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Indoor Environmental Quality Evaluation of Lecture Classrooms in an Institutional Building in a Cold Climate

Author

Listed:
  • Lexuan Zhong

    (Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 1H9, Canada)

  • Jing Yuan

    (Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 1H9, Canada
    Green intelligence Environment School, Yangtze Normal University, Chongqing 408100, China)

  • Brian Fleck

    (Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 1H9, Canada)

Abstract

In this paper, ventilation, indoor air quality (IAQ), thermal and acoustic conditions, and lighting were studied to evaluate the indoor environmental quality (IEQ) in an institutional building at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Canada. This study examined IEQ parameters, including pressure, illuminance, acoustics, carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) concentration, temperature, and humidity, with appropriate monitors allocated during a lecture (duration 50 min or 80 min) in four lecture classrooms repeatedly ( N = 99) from October 2018 to March 2019 with the objectives of providing a comprehensive analysis of interactions between IEQ parameters. The classroom environments were maintained at 23 ± 1 °C and 33% ± 3% RH during two-season measurements. Indoor mean CO 2 concentrations were 550–1055 ppm, and a mean sound level of 58 ± 3 dBA was observed. The air change rates were configured at 1.3–6.5 per hour based on continuous CO 2 measurements and occupant loads in the lectures. A variance analysis indicated that the within-lecture classroom variations in most IEQ parameters exceeded between-lecture classrooms. A multilayer artificial neural network (ANN) model was developed on the basis of feedforward networks with a backpropagation algorithm. ANN results demonstrated the importance of the sequence of covariates on indoor conditions (temperature, RH, and CO 2 level): Air change rate (ACR) > room operations (occupant number and light system) > outdoor conditions.

Suggested Citation

  • Lexuan Zhong & Jing Yuan & Brian Fleck, 2019. "Indoor Environmental Quality Evaluation of Lecture Classrooms in an Institutional Building in a Cold Climate," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(23), pages 1-16, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:23:p:6591-:d:289711
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Chen, Jianli & Brager, Gail S. & Augenbroe, Godfried & Song, Xinyi, 2019. "Impact of outdoor air quality on the natural ventilation usage of commercial buildings in the US," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 235(C), pages 673-684.
    2. Gil-Baez, Maite & Barrios-Padura, Ángela & Molina-Huelva, Marta & Chacartegui, R., 2017. "Natural ventilation systems in 21st-century for near zero energy school buildings," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 137(C), pages 1186-1200.
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    Cited by:

    1. Armando Pelliccioni & Paolo Monti & Giorgio Cattani & Fabio Boccuni & Marco Cacciani & Silvia Canepari & Pasquale Capone & Maria Catrambone & Mariacarmela Cusano & Maria Concetta D’Ovidio & Antonella , 2020. "Integrated Evaluation of Indoor Particulate Exposure: The VIEPI Project," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(22), pages 1-25, November.
    2. Arturo Realyvásquez-Vargas & Aidé Aracely Maldonado-Macías & Karina Cecilia Arredondo-Soto & Yolanda Baez-Lopez & Teresa Carrillo-Gutiérrez & Guadalupe Hernández-Escobedo, 2020. "The Impact of Environmental Factors on Academic Performance of University Students Taking Online Classes during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Mexico," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(21), pages 1-22, November.
    3. Nishant Raj Kapoor & Ashok Kumar & Tabish Alam & Anuj Kumar & Kishor S. Kulkarni & Paolo Blecich, 2021. "A Review on Indoor Environment Quality of Indian School Classrooms," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-43, October.
    4. Gyu-Bae Lee & Seung-Min Lee & Seung-Eon Lee & Jae-Weon Jeong & Jong-Won Lee, 2022. "A Comparative Field Study of Indoor Environment Quality and Work Productivity between Job Types in a Research Institute in Korea," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-17, November.
    5. Aminhossein Jahanbin & Giovanni Semprini, 2020. "Numerical Study on Indoor Environmental Quality in a Room Equipped with a Combined HRV and Radiator System," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(24), pages 1-22, December.
    6. Francesco Mancini & Fabio Nardecchia & Daniele Groppi & Francesco Ruperto & Carlo Romeo, 2020. "Indoor Environmental Quality Analysis for Optimizing Energy Consumptions Varying Air Ventilation Rates," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-18, January.
    7. Erika Dolnikova & Dusan Katunsky & Marian Vertal & Marek Zozulak, 2020. "Influence of Roof Windows Area Changes on the Classroom Indoor Climate in the Attic Space: A Case Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(12), pages 1-24, June.
    8. Sung Hoon Yoon & Jonghoon Ahn, 2020. "Comparative Analysis of Energy Use and Human Comfort by an Intelligent Control Model at the Change of Season," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-15, November.

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