Balancing Between Indoor Air Quality and Energy Efficiency in Healthcare Service Buildings

Abstract:
Energy consumption has been one of the main political foci in the last few years. As humanity is largely dependent on fossil-fuel energy sources, it is urgent to invest in and develop cleaner alternatives to promote a sustainable transition to face climate change and global warming. As a part of this effort, many countries have started to renewable energy investments. While these investments can potentially increase the energy efficiency of a country, they also come with their own challenges. The end-use sector, which consumes primary energy and purchases and uses the majority of electricity, is typically divided into three categories: industry, transportation, and buildings [1]. The latter consumes energy in a variety of forms during construction, operation, and overall environmental impact. With many concerns regarding climate change, future buildings must become more efficient. Healthcare Facilities (e.g., hospitals, outpatient care centers, specialized care centers, clinics) are key infrastructure because they are vital to society. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the important significance of Healthcare Facilities (HFC) in providing treatment and restoration during critical times.
Despite their significant social importance, HFC are energy-intensive and account for 5% of total carbon dioxide emissions in Europe [2]. Their construction process also presents singular configurations regarding their construction. Generally, to develop their overall design, it is necessary to follow several norms and strict criteria to assure higher hygienic standards and promote the patients, staff, and visitors' wellbeing. Such aspects can be achieved through passive measures implemented during the design process, such as project solutions related to the building's orientation and form, position, glazing, materials, and colors. Passive measures implemented during the design process, such as project solutions related to the building's orientation and form, position, glazing, materials, and colors, can achieve such aspects. However, it is also possible to achieve it through active measures such as the installation of proper Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems. Several studies in the literature investigate how the first or second type of measure affects the energy consumption and Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) of HFC. However, there is strong evidence that more research is needed to evaluate how both strategies can work together. This study proposes to fill this gap and promote a multidisciplinary approach to improving the IAQ and energy efficiency of HFC.

Funding: Self-funded