagesAffordable, energy efficient, and healthy housing is a key component of individual, community, and planetary resilience and is increasingly scarce in both rural and urban regions on the West Coast of the US and many other locations globally. To address this issue, we assembled a diverse team including designers, manufacturers, researchers, economic and legal experts, community organizers, and students from many fields to develop complementary systems for modular, affordable housing and supportive site enhancements. By pursuing an ‘open-source’ design process, our research and concepts are shared freely to engage and welcome input from a broad spectrum of perspectives. Our goal is to leverage disruptive new technologies like mass-timber panelized digital manufacturing, distributed energy production/storage, and water reclamation micro-grids to support systems-based approaches to creating affordable housing and resilient communities. Our flexible modular solution is rapidly deployable, reconfigurable, and relocatable. It includes on-board photovoltaic arrays and battery storage and can be positioned as a standalone accessory dwelling unit or as a cluster community. We propose service-based and on-site approaches to water and waste treatment in response to different configurations and contexts. Each unit provides much-needed housing while reinforcing the local utility grid and providing essential services during grid-disrupting events. This paper documents initial results of ongoing research, financial and sociopolitical implementation plans, and site improvement and modular housing system concepts. Moreover, we invite the ACEEE community to contribute their expertise as part of open source knowledge network

The Impact of School Facilities on Student Learning and Engagement

83 pagesThis document outlines, catalogs, and summarizes a framework of literature that highlights the impact of school of facilities and classroom environments on student engagement and learning. The NetZED Laboratory at the University of Oregon commenced this project following a Request for Proposals from the California School Facilities Research Initiative (CSFRI) which sought to identify elements of the built environment of K–12 schools that result in higher levels of student engagement and learning. CSFRI’s goal was to summarize existing literature regarding the effects that physical organizational environments and furnishings within classrooms, makerspaces, laboratories, and interior ancillary facilities, as well as space at the exterior of the building that contribute to student engagement and learning. The overall intent of this white paper is to draw upon published evidence and original research to support the design planning and process for facility planners/managers, architects, educator, and community members who will seek funding to renovate and build new schools in California. With learning and engagement at the center, we developed a diagram of relationships of the school’s physical environment that includes three categories: indoor environment, spatial environment, and the people/community in relation to the school and classrooms. The review initially captured more than 750 peer-reviewed papers, reports, dissertations, books and literature reviews using framework, key word searches, and relevancy criteria, and stored through shared referencing software (Mendeley). Approximately 500 publications were selected to become an annotated bibliography and form the basis for this white paper. The review included studies from around the world, though most studies are applicable to conditions in the U.S