Urban office buildings pollute more than vehicles.
Indiana: A new study has found that office buildings in urban areas are significantly contributing to air pollution.
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) from Modern Buildings
Under the leadership of Brandon Boor at Purdue University, the research revealed that modern buildings consistently emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These emissions are a potentially significant source of VOCs in urban atmospheres.
Measuring Pollution Exchange in High-Performance Office Buildings
Using high-standard equipment and advanced building automation platforms, researchers measured the exchange of pollution between indoor and outdoor air in a high-performance office building.
Need for Air Purification in Offices, Homes, and Schools
Brandon Boor explained that while we often focus on filtering the air entering buildings, the latest research suggests that we need to start thinking about purifying the air being released from offices, homes, and schools to reduce VOC emissions in the environment.
Understanding VOC Movement in Urban Buildings
Boor stated that the purpose of the study was to accurately measure the VOCs entering and leaving urban buildings and to understand, using the data, how human presence and building functionality affect the movement of VOCs between indoor and outdoor air.
Impact of Air Exchange on Urban Pollution
He mentioned that there is a lack of comprehensive understanding regarding the impact of air exchange between indoor and outdoor environments on urban pollution.