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Investigation and Evaluation of Winter Indoor Air Quality of Primary Schools in Severe Cold Weather Areas of China

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  • Fusheng Ma

    (School of Architecture, Harbin Institute of Technology and Key Laboratory of Cold Region Urban and Rural Human Settlement Environment Science and Technology, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Harbin 150001, China
    Construction Technology Research Institute, Shenyang Jianzhu University, Shenyang 110168, China)

  • Changhong Zhan

    (School of Architecture, Harbin Institute of Technology and Key Laboratory of Cold Region Urban and Rural Human Settlement Environment Science and Technology, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Harbin 150001, China)

  • Xiaoyang Xu

    (Construction Technology Research Institute, Shenyang Jianzhu University, Shenyang 110168, China)

Abstract

The indoor air quality (IAQ) in classrooms has attracted more and more attention. Unfortunately, there is limited information relating to IAQ in the primary schools in severe cold weather areas of China. In this study, a field investigation on the IAQ of a primary school of Shenyang in northeast China was carried out by physical measurements and questionnaire surveys. The carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) concentration in selected classrooms was continuously measured for a week, and the corresponding ventilation rate was calculated. Meanwhile, the perceptions of the IAQ, the purpose and the comfort degree of window opening have also been recorded from 106 pupils, aged 9–12. The results indicate the ventilation rate is considerably inadequate in about 99% of the class time due to the low frequency of window opening. The average daily CO 2 concentration in these classrooms is 1510–3863 ppm, which is far higher than the recommended value of 1000 ppm. Most pupils understand that the purpose of opening windows in winter is to improve air quality. However, there are big differences between the measurement results and subjective judgments of indoor air quality. Contrary to the high measured CO 2 concentration, around 70% pupils consider the air fresh, and only 3.7% pupils are dissatisfied and even very dissatisfied with IAQ in their classroom. It is necessary to change the existing manual window opening mode, because the pupils’ subjective judgment affects the window opening behavior.

Suggested Citation

  • Fusheng Ma & Changhong Zhan & Xiaoyang Xu, 2019. "Investigation and Evaluation of Winter Indoor Air Quality of Primary Schools in Severe Cold Weather Areas of China," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-19, April.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:12:y:2019:i:9:p:1602-:d:226352
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. A.M. Fogheri, 2015. "Energy Efficiency in Public Buildings," Rivista economica del Mezzogiorno, Società editrice il Mulino, issue 3-4, pages 763-784.
    2. Zhen Peng & Wu Deng & Rosangela Tenorio, 2017. "Investigation of Indoor Air Quality and the Identification of Influential Factors at Primary Schools in the North of China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(7), pages 1-14, July.
    3. Turanjanin, Valentina & Vučićević, Biljana & Jovanović, Marina & Mirkov, Nikola & Lazović, Ivan, 2014. "Indoor CO2 measurements in Serbian schools and ventilation rate calculation," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 290-296.
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    Cited by:

    1. Joanna Ferdyn-Grygierek & Andrzej Baranowski & Monika Blaszczok & Jan Kaczmarczyk, 2019. "Thermal Diagnostics of Natural Ventilation in Buildings: An Integrated Approach," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(23), pages 1-22, November.
    2. Fusheng Ma & Changhong Zhan & Xiaoyang Xu & Guanghao Li, 2020. "Winter Thermal Comfort and Perceived Air Quality: A Case Study of Primary Schools in Severe Cold Regions in China," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-19, November.
    3. Anna Bulińska & Zbigniew Buliński, 2022. "Determination of the Interzonal Airflows in Naturally Ventilated Dwellings Based on Concentration Measurements of the Metabolic Carbon Dioxide," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(1), pages 1-19, December.

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