As smoke from wildfires in Canada engulfed the northeastern United States, bringing record levels of pollution and prompting health emergencies, the event highlighted the intensifying chronic air pollution caused by climate change worldwide. In this situation, ensuring the safety and quality of air has become an urgent issue for designers. Holly Samuelson, an associate professor in architecture at the Harvard Graduate School of Design, is changing the way the design field approaches the complexities of air quality and offering innovative solutions to maintain breathable air.
Good design can make new buildings more airtight, preventing the entry of smoke and other pollutants when necessary. Additionally, reducing air leakage enhances thermal comfort during winter and is one of the most effective energy-saving measures in buildings. Achieving improved airtightness requires careful window selection and architectural detailing, particularly at corners and material joints. A well-constructed building is also necessary, leading architects to specify air leakage limits to be verified through on-site testing.
During periods of acceptable outdoor air quality, bringing in fresh air indoors can help flush out indoor pollutants, carbon dioxide, and airborne pathogens. However, how can we achieve the health benefits of fresh air without incurring carbon penalties associated with heating, cooling, dehumidifying, and circulating this air, as well as constructing such systems in the first place? This is where talented designers come into play. Intelligent building design can contribute to solutions by implementing efficient ventilation systems and air filtration strategies.
In conclusion, air quality is becoming an increasingly urgent issue in the context of climate change, and designers play a crucial role in finding solutions to maintain breathable air. Through the design of airtight buildings, the implementation of smart ventilation systems, and efficient air filtration strategies, a healthy environment can be ensured for inhabitants. Furthermore, by incorporating appropriate architectural strategies such as solar shading, thermal insulation, and thermal energy storage, the energy efficiency of buildings can be enhanced, and thermal comfort can be maintained in extreme weather conditions and power outages, which are increasingly relevant in the era of climate change.