Talking with Green Architecture advocate Robert Mirafuente is always a pleasant and educational time. Recently, we had a discussion about the advantages of having a naturally ventilated house over one that is centrally air-conditioned.
There are many benefits to reap from having your buildings designed with natural ventilation. In the city, where the air is not at all clean, air conditioning has become a standard of our system. The prime reason, of course, is the great comfort that cool temperature brings. The second and equally important reason is that it keeps unclean air out.
However, according to Robert, keeping our windows closed due to air conditioning may have an even worse effect on the quality of air we keep inside our homes. Think about it- it’s the same stale air our family breathes day and night. Most air conditioners recycle air in a given space. The filters can only clean air to a certain degree. The same air particles are just bounced around the room. So if any harmful germs have been introduced, there they will stay.
Robert reminds us that we have many chemicals inside the house that may emit harmful fumes, particularly in an enclosed space. These also tend to be in dense concentrations, such as insecticides, detergents, fresh paint, varnish, and cooking gas. Even furniture finishes, wood preservatives, cloth softeners, and fabric preservatives cause emissions, especially coming from new pieces. The family likewise adds to the fumes in the room through hair spray, insect repellant, perfume, shoe, metal, and leather polish, and perhaps, cigarette smoke. From the garage, motor fumes could seep in and from the kitchen, refrigerators are culprits too. Even the air conditioners are suspect because of the dust trapped in their air filters. There are likewise some plastics that emit unhealthy fumes when exposed to heat.
There are many benefits to reap from having your buildings designed with natural ventilation. In the city, where the air is not at all clean, air conditioning has become a standard of our system. The prime reason, of course, is the great comfort that cool temperature brings. The second and equally important reason is that it keeps unclean air out.
However, according to Robert, keeping our windows closed due to air conditioning may have an even worse effect on the quality of air we keep inside our homes. Think about it- it’s the same stale air our family breathes day and night. Most air conditioners recycle air in a given space. The filters can only clean air to a certain degree. The same air particles are just bounced around the room. So if any harmful germs have been introduced, there they will stay.
Robert reminds us that we have many chemicals inside the house that may emit harmful fumes, particularly in an enclosed space. These also tend to be in dense concentrations, such as insecticides, detergents, fresh paint, varnish, and cooking gas. Even furniture finishes, wood preservatives, cloth softeners, and fabric preservatives cause emissions, especially coming from new pieces. The family likewise adds to the fumes in the room through hair spray, insect repellant, perfume, shoe, metal, and leather polish, and perhaps, cigarette smoke. From the garage, motor fumes could seep in and from the kitchen, refrigerators are culprits too. Even the air conditioners are suspect because of the dust trapped in their air filters. There are likewise some plastics that emit unhealthy fumes when exposed to heat.
Dust accumulation from pillows, carpets, curtains, mattresses, and foam add to the matters that make our air dirty. In addition, we bring in some degree of dirt and bacteria ourselves, not to mention the pets, both wanted and unwanted, that we may have. Remember, too, that there are other unseen living organisms that share the house with us. Dust mites, ants, and other insects contribute to defiling the air we have in our homes.
Now, if you think that air conditioning keeps unclean air out, think again. It may just be trapping unclean air in.
The easiest and most obvious solution is to start opening your windows more often. Cut back on the air conditioning when you can. To speed up the air movement, you may switch on some fans or vents for a while. It is not only healthy, it also reduces electricity consumption.
Substantial savings on energy cost are the foremost advantage of a naturally ventilated house. But in so many words, we also agreed that maintaining natural ventilation minimizes the need for electricity, cuts down on gaseous emissions, and so ultimately, helps in the preservation of the ecological balance and alleviates global warming. Designers, with intelligent planning natural ventilation can actually help save the world! The easiest and most obvious solution is to start opening your windows more often. Cut back on the air conditioning when you can. To speed up the air movement, you may switch on some fans or vents for a while. It is not only healthy, it also reduces electricity consumption.
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