The application of theory and practice in the early years of teaching

The application of theory and practice in the early years of teaching is a topic that must be of vital importance to anyone involved in teacher education. Whether we are administrator, inspector, school head, teacher trainer or student teacher, we are surely united in our concern that the best possible transition should be made for those who pass for their studies in university to taking on full class-room responsibilities.peer-reviewe

Systems thinking in the built environment: Seeing the bigger picture, understanding the detail

Over the last 20 years, environmental sustainability in buildings, with its links to climate change concerns, low embodied carbon and sustainably sourced materials and energy efficiency, has grown from being a niche enterprise to a major driver of new business – a trend that Indoor and Built Environment has followed with interest. However, beyond this and with the rise of the wellbeing agenda, clients are now beginning to expect buildings to also contribute to the health and wellbeing of the people who live, work and learn inside them. This has created a new focus around the issues of healthy environments, wellbeing and increased productivity in addition to the low-carbon agenda. Therefore, with this added and important emphasis, how do we ensure that this will be more than an ephemeral trend and that in the future ‘business as usual’ will be truly both sustainable and healthy? Previous research on the impacts of energy-efficient design on the indoor environment has shown that there is the potential for numerous unintended consequences when decarbonising the built environment.1,2 How can we be certain that processes to ensure wellbeing in buildings will be positive, or do we have to accept that as with energy efficiency measures, multiple trade-offs (for example between emissions reduction and public health) will occur? This editorial argues that to ensure health and wellbeing co-benefits two changes need to occur: First, we need to move away from a purely reductionist and siloed rationale towards integrative whole systems thinking and action; second, in order to achieve this, we cannot remain closed inside our disciplinary boundaries and we need to learn how to traverse them

Institutional arrangements for flood plain management in Ontario an analysis of the West Ferris Flood Plain management Study

The intent of this study is to investigate how river basin study delays could be avoided or shortened. Mitchell and Gardner (1983) identified the need for this type of research in order to make watershed planning credible. This study specifically focuses on how the institutional arrangement for flood plain management may be improved to provide more efficient and effective management, present institutional arrangement for flood plain management in Ontario. The research was divided into two phases. The first phase was a literature review pertaining to comprehensive river basin management, institutional arrangements for water management, and general planning. This review led to a discussion of the historical development of the Ontario conservation authority movement, pertinent pieces of government legislation for flood plain management, and an overview of Ontario flood plain management policy. This literature provides the background and context from which the institutional arrangements for flood plain management were analyzed through a case study approach. The second phase of research involved the selection of the West Ferris Flood Plain management Study, completed for the North Bay mattawa Conservation Authority, as a case study. The study, which was to have been completed in thirteen weeks, took over two and a half years. Interviews were conducted with the major study participants. These interviews revealed that the major cause for the delay was due to different institutional approaches for flood plain management. The research concludes that the study delay could have been avoided if: the West Ferris Study terms of reference had been clearer, all participants had remained committed to the planning process, and a more effective bargaining or negotiation process had been present for the study participants to air differences of opinion. In order to avoid such delays in the future it is recommended that: study terms of reference be more detailed and clearly stated, the Conservation Authorities Branch play a more active role in approving the technical aspects of water management studies, individual conservation authorities be responsible for final report approval to increase their accountability for studies and projects undertaken by them, and studies examining the protection of existing and future development be conducted by conservation authorities. The cost of sharing for these studies should be based on the benefits derived from the protecting existing development to those derived from the protection of future development

Impacts of energy efficiency retrofitting measures on indoor PM concentrations across different income groups in England: a modelling study

As part of an effort to reduce carbon emissions in the UK, policies encouraging the energy-efficient retrofit of domestic properties are being implemented. Typical retrofits, including installation of insulation and double glazing can cause tightening of the building envelope which may affect indoor air quality (IAQ) impacting occupant health. Using the example of PM (an airborne pollutant with known health impacts), this study considers the influence of energy-efficient retrofits on indoor PM concentrations in domestic properties both above and below the low-income threshold (LIT) for a range of tenancies across England. Simulations using EnergyPlus and its integrated Generic Contaminant model are employed to predict indoor PM exposures from both indoor and outdoor sources in building archetypes representative of (i) the existing housing stock and (ii) a retrofitted English housing stock. The exposures of occupants for buildings occupied by groups above and below the LIT are then estimated under current conditions and following retrofits. One-way ANOVA tests were applied to clarify results and investigate differences between the various income and tenure groups. Results indicate that all tenures below the LIT experience greater indoor PM concentrations than those above, suggesting possible social inequalities driven by housing, leading to consequences for health

Indoor Air Quality and Thermal Comfort: is all well with the Well Standard?

Cundall’s London office is the First WELL certificated building in Europe. Whether indoor air quality (IAQ) and thermal comfort satisfies occupants’ requirements and meets the WELL standard requires investigation. Based on ASHRAE Performance Measurement Protocols for Commercial Buildings (PMP), including indoor air quality monitoring combined with a Building Utilization Survey (BUS) based survey, this study investigates this question. Monitoring using Cundall’s sensors (IEQube) measuring temperature, relative humidity, light, CO2, PM2.5, PM10 and TVOC were combined with sensors from UCL to provide objective independent data for comparison. The BUS survey was conducted in the main open-plan office area to obtain the occupant’s perceptions of the environment. Monitoring results show IAQ is within the standard whilst results from the BUS questionnaire indicates most occupants are satisfied. Comments from the survey are useful to help continuing to improve the working environment

Health effects of home energy efficiency interventions in England: a modelling study

Objective: To assess potential public health impacts of changes to indoor air quality and temperature due to energy efficiency retrofits in English dwellings to meet 2030 carbon reduction targets. Design: Health impact modelling study. Setting: England. Participants: English household population. Intervention: Three retrofit scenarios were modelled: (1) fabric and ventilation retrofits installed assuming building regulations are met. (2) As with scenario (1) but with additional ventilation for homes at risk of poor ventilation. (3) As with scenario (1) but with no additional ventilation to illustrate the potential risk of weak regulations and non-compliance. Main Outcome: Primary outcomes were changes in quality adjusted life years (QALYs) over 50 years from cardiorespiratory diseases, lung cancer, asthma and common mental disorders due to changes in indoor air pollutants, including: second-hand tobacco smoke, PM2.5 from indoor and outdoor sources, radon, mould, and indoor winter temperatures. Results: The modelling study estimates showed that scenario (1) resulted in positive effects on net mortality and morbidity of 2,241 (95% credible intervals (CI) 2,085 to 2,397) QALYs per 10,000 persons over 50 years due to improved temperatures and reduced exposure to indoor pollutants, despite an increase in exposure to outdoor–generated PM2.5. Scenario (2) resulted in a negative impact of -728 (95% CI -864 to -592) QALYs per 10,000 persons over 50 years due to an overall increase in indoor pollutant exposures. Scenario (3) resulted in -539 (95% CI -678 to -399) QALYs per 10,000 persons over 50 years due to an increase in indoor exposures despite targeting. Conclusions: If properly implemented alongside ventilation, energy efficiency retrofits in housing can improve health by reducing exposure to cold and air pollutants. Maximising the health benefits requires careful understanding of the balance of changes in pollutant exposures, highlighting the importance of ventilation to mitigate the risk of poor indoor air quality

Determinants of CO Exposure in the English Housing Stock: Modelling Current and Future Risks

This report investigates the current distribution of low-level CO concentrations in the English housing stock, and prevalence of dwellings exceeding recommended background exposure levels, using advanced modelling techniques informed by empirical data from a number of disparate sources. By bringing these sources of data together in the models, it is possible to produce new insights into the variation in background CO exposure across dwelling types and geographical location. The model also considers the impact on indoor domestic CO concentrations of the application of energy efficiency measures on the same stock. Although the health effects of long-term low-level CO exposure are still uncertain, this report provides evidence for further discussion and research. There are a number of assumptions listed within the main report, that drive the results. These should be taken into consideration when interpreting outcomes

Changes in exposure to PM2.5 in English dwellings: an unintended consequence of energy efficient refurbishment of the housing stock

UK legislation will result in energy efficiency gains through increased insulation, and airtightness in UK housing in the coming decades. This limited-focus policy approach has led to an array of possible unintended consequences, including likely changes in Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) and exposure profiles for airborne pollutants such as PM2.5. Quantification of any changes in indoor concentrations of PM2.5 is needed due to known impacts on population health. This thesis seeks to address whether the introduction of energy efficiency and ventilation strategies will lead to negative unintended consequences by increasing PM2.5 concentrations in English dwellings, or provide health co-benefits by reducing indoor PM2.5; what factors influence such concentrations and whether their contribution can be quantified? Its geographical focus is the English housing stock commencing with London, comparing London with another location (Milton Keynes) and finally extending to the whole English stock. It considers possible differences in exposure as experienced by different income groups and tenures. It investigates the range of interacting factors that contribute to indoor PM2.5 exposures including for example; external meteorological conditions/pollutant concentrations; location; building characteristics; ventilation type; indoor sources; occupant income and behaviour. Such complexity requires a modelling approach. Building archetypes representative of English dwellings and validated ventilation and indoor pollutant simulation techniques are used to model both current and future changes in indoor PM2.5 exposures. Highlights of the research findings include (1) The application of purpose provided ventilation and removal of indoor generated PM2.5 at source are critical to the overall reduction of indoor exposure in most cases; (2) Increasing envelope airtightness alone reduces ventilation heat loss, assisting CO2 reduction targets whilst also reducing ingress of external PM2.5, but substantially increases indoor sourced PM2.5 concentrations with possible overall negative health consequences; (3) Building characteristics, location, income level and occupant behaviour influence individual exposure where energy efficiency measures are implemented; (4) Households below the low income threshold are more likely to experience greater indoor PM2.5 concentrations, although further monitoring research is needed to confirm/refute this; (5) The models constructed for this study have a possible wider applicability for other airborne pollutants, locations, and building stocks