Indoor Air Cartoon Journal, December 2023, Volume 6, #149

[Cite as: Fadeyi MO (2023). What shall it profit indoor occupants to have good IAQ but not the quality of other indoor environmental conditions? Indoor Air Cartoon Journal, December 2023, Volume 6, #149.]

Fictional Case Story (Audio – available online) – Part 1 

Fictional Case Story (Audio – available online) – Part 2 

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An architectural engineering company specialising in mechanical (including plumbing) systems design was on the brink of collapse due to the Chief Executive Officer’s (CEO) non-holistic system-thinking design approach to problem-solving. Instead of designing mechanical systems to be integrated with electrical, structural, interior, and envelope systems for effective performance of all indoor environmental conditions and building integrity, the company focused largely on indoor air performance. The poor integration of building systems and performance mandates led to decreased comfort, convenience, and cognitive ability of building occupants, impacting their effectiveness in functioning within the indoor environment. The CEO was forced to embark on a learning journey to save his company and career. The CEO wanted to understand the interconnectedness of various elements within a building and how their diverse performances could be effectively balanced. The CEO’s exploration to develop experience in a holistic system-thinking design approach for the benefit of building occupants is the subject of this short fiction story.

1……………………………….

This chapter of the book on the illustrious contributions of Professor Adam Salvador to human development in academics, industry, and community is about the story of Engineer George King. George’s personal story encapsulates moments of navigating complexity, overcoming adversity, and the profound effects of continuous learning on personal and professional growth. It is a story that echoes a universal theme – resilience amidst challenges and the pursuit of personal development to positively influence humanity.

2……………………………….

My name is George King. I am popularly known as Geroge. I grew up in a vibrant household surrounded by a loving family. My parents, both successful professionals in their respective fields, provided a comfortable and nurturing environment for me and my siblings. I was a bright and curious teenager, fascinated by the world of art, science, and technology. I had a passion for solving problems. My style was to focus on solving a problem at a time.

My ability to effectively solve a problem at hand received praise from many close friends and family members. I was a diligent and creative student in secondary school, and I had always exhibited an exceptional knack for problem-solving. My innovative ideas and analytical approach to challenges did not go unnoticed by my teachers and peers. When an opportunity arose for a student to represent my secondary school at a state-level design competition, I was the natural choice.

The competition called for students to devise innovative solutions to address pressing issues in their communities. I poured my heart and mind into his project, crafting a solution to tackle a local environmental concern by integrating sustainable materials and smart design concepts. My entry showcased my ingenuity and dedication to finding practical solutions.

At the state competition, I presented my project with passion and confidence. My solution is intended to have a more significant impact, to truly make a difference in the lives of people affected by the problem I attempted to address. While the judges admired my creativity and the potential of my solution, I ended up securing the third position. Though it was a commendable achievement, I could not help but feel a tinge of disappointment.

After the prize presentation ceremony, Professor Adam Salvador, a professor of knowledge exchange in design from the prestigious University of Pompey (UPom), the United States of Akondakar, who was one of the judges, approached me. Impressed by my project and problem-solving skills, he offered feedback and guidance for future development.

The professor acknowledged the merit of my solution but highlighted an essential aspect that could elevate my design and problem-solving skills to a higher level – the concept of system thinking and consideration for how users or consumers of the system I designed will experience the system meant to solve their problem to achieve comfort, convenience, and cognitive ability (awareness).

Professor Adam Salvador emphasised that I needed to broaden my perspective to enhance the value and effectiveness of my solution to a problem. He explained that it was crucial to consider the interconnectedness of various elements within a system—how they interact, influence each other, and impact the end-users or consumers. He urged me to explore not only the immediate problem but also the broader context in which it existed, including the needs, behaviours, and experiences of the people who would benefit from my solution.

The disappointment I felt in not being the state winner made me not give much thought to the professor’s advice. Thus, I maintained my frequency in my approach to problem-solving. Years later, my interest in problem-solving evolved into solving indoor air quality (IAQ) problems during my professional career. My passion for IAQ was not just a professional interest but a deeply personal mission that stemmed from a traumatic event in my past.

When I was a teenager, a significant health crisis struck my family. Several of my family members fell seriously ill. My father and mother nearly lost their lives. It was a terrible experience that not only adversely affected my family members’ health but also affected our financial capability for many years.

There was a viral pandemic. The significance of IAQ became more critical due to the potential airborne transmission of viruses within confined spaces. The viruses spread through tiny respiratory droplets released when an infected person talks, coughs, or sneezes. If the air is stagnant due to poor ventilation and the virus sizes are small enough, the viruses remain suspended for longer periods, potentially exposing others to the viruses.

According to experts, as shared in news media, although poor IAQ did not directly cause the virus outbreak, it significantly contributed to the spread and severity of viral infections. Limited ventilation in indoor environments was found to cause viruses to linger in the air for extended periods, increasing the risk of transmission. Unfortunately, many buildings did not have adequate ventilation, which involved the exchange of indoor and outdoor air. Thus, the buildings did not have enough outdoor air, if clean, to dilute and remove airborne pollutants, including viral particles.

According to experts sharing and articles I read online, there were several causes of inadequate ventilation rates in buildings studied. Of concern to me were those related to residential buildings. Inadequate planning or construction flaws resulted in insufficient airflow. Examples of such flaws include improper placement of windows, limited openings for natural ventilation, or blocked air pathways within and around the building.

Older buildings, especially the air-conditioned ones, constructed before modern ventilation standards were established lacked the features necessary to maintain adequate airflow according to current standards. These old buildings were not designed to be flexible to accommodate changes in technological advancement. Some air-conditioned buildings lack proper mechanical ventilation systems or have poorly designed, outdated, or not regularly maintained systems. This includes inadequate exhaust fans, air handling units, or air-conditioning systems integrated with the building envelopes (walls).

In some cases, occupants block natural airflow in naturally ventilated buildings by keeping windows closed or covering ventilation openings. Additionally, some occupants sealed off spaces or modified their buildings without considering ventilation needs, reducing airflow. The outdoor air in my country was very poor. We often did not have blue skies. The outdoor air was always hazy.

Thus, many residential buildings, including our building, have closed windows or nearly closed windows throughout the day due to the need to minimise outdoor air intake that can increase concentrations of several indoor air pollutants. With active sources of pollutants in indoor environments and closed openings, concentrations and exposures to indoor air pollutants would increase.

It is no wonder that tens of millions of people died in my country during the virus pandemic. Interestingly, the rate at which people were infected and died from the infection significantly increased when movements were restricted and people were forced to stay indoors.

In some cases, the importance of ventilation was not adequately understood or prioritised during the design or construction phase of the building, leading to insufficient consideration of ventilation needs. Insufficient ventilation rates led to the building up of concentrations of several indoor air pollutants. Additionally, many buildings had mould problems, especially in their toilets, due to sources of moisture and insufficient ventilation rates. Occupants of buildings with low ventilation rates were vulnerable to being exposed.

There were situations where there were changes in building occupancy, such as an increase in the number of occupants beyond the building’s original design. Poor flexibility of the ventilation system in adjusting to the outdoor air (if clean) supply needed due to the increased number of occupants would lead to inadequate ventilation rates (low litre of outdoor air per second per person).

Many occupants of residential buildings could not afford the high-efficiency air filtration systems needed to capture and remove particles, including viruses, from the air. Even among people who could afford high-efficiency filters, many of them had a poor maintenance culture. The inadequate or poorly maintained filtration systems failed to effectively trap viral particles, allowing them to circulate and pose a risk to occupants.

During the pandemic’s peak, poor IAQ in crowded indoor environments, especially in buildings, e.g., dormitories for students and foreign workers, where physical distancing was challenging, increased the risk of virus transmission among individuals nearby. With many buildings in my country having a problem in providing a healthy environment for their occupants due to poor ventilation, lack of air cleaners (filters), and poor social distances indoors, many building occupants were vulnerable due to their potential to be exposed to the virus particles and their risk of being harmed by the virus and experience health problems increased.

Witnessing my loved ones suffering and realising the devastating impact that poor IAQ, facilitated by poor building design, construction, and management, could have on people’s health left an indelible mark on me. It became a turning point that sparked a genuine dedication within me to prevent such incidents from affecting my family and others in the future. The unfortunate experience ignited a fire in me, compelling me to pursue a career in architectural engineering.

I chose architectural engineering for my course because it plays a vital role in IAQ, as it directly impacts building design, construction, and management (maintenance and operations). For context, the aspect of architectural engineering I was interested in was mechanical (including plumbing) systems. From the research I did when searching for an undergraduate programme that could prepare me well for an expert in IAQ, I learnt the following about the role of architectural engineers with specialisation in mechanical.

Architectural engineers can collaborate with architects to assess building layout, material selection, and HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning) design during the building’s planning phase. Thoughtful design and layout facilitate proper airflow, diminish indoor air pollutant sources, and promote efficient ventilation and air cleaning systems, ensuring the delivery of a high quantity of high-quality indoor air.

Architectural engineers can design HVAC systems to regulate temperature, humidity, and airflow within buildings. Effective HVAC systems help clean and trap indoor air pollutants and distribute outdoor air, assuming it is clean enough, to dilute the indoor air pollutants to significantly reduce the concentrations of indoor air pollutants.

The selection of building materials and the construction of the building envelope influence IAQ. Architectural engineers can work with architects to focus on using low-emission materials, considering their impact on indoor air quality. Properly sealed and insulated buildings prevent outdoor air pollutants from entering, improving IAQ. Architectural engineers follow indoor environmental standards and guidelines to ensure buildings comply with regulations.

Architectural engineers are also required to ensure the total building performance is not compromised due to their design. However, this aspect of total building performance did not resonate well with me. I could not effectively see beyond the need to deliver a high quantity of high-quality indoor air excellently.

3……………………………….

My pursuit of architectural engineering began with my admission to the prestigious Pompey State University (PSU), the United States of Akondakar. Throughout my academic journey, with a clear understanding of why I enrolled in the programme, I demonstrated an unquenchable thirst for knowledge and a deep commitment to understanding the complexities of IAQ.

I enrolled in a rigorous curriculum that encompassed various aspects of architectural engineering. My coursework included subjects such as building materials, architectural engineering design studio, building information modelling, programming, HVAC systems, sustainable design principles, acoustics, lighting, electrical, plumbing, fluid dynamics, etc.

Driven by my personal experiences, I chose to work in the research lab of a professor whose research focuses on IAQ to work as a research assistant. I participated in research projects on IAQ management, indoor air pollutant control, designing and testing different ventilation strategies, analysing building materials for their impact on air quality, and technology integration into the IAQ framework. My undergraduate degree dissertation was also done in the lab.

Outside the classroom, I was involved in extracurricular activities related to my field of study. I participated in engineering clubs, environmental groups, and research organisations focused on sustainability and building sciences. During my undergraduate learning journey, I sought internship opportunities with engineering companies specialising in sustainable design and IAQ management to gain practical exposure.

The internship experience provided me with valuable real-world insights into applying theoretical knowledge to practical design solutions. I later graduated from my undergraduate studies in architectural engineering with a second-class upper division and subsequently pursued an MSc in architectural engineering at the same university.

My commitment to understanding IAQ and its implications for humans grew stronger throughout my MSc degree programme. I utilised every opportunity, both inside and outside the classroom, to broaden my knowledge base, refine my skills, and prepare myself to make a meaningful impact in the field of architectural engineering with a specialised focus on mechanical (including plumbing) systems design to ensure healthier indoor environments for everyone.

I proceeded to work for a private architectural engineering company after getting my MSc degree. After spending five years honing my skills and expertise at a private architectural engineering company, I felt an exciting ambition to channel my passion for IAQ into something more significant. Armed with two degrees in architectural engineering and a wealth of experience, I took a daring leap to establish my own company, specialising in building mechanical systems design with a profound focus on creating healthier indoor environments.

The inception of my company, which I named Pristine Engineering Solutions Private Limited, was marked by zeal and an unwavering determination to address the longstanding challenges prevalent in architectural engineering practices. My vision was clear: to revolutionise the industry by prioritising IAQ as a core element in building designs, not merely an afterthought. However, the journey from a modest startup to a prestigious architectural engineering company was fraught with numerous challenges.

In the beginning, the primary hurdle was establishing credibility in a competitive market dominated by established companies. Convincing potential clients and investors of the value proposition—placing emphasis on IAQ in architectural engineering designs—proved to be a significant challenge. There was a need to educate clients, architects, and builders about the critical importance of IAQ. Many were accustomed to conventional design practices that did not prioritise IAQ. Thus, it required concerted efforts to raise awareness and shift mindsets toward healthy indoor air delivery.

Striving for excellence meant investing time and resources into cutting-edge technologies and innovative solutions that could optimise IAQ. Developing and implementing these solutions required continuous research, which posed both financial and time-related challenges. As my company began to gain traction, scaling operations while maintaining the quality of services presented its own set of hurdles. Balancing growth without compromising the company’s core values proved to be a delicate yet essential task.

Despite these challenges, the company gradually carved a niche for itself. Our commitment to IAQ-driven designs and relentless pursuit of excellence started gaining recognition. Over time, we garnered a reputation for creating healthier indoor environments for our clients. Our portfolio showcased a myriad of projects where our expertise had made a tangible difference, not just in aesthetics but in the well-being of the occupants.

Our team of dedicated professionals continuously strived to push the boundaries of conventional architectural engineering, consistently integrating IAQ considerations into every facet of our designs. The company’s growth was a testament to our unwavering dedication to transforming industry, one building at a time, and ensuring that the air people breathe indoors was healthy and refreshing.

My company gained accolades for its groundbreaking work in improving IAQ within buildings. However, success in IAQ had inadvertently blinded me to other crucial aspects of building performance – other indoor environmental conditions and building integrity.

One day, a critical revelation shook me to the core. A major client who appreciated the importance of total building performance was disappointed by my company overlooking the quality of indoor environmental conditions – indoor air, acoustics, thermal, light or visual, and spatial or ergonomics pulled out of a multi-million dollar project.

The client’s withdrawal from the multimillion-dollar project made it to the news media. Unknown to me, someone or a group of people leaked the withdrawal, which became serious negative publicity for my company. Unfortunately for my company, the event occurred when the green building certification rating system that emphasised total building performance was gaining popularity locally and globally.

At this point, many rival companies used this event as a perfect opportunity to say many negative things about my company. Many clients started to reject my company’s applications for projects. Many of my staff started to resign one by one as we were not getting projects, and I was finding it difficult to pay their salaries. I think the bad reputation my company got in the industry, flamed by rival companies, was the main cause of my company’s rapid decline.

A change management exercise was difficult to put in place for staff who were not ready to work for my company anymore, fearing for their own professional career. Furthermore, recruiting professionals with expertise in total building performance design became very difficult. My company, which had a dedicated 200-strong workforce, was reduced to less than 40 workforce staff. It was a nightmare!

My company, designing mechanical systems for multimillion-building projects, was reduced to working on less than two hundred thousand worth of projects. With the compromised reputation, my company’s existence was about to end. Realising the magnitude of my company’s problem and threat to my professional career, I knew immediate action was imperative to save my company and career from 100% collapse.

In a bid to salvage the situation, I immersed myself in continued education and lifelong learning. However, my company’s bad reputation in the industry was a huge obstacle to my efforts to return from the professional career nightmare. Nevertheless, educating myself was the only thing I could control at that time. So, I intensified it. I embarked on a journey of enlightenment, delving deep into attending seminars and public lectures and researching online. It was a particular public lecture I attended at the University of Pompey that had an indelible impact on me.

The lecture was delivered by Professor Adam Salvador. If you still remember, Professor Salvador was the professor from the University of Pompey who advised me when I was a teenager on the importance of considering the interconnectedness of various elements within a system when designing to deliver value to users or consumers of a complex system.

You know how it went. As I shared earlier, I did not give the advice he gave me additional thought immediately after I left the room where I was with him. Professor Salvador, now in his early 70s and Professor Emeritus at the University of Pompey.

The title of his public lecture was, “What shall it profit indoor occupants if they are exposed to good IAQ but not the quality of other indoor environmental conditions?” I decided to attend the public lecture immediately when I saw the title. It resonated with me because of the problem I was dealing with.

I recorded the public lecture, and I listened to it long after the lecture was given. I still listen to the lecture today. As technology changed, I changed where I kept the recording. In fact, I used the recording in writing this chapter of the book. The following is what the professor shared in his own words during his public lecture.

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“Why do we need a building? We needed a building because of the problem associated with the outdoor environment. Many times, an outdoor environment can present challenges that adversely affect human comfort, convenience, and awareness level (cognitive ability) due to various adverse factors. The unfavourable weather, such as extreme heat, cold, rain, and wind, can cause discomfort, physical stress, and distraction, impacting human comfort and convenience. The unfavourable weather can also divert attention from cognitive tasks as the body focuses on regulating temperature.

Outdoor areas might have pollutants, allergens, dust, and other particles that compromise IAQ. Poor air quality can lead to respiratory discomfort, fatigue, and health issues, affecting human comfort, convenience, and cognitive abilities. Breathing difficulties or irritation can distract individuals and impair cognitive focus. Outdoor environments often come with various noise sources, like traffic, construction, or natural elements. Excessive noise can cause annoyance, stress, and difficulty concentrating, affecting cognitive performance.

Outdoor environments may pose safety hazards, including uneven terrain, wildlife encounters, slippery surfaces, or limited visibility in certain areas. Safety concerns can lead to discomfort, inconvenience, and decreased cognitive focus as individuals remain vigilant and cautious. Changes in natural lighting, such as glare or insufficient light, can affect visibility and awareness. The glare from the sun or inadequate lighting can cause discomfort and reduce the ability to see clearly, impacting tasks requiring visual concentration.

Outdoor environments often offer numerous stimuli like people passing by, natural elements, or unexpected events. These distractions can disrupt concentration, reducing cognitive performance and awareness. Outdoor spaces lack the physical boundaries and controlled environments of indoor spaces, leading to reduced privacy.

This lack of seclusion can create discomfort or stress, affecting individuals’ comfort levels. Feeling exposed or vulnerable due to the lack of privacy can impact one’s ability to relax, concentrate, or fully engage in activities in outdoor settings. Concerns about being observed or overheard by others may lead to a sense of unease, hindering cognitive ability and reducing the overall convenience of using outdoor spaces.

Basically, the discomfort, inconvenience, and compromised awareness level (cognitive ability) compromise the human capability to function for survival. The deficiency in human capability caused by the outdoor environment means there is a problem with humans. Humans need help to reduce or eliminate the problem.

Humans need a system for reducing or eliminating the cause of the problem to reduce the extent of or eliminate the problem. The cause of the problem associated with humans, in this case, is the outdoor environment. What is a system? A system is anything designed or put in place to solve (including preventing) a problem, i.e., provide the needs or wants of consumers or users of the system.

A system becomes a solution if it can solve a problem. A system can be the cause of a problem, especially if it does not solve a problem it was meant to solve. The extent to which a system is a solution is the extent to which it can solve a problem. An example of a system I want to talk about today is a building.

For a building to be a reality, resources must be invested (input). Invested resources can be broadly categorised into financial and human capability investments. The financial capability is known as cost. Cost can be in the form of money, capital, assets, etc., used as purchasing or exchange power. Time, materials, machines, manpower, etc., invested in the process of making a building a reality have financial implications.

Human capability investment means the comfort, convenience, and awareness (cognitive ability) humans must sacrifice to make a building a reality. Moving forward, I will use cognitive ability for awareness. It is important to note that financial investments contribute to the comfort, convenience, and cognitive ability humans perceive they have sacrificed.

A building is required to give a certain performance (output) needed to solve the problem (caused by outdoor environments) associated with humans. The expected building performances can be broadly referred to as indoor environmental conditions and building integrity performances.

Indoor environmental conditions include indoor air, lighting/visual, thermal, and ergonomics/spatial performances. The performance of building integrity (maintainability, energy, material and resource efficiency, economic viability, earthquake, bioterrorism resilience, etc.) is vital to ensure reliable delivery of the performance of indoor environmental conditions.

My focus today, as suggested by the title of my lecture, will be on the indoor environmental conditions. The performance of each indoor environmental condition and building integrity can be judged based on the quantity of the quality of each indoor environmental condition and their contributions to the risk of safety building occupants experience. Thus, the success of the quantity of quality of each indoor environmental condition provided depends on the overall safety they offer to building occupants. As safety improves, the human problem will be reduced.

Reducing human problems means increasing human comfort, convenience, and cognitive ability. Thus, the human capability to function, i.e., perform their tasks in the indoor environment, will increase. The excellence of human functionality depends on human capability level, which depends on the performance (output) of the building they occupy.

It is important to note that humans (building occupants) do not just want to improve their excellence in performing their tasks in indoor environments. Building occupants want to maximise the usefulness, i.e., the extent of human excellence in performing their tasks in the indoor environment from every unit of resources they invested into making the building perform. Basically, building occupants want value delivery.

It is important to know how human experience (i.e., generates knowledge and understanding) of the value a building delivers. Occupants generate knowledge and understanding of the indoor environment in terms of comfort, convenience, and cognitive ability they received relative to those they sacrificed.

Occupants also generate knowledge and understanding in terms of how much performance (assessed in terms of quantity, quality, and safety) their building offers relative to the cost they invested in the maintenance and operation of the building. The human interaction with their building or environment is a multifaceted process that involves several cognitive and sensory mechanisms for generating knowledge and understanding (i.e., experience).

Humans use their sensory organs—sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch—to perceive information about their building, including its indoor environment, and use their thinking capability to process the perceived information to generate the experience.

The eyes (vision) are associated with lighting/visual conditions. The eyes perceive light and enable vision. The ears (hearing) are associated with sounds. Nose (Smell) is associated with indoor air. Tongue (Taste) is not directly linked to specific indoor environmental conditions. It may indirectly relate to indoor air when air pollutants enter the human body through ingestion. Skin (Touch) is associated with thermal and ergonomics/spatial conditions. The skin’s sensory receptors detect temperature, air movement, and humidity. Physical contact with surfaces and furniture affects ergonomics within the indoor environment.

Proprioception is linked to ergonomics/spatial conditions. This sense involves body position and movement within a space. Proper spatial design, furniture arrangement, and ergonomic considerations impact proprioception. The vestibular system is also linked to ergonomics/spatial conditions. It is responsible for balance and spatial orientation. The vestibular system influences how individuals perceive and navigate indoor spaces. Factors like room layout, architecture, and floor patterns can impact this sense.

In addition to using the senses to gather information, humans also use tools and technology, such as instruments, devices, sensors, and data collection systems, to gather more detailed or specialised information about their indoor environment. Nevertheless, the eyes are used to transfer information generated by tools and technology to the brain.

The brain processes the information received from sensory organs simultaneously, interpreting and organising it into meaningful patterns. This cognitive processing involves memory, attention, reasoning, and various cognitive faculties. By integrating sensory inputs and cognitive processing, occupants generate experiences about how their indoor environment impacts their comfort, convenience, and cognitive ability in the context of their needed or desired comfort, convenience, and cognitive ability.

Human experiences are stored in the brain through memory formation. Memories are formed through various processes, including encoding, storage, and retrieval. Experiences are stored in different types of memory: sensory, short-term, and long-term.

Humans identify problems in their experiences by recognising a discrepancy between what they are currently experiencing and what they want or need to experience. Problem determination arises from recognising a gap between the two states of experience.

The performance quality generated by a building does not represent the required performance alone. The quantity at which the quality is produced matters. The safety level of the quality also matters. We must fight the assumption that once the quality of an indoor environmental condition is provided in the right quantity, the quality will lead to the required safety by the building occupants.

The need to achieve excellent quality in one indoor environmental condition may lead to compromised quality in one or more indoor environmental conditions. The unmet quality of one or more indoor environmental conditions may cause them to be hazards that increase the risk of harm or damage occurring to building occupants, i.e., reduced safety level offered to building occupants.

Additionally, depending on the vulnerability of exposed building occupants (i.e., the capability of being harmed and damaged), the level to which the quality of each performance or collective performance of indoor environmental conditions has on building occupants will vary.

For example, the level of indoor air performance that should ordinarily be healthy for anyone may not be healthy for occupants with high vulnerability. Furthermore, a higher vulnerability of building occupants can cause the negative impact of focusing on indoor air performance alone, which occurs to the detriment of the performance of other indoor environmental conditions and building integrity determinants’ performance to be more pronounced in building occupants. Thus, the risk of building occupants experiencing discomfort, inconvenience, and decreased cognitive ability will increase.

So, the message is indoor air performance alone, similar to the performance of any other indoor environmental condition alone, will not amount to the desired or needed comfort, convenience, and cognitive ability. The collective performance of all the indoor environmental conditions, supported by building integrity determinants performance, is needed. I will give you more examples to appreciate better the message I intend to share from the title of my lecture.

Increasing the ventilation rate to improve indoor air performance can pose challenges to thermal performance, leading to potential drafts and excessive energy costs. However, the specific impacts may differ due to the varying climate conditions. Increasing ventilation rates in a cold climate introduce colder outdoor air into indoor spaces, replacing warmer indoor air.

This air exchange can cause drafts or cold spots, leading to discomfort for occupants due to temperature variations within the building. In colder climates, the influx of cold outdoor air during increased ventilation leads to heat loss. To maintain comfortable indoor temperatures, additional heating is required, resulting in increased energy consumption and higher heating costs.

In tropical climates, the influx of outdoor air at a higher ventilation rate during months when outdoor air temperature is relatively lower might provide a cooling effect, which could be desirable to combat the heat indoors.

However, outdoor air in tropical climates is typically warm and humid. Thus, continuous high ventilation rates might introduce warm, moist air, leading to discomfort or increased indoor relative humidity levels. While not directly leading to heat loss, higher ventilation rates might still result in increased energy usage, especially if outdoor air is not significantly cooler or if moisture levels rise, necessitating more energy for air conditioning to maintain the indoor thermal condition to facilitate building occupants to experience comfort.

Lowering relative humidity levels indoors is often done to control outgassing from building materials, furniture, or other sources and to inhibit bacterial growth, thus contributing to better indoor air quality (IAQ). However, this can impact thermal performance by potentially leading to inadequate relative humidity levels.

Low relative humidity can lead to dry air, potentially causing issues such as dry skin, irritated respiratory passages, and discomfort in the eyes, nose, and throat. Additionally, dry air can make occupants feel colder than the actual temperature, leading to a perception of lower comfort even at normal temperatures.

Extremely low relative humidity levels can also impact building materials, wooden furniture, musical instruments, or sensitive equipment that require a certain level of humidity for preservation. Excessively dry conditions might cause warping, cracking, or degradation of these materials.

Removing synthetic materials is often aimed at reducing the presence of potentially harmful volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other pollutants emitted by synthetic building materials and creating a healthier indoor environment. However, many synthetic materials used in building construction have sound-absorbing properties, helping to reduce echoes, control reverberation, and improve overall acoustic comfort within indoor environments. Eliminating these materials may result in a reduction of available sound-absorbing surfaces or elements.

It is important to note that some synthetic materials that contribute to sound absorption, such as certain acoustic panels, carpets, or specific wall coverings, also possess insulating properties that regulate indoor temperatures. Removing these materials might affect the indoor thermal environment by potentially reducing the insulation or thermal buffering capacity within the space.

In the context of air quality and lighting performance, the decisions made to optimise indoor air performance within a building can inadvertently lead to failures or shortcomings in light performance due to various interconnected factors. Buildings are often designed to have airtight envelopes to minimise the ingress of outdoor air pollutants and improve indoor air performance.

However, airtight constructions, sealed windows, or minimised openings can inadvertently reduce the penetration of natural daylight, impacting natural lighting performance. Restricted natural light compromises visual comfort. Thereby, there is an increasing reliance on artificial lighting, which may lead to inadequately lit spaces.

Some measures to ensure good indoor air performance, such as using blinds or shading devices to control the entry of outdoor air pollutants, might simultaneously obstruct natural light. These window treatments aimed at indoor air performance improvement may inadvertently contribute to glare issues and reduce the quality of indoor lighting, leading to discomfort and reduced visual performance for occupants.

Indoor air performance systems, such as air filters or purifiers, may require installation in strategic locations within an indoor environment. These systems might occupy or cover areas where natural light sources, like windows or skylights, would be optimally positioned, hindering the path of natural light and affecting the overall light distribution and quality within the building.

Higher ventilation requirements to improve indoor air performance might require larger ventilation ducts and systems. These systems might impede the layout or design of spaces, obstruct or limit the placement of lighting fixtures, or compromise the intended lighting design, leading to uneven or inadequate lighting distribution.

The decision to isolate polluting machinery like printers, copiers, or ovens in an effort to enhance indoor air performance can impact spatial and ergonomic performance by reducing flexibility and convenient adjacencies within a workspace. Isolating or segregating machinery that emits pollutants, such as printers or ovens, aims to minimise the spread of harmful air pollutants within the indoor environment, thus improving indoor air performance and reducing exposure to air pollutants.

Isolating polluting machinery might lead to dedicated or segregated zones within a workspace, limiting the flexibility of space utilisation. This segregation could restrict the reconfiguration of the space for different activities or functions, reducing adaptability to changing work needs or collaborative arrangements.

Placing polluting machinery in isolated zones might disrupt the convenient adjacency of equipment or workstations. It can create inconvenience for users who require easy access to the machinery and other work areas. For example, separating a printer or copier from workstations might inconvenience users who frequently need to access these devices.

Spatial isolation of machinery can hinder collaboration and communication among team members. When placed separately, essential equipment may create barriers to interaction or impede workflow between different departments or team members who rely on shared resources.

What happens in the context of indoor air performance and building integrity performance? Increasing moisture with little or no increase in air capacity for the moisture will increase the relative humidity in the environment. Increasing indoor relative humidity to improve indoor air quality for health reasons can lead to challenges in building integrity determinants performance due to increased condensation potential, corrosion, and fungus growth on building walls.

Increasing indoor relative humidity levels is often done to maintain a more comfortable and healthier indoor environment, especially in regions with dry climates or during specific seasons when indoor air becomes excessively dry. Higher indoor relative humidity levels can raise the dew point temperature within the building.

Higher relative humidity levels can lead to condensation when warm, moist air comes into contact with cooler surfaces (such as windows, walls, or ceilings). Condensation on surfaces can create moisture accumulation, potentially leading to dampness, mold growth, and structural damage over time.

Elevated relative humidity levels can accelerate the process of corrosion on metal components within the building, such as HVAC systems, piping, or structural elements. High relative humidity in indoor environments can also contribute to the deterioration of building materials, causing degradation or damage over time.

The implementation of artificial intelligence (AI)-based digital technology at various stages—design, construction, and facility management—can effectively be used to balance the quantity and quality of indoor air performance with the performance of other indoor environmental conditions and building integrity determinants.

This can help to effectively ensure overall safety for building occupants, i.e., to effectively reduce the risk of building occupants experiencing discomfort, inconvenience, and compromised cognitive ability that will compromise the excellence of their functionality in a value-oriented manner.

Firstly, AI-based digital technology and systems can be used for simulation, predictive modelling, and the integrated design approach at the design stage. AI-digital technology and systems simulate diverse design scenarios to evaluate indoor air performance improvements and their impact on the performance of other indoor environmental conditions and building integrity determinants. They can also be used to explore possible ways of effectively striking a balance for overall safety experienced by building occupants from the overall performance the building could deliver.

Predictive modelling provided by AI can help architects and engineers assess how indoor air performance enhancements affect the performance of other indoor environmental conditions and building integrity determinants. This includes analysing airflow patterns, pollutant dispersion, and temperature distribution to ensure that indoor air performance improvements align with maintaining optimal thermal comfort, lighting levels, and spatial functionality. By iteratively testing and refining design options, AI can help identify appropriate solutions to enhance overall building performance in a value-oriented manner.

AI-driven platforms facilitate collaboration among multidisciplinary teams, allowing them to collectively consider indoor air performance strategies alongside strategies for achieving the performance of other indoor environmental conditions and building integrity determinants. Integrated design processes can use AI to leverage data analytics to inform decisions. This collaborative approach will ensure that indoor air performance improvements align with broader building performance goals from the project’s inception.

AI-based digital technologies or systems can integrate information from various disciplines, enabling data-driven choices that optimise indoor air performance enhancements while harmonising with the performance of other indoor environmental conditions and building integrity determinants.

AI-based digital technologies or systems can effectively determine how the vulnerability of current or projected building occupants impacts the overall building performance and, consequently, affects the human comfort, convenience, and cognitive ability of building occupants. This assessment ensures the effectiveness of the delivered performance.

In addition to ensuring the effectiveness when the building is delivered, AI-based digital technologies or systems can be used to guide what measures can be taken to ensure the delivered building performance can reliably (i.e., consistently and predictably) be given to the building occupants throughout their occupancy.

AI-based digital technologies or systems can also be used to assess the ability of the building to adapt and recover from disruptions or challenges to ensure the performance is still consistently and predictable delivered. That is, AI-based digital technologies and systems can be used to determine and take action to enhance the resilience of the building for reliable building performance that can support the needed or desired building occupants’ comfort, convenience, and cognitive ability.

The adoption of AI-based digital technologies or systems is essential due to the complexity of building that increases the challenges of delivering the needed or desired performance by all stakeholders involved and the need to prudently use invested resources.

AI-based digital technologies or systems can speed up the rate at which the actual cognitive ability and the effort required to carry out physical activities necessary to perform the task at hand excellently. The speed provided by Al-based digital technologies or systems can be significantly higher than that of humans.

AI-based digital technologies have significantly higher speed at how the following are done: (i) acquiring or generating and storing information. (ii) processing of information to generate experience. Experience = Information x Learning. Learning is the act or process of processing information using thinking as a tool. Thinking is the use of questions to dissect, sort, organise, analyse, evaluate, and interpret information to generate experience. (iii) storing experience (knowledge, understanding, and skills). (iv) using experience to solve or prevent problems; (v) performance of physical activities needed in task performance process.

The caveat here is that humans still need to be clear about their purpose and the reason for the purpose to maximise the benefit inherent in the adoption of AI-based digital technologies or systems. Clarity on purpose means to be clear on the system to be used to solve a problem to achieve the needed or desired goal. This means humans must be clear on what the problem is and the cause of the problem.

Humans must also be clear about what system can be used to eliminate or mitigate the cause of the problem to eliminate or reduce the extent of the problem as much as possible. The goal is the needed or desired extent to which the stakeholder wants the problem to be eliminated or reduced. The reason for the purpose is the development of stakeholder’s capability to function excellently.

AI-based digital technologies and systems should be used in the green building certification process to ensure the effective performance of indoor environmental conditions and building integrity determinants can potentially enhance (at the design and construction stage) and actually enhance (at the facility management stage) the needed or desired comfort, convenience, and cognitive ability to enhance building occupants’ capability needed for excellent human functioning.

To ensure the designed holistic building performance achieved at the design stage is not compromised during the construction stage, AI-based technologies and systems can be used for the automation quality control and optimisation of material selection while considering their impact on the performance of indoor environmental conditions and building integrity determinants. AI-driven algorithms utilise data from sensors, construction progress reports, and building plans to assess various construction aspects that impact the performance of indoor environmental conditions and building integrity determinants.

AI-based technologies and systems can be used to identify potential issues related to indoor air performance and its alignment with other indoor environmental conditions performances and the need to enhance building integrity performance as the construction of a building is ongoing. Automated quality control facilitated by AI-based technologies and systems can be used to ensure that essential building systems affecting the effective performance of indoor environmental conditions and building integrity determinants are installed correctly.

For example, accurate installation of air filtration systems, proper ventilation ducts, and sealing of building envelopes play a crucial role in maintaining optimal indoor air performance while also ensuring the delivery of thermal comfort, acoustic performance, and energy efficiency. AI-based technology can also be used to suggest or optimise material choices based on their impact on indoor air performance, other indoor environmental conditions performances, and building integrity performance.

At the facility management stage, AI-based digital technologies or systems can be used to employ real-time monitoring, optimisation, and predictive maintenance. AI-based digital technologies or systems can be used to continuously gather data from sensors placed throughout the building, collecting information on indoor air performance, other environmental conditions performances, and building integrity performance. This data aggregation provides a holistic view of the indoor environment.

Machine learning algorithms can analyse real-time data to detect trends or anomalies, allowing AI-based digital technologies or systems to make immediate adjustments to systems in the building to achieve the needed or desired total building performance. AI-based digital technologies or systems consider various performance metrics simultaneously. For instance, when optimising ventilation rates for better indoor air performance, AI-based digital technologies or systems can integrate diverse information to ensure harmonious indoor environmental conditions performance across multiple parameters.

AI-based digital technologies or systems can adapt to and predict the changing performance of indoor environmental conditions and occupant needs. For example, during occupancy variations, these AI solutions can adjust HVAC settings or ventilation rates dynamically, maintaining indoor air performance, other indoor environmental conditions performances, and building integrity performance to deliver comfort and convenience to building occupants and enhance their cognitive ability.

It is important to maintain healthy indoor air, i.e., indoor air of the right quality and quantity that is safe for building occupants. However, it is important to note that the safety of healthy indoor air is expected to be part of the needed safety from the healthy performance of indoor environmental conditions and building integrity determinants for the benefit of building occupants.

AI-based digital technologies and systems make it easier to seamlessly integrate mechanical, electrical, structural, envelope, and interior systems to achieve total building performance and enhance human capability in excellently functioning in a value-oriented manner. With what I have shared, I want you to think, “What shall it profit indoor occupants to have good IAQ but not the quality of other indoor environmental conditions.”

5…………………………………..

I benefited a lot from Professor Salvador’s public lecture. After the public lecture, I had a short discussion with one of the lecture participants in the hallway. I said the following, “The professor was right! The human mind and cognitive faculties fundamentally need comfort, convenience, and cognitive ability to function in an environment. Meeting performances of indoor environmental conditions as required, except for one, renders the efforts futile, as human comfort, convenience, and cognitive ability will still be significantly compromised.”

The participant, a lady, said, “That is true! I reflected on my IAQ applied research project. Having a system generating indoor air with the required quantity and quality performance but compromising the performances of other indoor environmental conditions will compromise overall safety. I need to strike a balance among the performances of all indoor environmental conditions, considering the context, when deciding on an IAQ solution.” It seems both of us benefitted a lot from Professor Salvador’s lecture.

I would like to make a point about the last sentence in the lady’s statement. When striking a balance, it is important to ensure the performance (quantity, quality, and safety) provided by each of the indoor environmental conditions and those of building integrity determinants are good enough to provide comfort, convenience, and enhanced cognitive ability to building occupants. However, the degree of excellence of performance provided for each indoor environmental condition may vary depending on the nature or context of the building type and the vulnerability of the building occupants.

After the lunch organised for the public lecture, I went to Professor Salvador for a short discussion. To break the ice, I introduced myself to him and told him we first met many years ago when I was a teenager. For context, I am now in my early 50s. To my surprise, Professor Salvador remembered the event in which he advised a high school student who had high potential in problem solving but needed to improve in the area of holistic thinking when solving complex problems. He remembered the incident but could not connect my face to the actual person.

He asked me what I am doing now. I shared my academic background with him and also told him I am the CEO and founder of Pristine Engineering Solutions Private Limited. He was pleased to know how I had developed over the years. I also used the opportunity to share with him the problem my company is facing and how I have benefitted from his public lecture. I told him the newfound knowledge and understanding I gained from his public lecture would help me to initiate a paradigm shift within my company. Then, I asked him if he could be my mentor in the change journey.

To my surprise, he said yes immediately. I felt very honoured. I went further. I offered to make him a non-executive director in my company. I was very happy when he agreed to accept my offer. Professor Salvador, who was already retired, saw my offer as another opportunity to keep his mind sharp during his retirement.

Professor Adam Salvador’s mentorship was the cornerstone of my transformative journey within my company. Armed with newfound knowledge and understanding and driven by Professor Salvador’s guiding principles, I spearheaded a profound paradigm shift. Our company’s approach was meticulously restructured, pivoting towards emphasising total building performance.

Under Professor Salvador’s wise mentorship, I navigated the formation of collaborative teams, seamlessly integrating experts from diverse disciplines. His teachings on interdisciplinary collaboration fortified our approach to addressing multifaceted challenges of achieving total building performance.

Moreover, his insights into digital transformation paved smoother pathways for our endeavours, streamlining our efforts toward holistic advancements. I would say we were very lucky that the AI-based digital technologies or systems needed for the transformation were available in the industry. We could not have been able to use AI-based digital technologies and systems many years prior. All that was left for us was just a matter of maximising the benefits inherent in them.

Our ascent was not without adversity. As our influence grew, so did resistance, attempting to undermine our credibility and intentions. Professor Salvador’s mentorship echoed resoundingly when resistance loomed large. Despite initial industry skepticism, rooted in a reluctance to depart from conventional design approaches, Professor Salvador’s unwavering support fortified my conviction. Professor Salvador’s mentorship instilled in me the strength to persist despite the detractors, propelling me to champion a balanced total building performance approach.

My team and I delved into relentless research, innovation, and collaboration. Our persistence paid dividends as our projects blossomed, showcasing substantial improvements in building occupants’ overall comfort, convenience, and cognitive ability. Our efforts attracted widespread attention. Notably, the transformative impact of our approach caught the eye of industry leaders and the government, gradually converting skeptics into proponents.

Resilience, ingrained by Professor Salvador’s mentorship, became our armor. We navigated storms, utilising obstacles as stepping stones to reinforce our commitment to a total building performance delivery in a value-oriented manner. I engaged in dialogues, sharing insights, educating others, and advocating for a holistic system-thinking approach to building delivery.

Through unwavering perseverance, our company emerged as a formidable force and a beacon of innovation in the industry. Clients sought us for our pioneering solutions, a testament to our commitment to providing healthier buildings. Our success transcended borders, propelling us onto the international stage.

Today, the company that was about to go into extinction due to my non-holistic thinking approach to a complex problem stands as a testament to the profound impact of Professor Adam Salvador’s mentorship. With his mentorship, my company set a pioneering benchmark in the industry, reshaping global perceptions of holistic thinking in building performance. Our transformative journey sparked a renaissance, heralding a paradigm shift in how buildings are conceived, designed, constructed, managed, and assessed for global green certifications.

6…………………………………..

George King’s personal story is deeply interwoven with the indelible influence of Professor Adam Salvador. Professor Salvador emerged as an unwavering guide, a beacon of wisdom, and a catalyst for transformation for George’s professional career and company. Professor Salvador’s influence on human development was not confined to the university. It transcended the realms of academia. He instilled in George a philosophy, a way of thinking that surpassed the technicalities of engineering—a mindset steeped in resilience, perpetual learning, and a commitment to bettering humanity through one’s endeavours.

With every triumph, George recalled Professor Salvador’s guiding words. In moments of adversity, it was the echoes of his mentor’s wisdom that propelled George forward. The impact of Professor Salvador’s tutelage was not merely professional. It etched itself into the very fabric of George’s character, shaping his approach to challenges and his relentless pursuit of personal development.

As this chapter concludes, the profound legacy of Professor Adam Salvador, not merely in his own accolades and achievements but in the lives he touched, the minds he nurtured, and the ripple effect of his guidance extending through George King’s story—a testament to the enduring power of mentorship and the transformative influence of a dedicated educator. The End!