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Search Results (2,823)

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Keywords = indoor quality

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31 pages, 4112 KiB  
Article
Can the Building Make a Difference to User’s Health in Indoor Environments? The Influence of PM2.5 Vertical Distribution on the IAQ of a Student House over Two Periods in Milan in 2024
by Yong Yu, Marco Gola, Gaetano Settimo and Stefano Capolongo
Atmosphere 2025, 16(8), 936; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos16080936 (registering DOI) - 4 Aug 2025
Abstract
This study investigates indoor and outdoor air quality monitoring in a student dormitory located in northern Milan (Italy) using low-cost sensors. This research compares two monitoring periods in June and October 2024 to examine common PM2.5 vertical patterns and differences at the [...] Read more.
This study investigates indoor and outdoor air quality monitoring in a student dormitory located in northern Milan (Italy) using low-cost sensors. This research compares two monitoring periods in June and October 2024 to examine common PM2.5 vertical patterns and differences at the building level, as well as their influence on the indoor spaces at the corresponding positions. In each period, around 30 sensors were installed at various heights and orientations across indoor and outdoor spots for 2 weeks to capture spatial variations around the building. Meanwhile, qualitative surveys on occupation presence, satisfaction, and well-being were distributed in selected rooms. The analysis of PM2.5 data reveals that the building’s lower floors tended to have slightly higher outdoor PM2.5 concentrations, while the upper floors generally had lower PM2.5 indoor/outdoor (I/O) ratios, with the top-floor rooms often below 1. High outdoor humidity reduced PM infiltration, but when outdoor PM fell below 20 µg/m3 in these two periods, indoor sources became dominant, especially on the lower floors. Air pressure I/O differences had minimal impact on PM2.5 I/O ratios, though slightly positive indoor pressure might help prevent indoor PM infiltration. Lower ventilation in Period-2 possibly contributed to more reported symptoms, especially in rooms with higher PM from shared kitchens. While outdoor air quality affects IAQ, occupant behavior—especially window opening and ventilation management—remains crucial in minimizing indoor pollutants. Users can also manage exposure by ventilating at night based on comfort and avoiding periods of high outdoor PM. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Air Quality in Metropolitan Areas and Megacities (Second Edition))
19 pages, 2441 KiB  
Article
Simulation and Statistical Validation Method for Evaluating Daylighting Performance in Hot Climates
by Nivin Sherif, Ahmed Yehia and Walaa S. E. Ismaeel
Urban Sci. 2025, 9(8), 303; https://doi.org/10.3390/urbansci9080303 - 4 Aug 2025
Abstract
This study investigates the influence of façade-design parameters on daylighting performance in hot arid climates, with a particular focus on Egypt. A total of nine façade configurations of a residential building were modeled and simulated using Autodesk Revit and Insight 360, varying three [...] Read more.
This study investigates the influence of façade-design parameters on daylighting performance in hot arid climates, with a particular focus on Egypt. A total of nine façade configurations of a residential building were modeled and simulated using Autodesk Revit and Insight 360, varying three critical variables: glazing type (clear, blue, and dark), Window-to-Wall Ratio (WWR) of 15%, 50%, 75%, and indoor wall finish (light, moderate, dark) colors. These were compared to the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) daylighting quality thresholds. The results revealed that clear glazing paired with high WWR (75%) achieved the highest Spatial Daylight Autonomy (sDA), reaching up to 92% in living spaces. However, this also led to elevated Annual Sunlight Exposure (ASE), with peak values of 53%, exceeding the LEED discomfort threshold of 10%. Blue and dark glazing types successfully reduced ASE to as low as 0–13%, yet often resulted in underlit spaces, especially in private rooms such as bedrooms and bathrooms, with sDA values falling below 20%. A 50% WWR emerged as the optimal balance, providing consistent daylight distribution while maintaining ASE within acceptable limits (≤33%). Similarly, moderate color wall finishes delivered the most balanced lighting performance, enhancing sDA by up to 30% while controlling reflective glare. Statistical analysis using Pearson correlation revealed a strong positive relationship between sDA and ASE (r = 0.84) in highly glazed, clear glass scenarios. Sensitivity analysis further indicated that low WWR configurations of 15% were highly influenced by glazing and finishing types, leading to variability in daylight metrics reaching ±40%. The study concludes that moderate glazing (blue), medium WWR (50%), and moderate color indoor finishes provide the most robust daylighting performance across diverse room types. These findings support an evidence-based approach to façade design, promoting visual comfort, daylight quality, and sustainable building practices. Full article
(This article belongs to the Topic Application of Smart Technologies in Buildings)
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18 pages, 1388 KiB  
Review
Simulation in the Built Environment: A Bibliometric Analysis
by Saman Jamshidi
Metrics 2025, 2(3), 13; https://doi.org/10.3390/metrics2030013 - 4 Aug 2025
Abstract
Simulation has become a pivotal tool in the design, analysis, and optimization of the built environment, and has been widely adopted by professionals in architecture, engineering, and urban planning. These techniques enable stakeholders to test hypotheses, evaluate design alternatives, and predict performance outcomes [...] Read more.
Simulation has become a pivotal tool in the design, analysis, and optimization of the built environment, and has been widely adopted by professionals in architecture, engineering, and urban planning. These techniques enable stakeholders to test hypotheses, evaluate design alternatives, and predict performance outcomes prior to construction. Applications span energy consumption, airflow, thermal comfort, lighting, structural behavior, and human interactions within buildings and urban contexts. This study maps the scientific landscape of simulation research in the built environment through a bibliometric analysis of 12,220 publications indexed in Scopus. Using VOSviewer 1.6.20, it conducted citation and keyword co-occurrence analyses to identify key research themes, leading countries and journals, and central publications in the field. The analysis revealed seven primary thematic clusters: (1) human-focused simulation, (2) building-scale energy performance simulation, (3) urban-scale energy performance simulation, (4) sustainable design and simulation, (5) indoor environmental quality simulation, (6) building aerodynamics simulation, and (7) computing in building simulation. By synthesizing these trends and domains, this study provides an overview of the field, facilitating greater accessibility to the simulation literature and informing future interdisciplinary research and practice in the built environment. Full article
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28 pages, 21813 KiB  
Article
Adaptive RGB-D Semantic Segmentation with Skip-Connection Fusion for Indoor Staircase and Elevator Localization
by Zihan Zhu, Henghong Lin, Anastasia Ioannou and Tao Wang
J. Imaging 2025, 11(8), 258; https://doi.org/10.3390/jimaging11080258 - 4 Aug 2025
Abstract
Accurate semantic segmentation of indoor architectural elements, such as staircases and elevators, is critical for safe and efficient robotic navigation, particularly in complex multi-floor environments. Traditional fusion methods struggle with occlusions, reflections, and low-contrast regions. In this paper, we propose a novel feature [...] Read more.
Accurate semantic segmentation of indoor architectural elements, such as staircases and elevators, is critical for safe and efficient robotic navigation, particularly in complex multi-floor environments. Traditional fusion methods struggle with occlusions, reflections, and low-contrast regions. In this paper, we propose a novel feature fusion module, Skip-Connection Fusion (SCF), that dynamically integrates RGB (Red, Green, Blue) and depth features through an adaptive weighting mechanism and skip-connection integration. This approach enables the model to selectively emphasize informative regions while suppressing noise, effectively addressing challenging conditions such as partially blocked staircases, glossy elevator doors, and dimly lit stair edges, which improves obstacle detection and supports reliable human–robot interaction in complex environments. Extensive experiments on a newly collected dataset demonstrate that SCF consistently outperforms state-of-the-art methods, including PSPNet and DeepLabv3, in both overall mIoU (mean Intersection over Union) and challenging-case performance. Specifically, our SCF module improves segmentation accuracy by 5.23% in the top 10% of challenging samples, highlighting its robustness in real-world conditions. Furthermore, we conduct a sensitivity analysis on the learnable weights, demonstrating their impact on segmentation quality across varying scene complexities. Our work provides a strong foundation for real-world applications in autonomous navigation, assistive robotics, and smart surveillance. Full article
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37 pages, 4733 KiB  
Article
Optimizing Building Performance with Dynamic Photovoltaic Shading Systems: A Comparative Analysis of Six Adaptive Designs
by Roshanak Roshan Kharrat, Giuseppe Perfetto, Roberta Ingaramo and Guglielmina Mutani
Smart Cities 2025, 8(4), 127; https://doi.org/10.3390/smartcities8040127 - 3 Aug 2025
Abstract
Dynamic and Adaptive solar systems demonstrate a greater potential to enhance the satisfaction of occupants, in terms of indoor environment quality and the energy efficiency of the buildings, than conventional shading solutions. This study has evaluated Dynamic and Adaptive Photovoltaic Shading Systems (DAPVSSs) [...] Read more.
Dynamic and Adaptive solar systems demonstrate a greater potential to enhance the satisfaction of occupants, in terms of indoor environment quality and the energy efficiency of the buildings, than conventional shading solutions. This study has evaluated Dynamic and Adaptive Photovoltaic Shading Systems (DAPVSSs) through a comprehensive analysis of six shading designs in which their energy production and the comfort of occupants were considered. Energy generation, thermal comfort, daylight, and glare control have been assessed in this study, considering multiple orientations throughout the seasons, and a variety of tools, such as Rhino 6.0, Grasshopper, ClimateStudio 2.1, and Ladybug, have been exploited for these purposes. The results showed that the prototypes that were geometrically more complex, designs 5 and 6 in particular, had approximately 485 kWh higher energy production and energy savings for cooling and 48% better glare control than the other simplified configurations while maintaining the minimum daylight as the threshold (min DF: 2%) due to adaptive and control methodologies. Design 6 demonstrated optimal balanced performance for all the aforementioned criteria, achieving 587 kWh/year energy production while maintaining the daylight factor within the 2.1–2.9% optimal range and ensuring visual comfort compliance during 94% of occupied hours. This research has established a framework that can be used to make well-informed design decisions that could balance energy production, occupants’ wellbeing, and architectural integration, while advancing sustainable building envelope technologies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Topic Sustainable Building Development and Promotion)
26 pages, 7634 KiB  
Article
Research on the Preparation and Performance of Wood with High Negative Oxygen Ion Release Induced by Moisture
by Min Yin, Yuqi Zhang, Yun Lu, Zongying Fu, Haina Mi, Jianfang Yu and Ximing Wang
Coatings 2025, 15(8), 905; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings15080905 (registering DOI) - 2 Aug 2025
Viewed by 52
Abstract
With the growing severity of environmental pollution, people are paying increasing attention to their health. However, naturally occurring wood with health benefits and applications in human healthcare is still scarce. Natural wood exhibits a limited negative oxygen ion release capacity, and this release [...] Read more.
With the growing severity of environmental pollution, people are paying increasing attention to their health. However, naturally occurring wood with health benefits and applications in human healthcare is still scarce. Natural wood exhibits a limited negative oxygen ion release capacity, and this release has a short duration, failing to meet practical application requirements. This study innovatively developed a humidity-responsive, healthy wood material with a high negative oxygen ion release capacity based on fast-growing poplar. Through vacuum cyclic impregnation technology, hexagonal stone powder was infused into the pores of poplar wood, endowing it with the ability to continuously release negative oxygen ions. The healthy wood demonstrated a static average negative oxygen ion release rate of 537 ions/cm3 (peaking at 617 ions/cm3) and a dynamic average release rate of 3,170 ions/cm3 (peaking at 10,590 ions/cm3). The results showed that the particle size of hexagonal stone powder in suspension was influenced by the dispersants and dispersion processes. The composite dispersion process demonstrated optimal performance when using 0.5 wt% silane coupling agent γ-(methacryloxy)propyltrimethoxysilane (KH570), achieving the smallest particle size of 8.93 μm. The healthy wood demonstrated excellent impregnation performance, with a weight gain exceeding 14.61% and a liquid absorption rate surpassing 165.18%. The optimal impregnation cycle for vacuum circulation technology was determined to be six cycles, regardless of the type of dispersant. Compared with poplar wood, the hygroscopic swelling rate of healthy wood was lower, especially in PEG-treated samples, where the tangential, radial, longitudinal, and volumetric swelling rates decreased by 70.93%, 71.67%, 69.41%, and 71.35%, respectively. Combining hexagonal stone powder with fast-growing poplar wood can effectively enhance the release of negative oxygen ions. The static average release of negative oxygen ions from healthy wood is 1.44 times that of untreated hexagonal stone powder, and the dynamic release reaches 2 to 3 times the concentration of negative oxygen ions specified by national fresh air standards. The water-responsive mechanism revealed that negative oxygen ion release surged when ambient humidity exceeded 70%. This work proposes a sustainable and effective method to prepare healthy wood with permanent negative oxygen ion release capability. It demonstrates great potential for improving indoor air quality and enhancing human health. Full article
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25 pages, 1105 KiB  
Review
Review and Decision-Making Tree for Methods to Balance Indoor Environmental Comfort and Energy Conservation During Building Operation
by Shan Lin, Yu Zhang, Xuanjiang Chen, Chengzhi Pan, Xianjun Dong, Xiang Xie and Long Chen
Sustainability 2025, 17(15), 7016; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17157016 (registering DOI) - 1 Aug 2025
Viewed by 175
Abstract
Effective building operation requires a careful balance between energy conservation and indoor environmental comfort. Although numerous methods have been developed to reduce energy consumption during the operational phase, their objectives and applications vary widely. However, the complexity of building energy management makes it [...] Read more.
Effective building operation requires a careful balance between energy conservation and indoor environmental comfort. Although numerous methods have been developed to reduce energy consumption during the operational phase, their objectives and applications vary widely. However, the complexity of building energy management makes it challenging to identify the most suitable methods that simultaneously achieve both comfort and efficiency goals. Existing studies often lack a systematic framework that supports integrated decision-making under comfort constraints. This research aims to address this gap by proposing a decision-making tree for selecting energy conservation methods during building operation with an explicit consideration of indoor environmental comfort. A comprehensive literature review is conducted to identify four main energy-consuming components during building operation: the building envelope, HVAC systems, lighting systems, and plug loads and appliances. Three key comfort indicators—thermal comfort, lighting comfort, and air quality comfort—are defined, and energy conservation methods are categorized into three strategic groups: passive strategies, control optimization strategies, and behavioural intervention strategies. Each method is assessed using a defined set of evaluation criteria. Subsequently, a questionnaire survey is administered for the calibration of the decision tree, incorporating stakeholder preferences and expert judgement. The findings contribute to the advancement of understanding regarding the co-optimization of energy conservation and occupant comfort in building operations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Technologies and Digital Design in Smart Construction)
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24 pages, 1288 KiB  
Review
Counteracting the Harms of Microplastics on Humans: An Overview from the Perspective of Exposure
by Kuok Ho Daniel Tang
Microplastics 2025, 4(3), 47; https://doi.org/10.3390/microplastics4030047 (registering DOI) - 1 Aug 2025
Viewed by 153
Abstract
Microplastics are pervasive environmental pollutants that pose risks to human health through ingestion and inhalation. This review synthesizes current practices to reduce exposure and toxicity by examining major exposure routes and dietary interventions. More than 130 papers were analyzed to achieve this aim. [...] Read more.
Microplastics are pervasive environmental pollutants that pose risks to human health through ingestion and inhalation. This review synthesizes current practices to reduce exposure and toxicity by examining major exposure routes and dietary interventions. More than 130 papers were analyzed to achieve this aim. The findings show that microplastics contaminate a wide range of food products, with particular concern over seafood, drinking water, plastic-packaged foods, paper cups, and tea filter bags. Inhalation exposure is mainly linked to indoor air quality and smoking, while dermal contact poses minimal risk, though the release of additives from plastics onto the skin remains an area of concern. Recommended strategies to reduce dietary exposure include consuming only muscle parts of seafood, moderating intake of high-risk items like anchovies and mollusks, limiting canned seafood liquids, and purging mussels in clean water before consumption. Avoiding plastic containers, especially for hot food or microwaving, using wooden cutting boards, paper tea bags, and opting for tap or filtered water over bottled water are also advised. To mitigate inhalation exposure, the use of air filters with HyperHEPA systems, improved ventilation, regular vacuuming, and the reduction of smoking are recommended. While antioxidant supplementation shows potential in reducing microplastic toxicity, further research is needed to confirm its effectiveness. This review provides practical, evidence-based recommendations for minimizing daily microplastic exposure. Full article
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16 pages, 1706 KiB  
Article
Biochar-Immobilized Pseudomonas aeruginosa Enhances Copper Remediation and Growth of Chinese Milk Vetch (Astragalus sinicus)
by Yunkai Hu, Chuan Wang and Youbao Wang
Microorganisms 2025, 13(8), 1793; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13081793 - 31 Jul 2025
Viewed by 138
Abstract
Heavy metal-contaminated soil poses a severe threat to environmental quality and human health, calling for eco-friendly and efficient remediation strategies. This study explored the use of biochar-immobilized copper-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa to remediate copper-contaminated soil and promote growth of Chinese milk vetch (Astragalus [...] Read more.
Heavy metal-contaminated soil poses a severe threat to environmental quality and human health, calling for eco-friendly and efficient remediation strategies. This study explored the use of biochar-immobilized copper-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa to remediate copper-contaminated soil and promote growth of Chinese milk vetch (Astragalus sinicus L.). Indoor pot experiments compared four groups: copper-contaminated soil (control), soil with biochar, soil with free bacteria, and soil with biochar-immobilized bacteria (IM). Results showed IM had the most significant effects on soil properties: it raised pH to 7.04, reduced bioavailable copper by 34.37%, and increased catalase (3.48%) and urease (78.95%) activities. IM also altered soil bacterial communities, decreasing their richness and evenness (alpha diversity) while shifting community composition. For Chinese milk vetch, IM reduced leaf malondialdehyde (a marker of oxidative stress) by 15%, increased total dry weight by 90%, and lowered copper accumulation in roots (18.62%) and shoots (60.33%). As a nitrogen-fixing plant, the vetch’s nitrogen fixation in roots and shoots rose by 82.70% and 57.08%, respectively, under IM. These findings demonstrate that biochar-immobilized Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a promising in situ amendment for remediating copper-contaminated soil and boosting plant growth. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Environmental Microbiology)
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16 pages, 832 KiB  
Article
Development and Evaluation of Neural Network Architectures for Model Predictive Control of Building Thermal Systems
by Jevgenijs Telicko, Andris Krumins and Agris Nikitenko
Buildings 2025, 15(15), 2702; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15152702 - 31 Jul 2025
Viewed by 127
Abstract
The operational and indoor environmental quality of buildings has a significant impact on global energy consumption and human quality of life. One of the key directions for improving building performance is the optimization of building control systems. In modern buildings, the presence of [...] Read more.
The operational and indoor environmental quality of buildings has a significant impact on global energy consumption and human quality of life. One of the key directions for improving building performance is the optimization of building control systems. In modern buildings, the presence of numerous actuators and monitoring points makes manually designed control algorithms potentially suboptimal due to the complexity and human factors. To address this challenge, model predictive control based on artificial neural networks can be employed. The advantage of this approach lies in the model’s ability to learn and understand the dynamic behavior of the building from monitoring datasets. It should be noted that the effectiveness of such control models is directly dependent on the forecasting accuracy of the neural networks. In this study, we adapt neural network architectures such as GRU and TCN for use in the context of building model predictive control. Furthermore, we propose a novel hybrid architecture that combines the strengths of recurrent and convolutional neural networks. These architectures were compared using real monitoring data collected with a custom-developed device introduced in this work. The results indicate that, under the given experimental conditions, the proposed hybrid architecture outperforms both GRU and TCN models, particularly when processing large sequential input vectors. Full article
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19 pages, 4690 KiB  
Article
Immune-Redox Biomarker Responses to Short- and Long-Term Exposure to Naturally Emitted Compounds from Korean Red Pine (Pinus densiflora) and Japanese Cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa): In Vivo Study
by Hui Ma, Jiyoon Yang, Chang-Deuk Eom, Johny Bajgai, Md. Habibur Rahman, Thu Thao Pham, Haiyang Zhang, Won-Joung Hwang, Seong Hoon Goh, Bomi Kim, Cheol-Su Kim, Keon-Ho Kim and Kyu-Jae Lee
Toxics 2025, 13(8), 650; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics13080650 (registering DOI) - 31 Jul 2025
Viewed by 189
Abstract
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are highly volatile chemicals in natural and anthropogenic environments, significantly affecting indoor air quality. Major sources of indoor VOCs include emissions from building materials, furnishings, and consumer products. Natural wood products release VOCs, including terpenes and aldehydes, which exert [...] Read more.
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are highly volatile chemicals in natural and anthropogenic environments, significantly affecting indoor air quality. Major sources of indoor VOCs include emissions from building materials, furnishings, and consumer products. Natural wood products release VOCs, including terpenes and aldehydes, which exert diverse health effects ranging from mild respiratory irritation to severe outcomes, such as formaldehyde-induced carcinogenicity. The temporal dynamics of VOC emissions were investigated, and the toxicological and physiological effects of the VOCs emitted by two types of natural wood, Korean Red Pine (Pinus densiflora) and Japanese Cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa), were evaluated. Using female C57BL/6 mice as an animal model, the exposure setups included phytoncides, formaldehyde, and intact wood samples over short- and long-term durations. The exposure effects were assessed using oxidative stress markers, antioxidant enzyme activity, hepatic and renal biomarkers, and inflammatory cytokine profiles. Long-term exposure to Korean Red Pine and Japanese Cypress wood VOCs did not induce significant pathological changes. Japanese Cypress exhibited more distinct benefits, including enhanced oxidative stress mitigation, reduced systemic toxicity, and lower pro-inflammatory cytokine levels compared to the negative control group, attributable to its more favorable VOC emission profile. These findings highlight the potential health and environmental benefits of natural wood VOCs and offer valuable insights for optimizing timber use, improving indoor air quality, and informing public health policies. Full article
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30 pages, 3319 KiB  
Article
A Pilot Study on Thermal Comfort in Young Adults: Context-Aware Classification Using Machine Learning and Multimodal Sensors
by Bibars Amangeldy, Timur Imankulov, Nurdaulet Tasmurzayev, Serik Aibagarov, Nurtugan Azatbekuly, Gulmira Dikhanbayeva and Aksultan Mukhanbet
Buildings 2025, 15(15), 2694; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15152694 - 30 Jul 2025
Viewed by 288
Abstract
While personal thermal comfort is critical for well-being and productivity, it is often overlooked by traditional building management systems that rely on uniform settings. Modern data-driven approaches often fail to capture the complex interactions between various data streams. This pilot study introduces a [...] Read more.
While personal thermal comfort is critical for well-being and productivity, it is often overlooked by traditional building management systems that rely on uniform settings. Modern data-driven approaches often fail to capture the complex interactions between various data streams. This pilot study introduces a high-accuracy, interpretable framework for thermal comfort classification, designed to identify the most significant predictors from a comprehensive suite of environmental, physiological, and anthropometric data in a controlled group of young adults. Initially, an XGBoost model using the full 24-feature dataset achieved the best performance at 91% accuracy. However, after using SHAP analysis to identify and select the most influential features, the performance of our ensemble models improved significantly; notably, a Random Forest model’s accuracy rose from 90% to 94%. Our analysis confirmed that for this homogeneous cohort, environmental parameters—specifically temperature, humidity, and CO2—were the dominant predictors of thermal comfort. The primary strength of this methodology lies in its ability to create a transparent pipeline that objectively identifies the most critical comfort drivers for a given population, forming a crucial evidence base for model design. The analysis also revealed that the predictive value of heart rate variability (HRV) diminished when richer physiological data, such as diastolic blood pressure, were included. For final validation, the optimized Random Forest model, using only the top 10 features, was tested on a hold-out set of 100 samples, achieving a final accuracy of 95% and an F1-score of 0.939, with all misclassifications occurring only between adjacent comfort levels. These findings establish a validated methodology for creating effective, context-aware comfort models that can be embedded into intelligent building management systems. Such adaptive systems enable a shift from static climate control to dynamic, user-centric environments, laying the critical groundwork for future personalized systems while enhancing occupant well-being and offering significant energy savings. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Building Energy, Physics, Environment, and Systems)
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34 pages, 2737 KiB  
Systematic Review
Thermal Comfort Meets ESG Principle: A Systematic Review of Sustainable Strategies in Educational Buildings
by Yujing Xiang, Pengzhi Zhou, Li Zhu and Shihai Wu
Buildings 2025, 15(15), 2692; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15152692 - 30 Jul 2025
Viewed by 281
Abstract
Securing thermal comfort while minimizing energy consumption in educational buildings is vital for achieving sustainable development goals. Drawing on the Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) framework, this systematic review synthesizes findings from 84 peer-reviewed studies published over the past decade, with a focus [...] Read more.
Securing thermal comfort while minimizing energy consumption in educational buildings is vital for achieving sustainable development goals. Drawing on the Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) framework, this systematic review synthesizes findings from 84 peer-reviewed studies published over the past decade, with a focus on how thermal comfort and energy use are assessed in educational contexts. The review identifies three primary research themes: climate resilience, multidimensional human-centric design, and energy decarbonization. However, it also reveals that existing studies have placed disproportionate emphasis on the environmental dimension, with insufficient exploration of issues related to social equity and governance structures. To address this gap, this study introduces an ESG-driven theoretical framework encompassing seven dimensions: thermal environment stability, multimodal thermal comfort assessment integration, sustainable energy use, heterogeneous thermal demand equality, passive–active design synergy, participatory thermal data governance, and educational thermal well-being inclusivity. By fostering interdisciplinary convergence and emphasizing inclusive stakeholder engagement, the proposed framework provides a resilient and adaptive foundation for enhancing indoor environmental quality in educational buildings while advancing equitable climate and energy strategies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Architectural Design, Urban Science, and Real Estate)
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30 pages, 924 KiB  
Review
Wood-Based Panels and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs): An Overview on Production, Emission Sources and Analysis
by Fátima Daniela Gonçalves, Luísa Hora Carvalho, José António Rodrigues and Rui Miguel Ramos
Molecules 2025, 30(15), 3195; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30153195 - 30 Jul 2025
Viewed by 289
Abstract
The emission and presence of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the indoor air of houses and factories has been a growing topic of debate in the industry and related research fields. Given the extended times people in modern society spend indoors, monitoring VOCs [...] Read more.
The emission and presence of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the indoor air of houses and factories has been a growing topic of debate in the industry and related research fields. Given the extended times people in modern society spend indoors, monitoring VOCs is crucial due to the associated potential health hazards, with formaldehyde being particularly noteworthy. Wood and wood-based panels (WBPs) (the latter constituting a significant segment of the wood-transforming industry, being widely used in furniture, construction, and other applications) are known sources for the emission of VOCs to indoor air. In the case of the WBPs, the emission of VOCs depends on the type and species of wood, together with industrial processing and addition of additives. This review integrates perspectives on the production processes associated with WBPs, together with the evolving global regulations, and thoroughly examines VOC sources associated with WBPs, health risks from exposure, and current analytical methods utilized for VOC detection. It comprises an overview of the WBP industry, providing relevant definitions, descriptions of manufacturing processes and adhesive use, analysis of legal constraints, and explanations of VOC source identification and describing analysis techniques utilized for VOCs in WBPs. Full article
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40 pages, 910 KiB  
Review
Impact of Indoor Air Quality, Including Thermal Conditions, in Educational Buildings on Health, Wellbeing, and Performance: A Scoping Review
by Duncan Grassie, Kaja Milczewska, Stijn Renneboog, Francesco Scuderi and Sani Dimitroulopoulou
Environments 2025, 12(8), 261; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments12080261 - 30 Jul 2025
Viewed by 391
Abstract
Educational buildings, including schools, nurseries and universities, face stricter regulation and design control on indoor air quality (IAQ) and thermal conditions than other built environments, as these may affect children’s health and wellbeing. In this scoping review, wide-ranging health, performance, and absenteeism consequences [...] Read more.
Educational buildings, including schools, nurseries and universities, face stricter regulation and design control on indoor air quality (IAQ) and thermal conditions than other built environments, as these may affect children’s health and wellbeing. In this scoping review, wide-ranging health, performance, and absenteeism consequences of poor—and benefits of good—IAQ and thermal conditions are evaluated, focusing on source control, ventilation and air purification interventions. Economic impacts of interventions in educational buildings have been evaluated to enable the assessment of tangible building-related costs and savings, alongside less easily quantifiable improvements in educational attainment and reduced healthcare. Key recommendations are provided to assist decision makers in pathways to provide clean air, at an optimal temperature for students’ learning and health outcomes. Although the role of educational buildings can be challenging to isolate from other socio-economic confounders, secondary short- and long-term impacts on attainment and absenteeism have been demonstrated from the health effects associated with various pollutants. Sometimes overlooked, source control and repairing existing damage can be important cost-effective methods in minimising generation and preventing ingress of pollutants. Existing ventilation standards are often not met, even when mechanical and hybrid ventilation systems are already in place, but can often be achieved with a fraction of a typical school budget through operational and maintenance improvements, and small-scale air-cleaning and ventilation technologies, where necessary. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Air Pollution in Urban and Industrial Areas III)
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