Knowing about air quality is an important part of green building.

by Terry Beaubois

As health issues become more prominent, researchers are considering approaches to improving air quality for India’s 1.3 billion residents.

As an architect, I’ve always been aware of air management in buildings. This includes heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC). It also includes humidity, fresh air ventilation and air quality. Some of my recent experiences have significantly increased my awareness of how critical this issue is becoming for every building.

In many ways, air handling seemed to be a more-technical aspect of architecture, as opposed to other more visible and aesthetic aspects of design. Because many of the leading indicators of problems in air quality are not visible and have no odor, measurements and testing will become an increasingly significant factor in addressing these issues completely and effectively during design, construction and post-construction. This is definitely a case of “what we don’t know and can’t see, CAN hurt us.”