Page 121 - Hong Kong Green School Guide

3. Green School Guide - 3.5 Indoor Environmental Quality
Hong Kong Green Building Council 119
3.5 Indoor Environmental Quality
Concepts and Principles
Indoor environmental issues include features and facilities that contribute
to a hygienic and comfortable indoor environment for occupants. Indoor
environmental quality (IEQ) includes indoor air quality, fresh air ventilation,
thermal comfort, visual and aural comfort, which can directly influence health
and productivity of the students and staff.
3.5.1 Fresh Air Provision Applies to NS & ES
Benefits
• Improve health of students and staff;
• Prevent spreading of diseases; and
• A study conducted in the U.S. showed that sufficient fresh air and good indoor
air quality improved student and staff performance and reduced the number
of sick leaves taken.
Issues to Consider
a. Opportunities
• Fresh air units or heat recovery ventilators should be installed to supply fresh
air to classroom and staff room to improve indoor air quality.
b. Constraints
• School located in air polluted areas (e.g. busy thoroughfares, shopping
centres with exhaust generation);
• Fresh air requires additional cooling and dehumidification; and
• Retrofitting existing schools requires space for installation.