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Projects: Projects for Investigator
Reference Number EP/F007132/1
Title Pollutants in the Urban Environment: An Integrated Framework for Improving Sustainability of the Indoor Environment (PUrE Intrawise)
Status Completed
Energy Categories Energy Efficiency(Residential and commercial) 25%;
Not Energy Related 75%;
Research Types Basic and strategic applied research 100%
Science and Technology Fields SOCIAL SCIENCES (Town and Country Planning) 10%;
SOCIAL SCIENCES (Sociology) 15%;
ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Chemical Engineering) 25%;
ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Architecture and the Built Environment) 50%;
UKERC Cross Cutting Characterisation Sociological economical and environmental impact of energy (Environmental dimensions) 25%;
Sociological economical and environmental impact of energy (Consumer attitudes and behaviour) 50%;
Sociological economical and environmental impact of energy (Other sociological economical and environmental impact of energy) 25%;
Principal Investigator Professor A Azapagic
No email address given
Chemical Engineering and Analytical Science
University of Manchester
Award Type Standard
Funding Source EPSRC
Start Date 01 June 2008
End Date 30 November 2011
Duration 42 months
Total Grant Value £2,247,704
Industrial Sectors Environment; Construction; Energy
Region North West
Programme Energy Multidisciplinary Applications, Energy Research Capacity, Process Environment and Sustainability
 
Investigators Principal Investigator Professor A Azapagic , Chemical Engineering and Analytical Science, University of Manchester (99.993%)
  Other Investigator Dr M Davies , The Bartlett School of Graduate Studies, University College London (0.001%)
Dr CLP Thomas , Chemistry, Loughborough University (0.001%)
Professor J Swithenbank , Chemical and Process Engineering, University of Sheffield (0.001%)
Professor VN Sharifi , Chemical and Process Engineering, University of Sheffield (0.001%)
Dr P Wilkinson , Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (0.001%)
Dr M Barrett , UCL Energy Institute, University College London (0.001%)
Professor T (Tadj ) Oreszczyn , Bartlett Sch of Env, Energy & Resources, University College London (0.001%)
  Industrial Collaborator Project Contact , Ove Arup & Partners Ltd (0.000%)
Project Contact , Titon (0.000%)
Project Contact , Sheffield City Council (0.000%)
Project Contact , Max Fordham LLP (0.000%)
Project Contact , Environmental Agency (0.000%)
Project Contact , Department of the Environment (0.000%)
Project Contact , L’Institut national de l’environnement industriel et des risques (Ineris), France (0.000%)
Project Contact , Veolia Environmental Services (0.000%)
Project Contact , Public Health England (0.000%)
Web Site
Objectives
Abstract We spend some 90% of our time inside buildings where we control the quality of the environment for health, thermal comfort, security and productivity. The quality of the indoor environment is affected by many factors, including design of buildings, ventilation, thermal insulation and energy provision and use. Maintaining the quality of the environment in buildings can have considerable consequences on both local and global environment and on human health.In recent years, the air-tightness of buildings has become an issue, as part of a drive to provide thermal comfort and reduce energy consumption. However, as dwellings are made more airtight, internal pollution sources can have a greater impact on the indoor air quality and occupants may experience adverse health effects unless ventilation is effective. On the other hand, ventilation can lead to ingress of outdoor air pollution; it also reduces energy efficiency of buildings, accounting for 25-30% of the total building energy use. Conversely, efforts aimed at the improvement of energy efficiency through better thermal insulation may affect adversely indoor air quality, e.g. through reduced ventilation and increased moisture content. The latter is the main cause of mould, the exposure to which is being increasingly linked to respiratory and other health problems. Further, burning fuels in micro-generation domestic appliances such as gas boilers and cookers can potentially be hazardous to the health of those in the dwelling or further afield. However, switching to other sources of energy such as biomass, photovoltaics, fuel cells etc., while reducing the impact on the indoor environment can, on a life cycle basis, cause environmental and health impacts elsewhere. Nevertheless, several Government reports have highlighted the importance of household micro-generation options as well as energy efficiency, given the imperatives for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and widespread fuel poverty. The latter has been linked to Britain's large burden of cold-/winter-related deaths, which often exceed 30,000 per year.Poor indoor environmental quality in residential buildings, offices and schools has been related to increases in sick building syndrome symptoms, respiratory illnesses, sick leave and losses in productivity. Health effects can be immediate (e.g. irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat, headaches, dizziness and fatigue) or can occur over a longer period of exposure to indoor pollutants (e.g. respiratory diseases, heart disease and cancer). A growing body of scientific evidence indicates that the air within homes and other buildings can be more seriously polluted than the outdoor air in even the largest and most industrialised cities. Given that most people spend approximately 90% of their time indoors, their exposure to air pollutants is determined primarily by exposure indoors, particularly in their home.In order to contribute towards achieving a better quality of the indoor environment, this project proposes to study the environmental and health effects related to the generation, conservation and use of energy in buildings, with a particular focus on residential buildings. The main outputs from the project will be an integrated decision-support methodology and software tool for more sustainable management of indoor pollution. The framework will be applied to a number of case studies that will compare environmental, health and economic implications of the principal options for future home energy provision as an aid to policy development. Using a life cycle approach, the project will examine a range of sustainability issues, including environmental impacts (e.g. resource depletion, global warming, acidification, eco-toxicity etc.) and social issues (e.g. human health, comfort and well-being). The economic implications of different options will also be examined
Publications (none)
Final Report (none)
Added to Database 10/08/07