OPINION Your views from across the built environment
INSIDE STORY
Professionals need to foster breathable and eco-friendly building interiors, as well as striving for air tightness, argues Angie Kraft
It is time for architects and designers to think beyond the
shell of buildings and look more carefully at what users propose to put inside. As an ardent ‘greenie’, I am increasingly concerned about the extent to which we are focusing on the carbon footprint and thermal efficiency of new buildings, without carrying through the thought process to the interior. My biggest concern with near-airtight buildings is two-fold. First, they rely on ventilation that works efficiently and continually at the optimum level, and designers/architects are too often failing to get it right. In 2009, researcher Soren Peper from the Passivhaus Institute (
www.passiv.de) published his study of an apartment building built with the highest standards of efficiency and air tightness. He found some apartments fell far short of healthy air-exchange levels, and allowed an increased level of CO2 to build up (see Proceedings, 13th International Passive House Conference 2009). Second, we built-environment professionals are not advising residents strongly enough to alter their method of decorating or furnishing their
properties, to ensure a healthy living environment or a further reduction in their personal carbon footprint. As researcher Dr Derrick Crump from Cranfield University has pointed out: ‘If greater energy efficiency leads to reduced air exchange, then source control is required to prevent increases in indoor pollutants’ (see Indoor air quality in homes in England, BRE report BR 433,
www.bre.co.uk). Get these two issues wrong and we
are simply creating sealed boxes in which health risks for the residents are increased dramatically, while our environment continues to suffer. A recent discussion on the AECB
forum (
www.aecb.net/forum) had members discussing the most efficient way to use their mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR). Should the system run constantly with the resident altering the fan speed to increase/decrease ventilation, or should it be turned on and off at intervals throughout the day? The discussion lasted six weeks and opinions differed among the experts. What hope does the layman have of getting it right? Professor Howard Liddell of Gaia
We are in danger of creating sealed boxes in which health risks increase
dramatically
Group argues: ‘If we do not address the issues of indoor climate in parallel with seeking to achieve energy efficient buildings... we are guaranteed to be creating sick buildings. If those responsible for the creation of indoor environments do not take this well- documented risk on board then, in my view, they are being professionally negligent and open themselves up to being called to account for failing in their duty of care.’ No doubt more time and experience
with these building methods will bring consensus, and I am happy for the experts to work out exactly the most efficient and effective way to live in a ‘modern’ home. But we must not ignore the issue of supporting and encouraging our ‘green’ clients to create a low carbon, healthy design scheme for a healthy life on the inside of their property as well. As architects and designers, let’s also embrace the new eco-friendly interior movement and encourage clients to buy ‘sustainable’ – and help make the buildings of the future environmental inside their shell as well.
l Angie KrAft is an eco interior designer and founder and creative director of eco interiors website
www.geccointeriors.co.uk
18
CIBSE Journal October 2011
www.cibsejournal.com
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