This chapter considers the impact of sustainable architectural design in the indoor environment and human health by looking at the built environment’s energy-efficiency evolution, which has changed mainly due to climate change concerns. As homes have become more energy-efficient, unintended consequences such as poor indoor air quality and respiratory illness arise. This chapter discusses these issues within residential indoor environments, emphasizing indoor air quality (IAQ), possible health outcomes, and prevention considerations.
Issues, Controversies, Problems
The world’s overgrowth has created challenges for many countries to have enough space to build houses, to design and develop energy-efficient homes, and reduce the cost to operate them compared to existing households. The new “energy smart” houses are 40-60% more efficient than older homes (Cooperative Energy Futures, no date). They are designed with an improved Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR) system, high-performance windows, no air filtration, and water efficiency. It is acknowledged that energy-efficient homes offer great comfort due to the combination of temperature, humidity, and air movement (Schieweck et al., 2018). Part of the efficient promise is their resale value due to its high-performance standard and low utility costs. Many people are primarily interested in the body of evidence about climate change and how an energy-smart house can decrease our need for energy, water and improve our world. Nonetheless, indoor environment problems (i.e., poor indoor air quality and overheating) may arise when these aspects are not adequately addressed, causing health problems (Davies and Harvey, 2008).
The energy-efficient homes need to use non-toxic materials in construction to improve indoor air quality, which can reduce the rate of respiratory illnesses such as asthma (Institute of Medicine, 2000). The materials and products used need to be emission-free and have very little or no VOC (Volatile organic compound) content. They also need to be moisture-resistant to prevent mould spores from growing inside the house. Indoor air quality (IAQ) can improve through ventilation and materials in the house’s construction that controls humidity and allow a building to breathe (Crump, Dengel and Swainson, 2009). The house needs to be maintained responsibly, and owners need to keep up to date with changing standards and policies related to energy-efficient homes.
This chapter has the following objectives (a) to review the changes for energy-efficient dwellings and their impact on the indoor environment, (b) to describe the most common indoor air pollutants problems and their implications to human health, (c) to present some considerations for prevention and (d) to discuss healthy homes practices.