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The risk of exposure increases with the time spent in such an environment..Suddenly, wellbeing and temperature control are higher on the priority list than energy efficiency and the climate emergency.. More fresh air, and its impact on energy efficiency.
Normally, having fewer people in a building would allow ventilation rates to be reduced, making a building more energy efficient.However, in order to reduce the risk of viral spread within the building we have to increase ventilation rates as far as practically possible, so that the occupants have more fresh air.. A higher ventilation rate, whether it is via natural or mechanical ventilation, will result in an increased demand on heating in cooler weather, and increased demand on cooling in warmer weather.This may be exacerbated in a mechanical ventilation system where we’ve had to disable the heat recovery device.
Extra heating or cooling not only adds to our energy bills, but it also puts more pressure on hitting our carbon reduction targets..In the short term, the UK will see more warmer weather as we head from spring into summer.
Opening windows in naturally ventilated buildings is accepted behaviour on warm days.
But now it’s important to open the windows before people start to come into the building, and to let the building air at the end of the working day.The role of standardisation and modularisation:.
The discussion points out the tension between the desire for bespoke designs and the benefits of standardisation and modularisation in construction.By standardising certain elements, like in the apparel industry, there's potential for increased creativity and efficiency.
This standardisation can lead to mass customisation, where the construction process becomes more efficient, yet the end product can still meet diverse customer needs.. 4.Technological advancements and AI in construction:.