Architectural & Planning Strategies for Improving Indoor Air Quality

Currently, medical expertise indicates that indoor air conditions in buildings could give rise to diseases. This is due to tighter designs and construction techniques in modern residential buildings which emanated from technological advancement and reliance on artificial energy sources. This is compounded by the use of dirty cooking fuels that teamed up to contribute to various emissions of the indoors of buildings and initiated changes in the air quality of these indoor environments with its resultant discomfort, sicknesses and death. The building performance indicator; indoor air quality has always been one of the criteria for assessment of the effectiveness of building designs and construction, and healthy indoor environment. Many researchers were of the opinion that increased air tighteness in modern residential buildings lessens the opportunity for dilution of indoor air pollutants. In spite of this, indoor air quality performance of residential buildings is not considered a risk in study area; a situation which contributed to the low level of concern in their building regulations/codes as well as limited research and data in the area of discourse.

Autorentext

Dr. Ezezue A. M. is an Associate Professor in the Department of Architecture, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka. He is a Holder of B.Sc, M.Sc and PhD Degrees in Architecture. A registered Architect with the Architects registration of Nigeria (F/1613). He is a Nigerian, from Amawbia in Awka South LGA of Anambra State. He is Married with Three Children.