Reader Response Draft 3

In the excerpt Guidelines for Good Indoor Air Quality in Office Premise, Ministry of the Environment (1996) states that the design and construction of a building will greatly affect the indoor air quality. The ministry says pollution must be taken into consideration for buildings and should have the necessary ventilation system to remove unwanted air when required. The ministry claims that the spread of contaminants should be minimized in air conditioning and mechanical ventilation system by ventilating and the materials used must not cause any pollution to the surrounding. The ministry further elaborates that materials used must be able to meet up to its standard and other factors must also be taken into consideration during construction to prevent serious damage to the building. The ministry continues to say that the system must be easily accessible for maintenance over time. Lastly, the ministry states that inspection should be made by professionals at all stages of construction so indoor air quality is optimal during operation.

While the excerpt from the report states that design and construction were keys expects affecting indoor air quality back in 1996, it did not mention about additional methods that are available presently which include the smart sensor, plants, and adopting Green Mark Scheme.

To begin with, the ministry mentions that a building should have the necessary ventilation system to remove unwanted air when required. In modern buildings, using plants as natural ventilation can improve indoor air quality (IAQ). Lafond (2017) says that one way to improve IAQ is by using plants. He states that plants can absorb pollutants, provide oxygen and purify the air in a building. As compared to a mechanical ventilation system which circulates indoor and outdoor air, it does not purify the air in the building as outdoor air might not be clean. Lastly, he says that plants can be incorporated together with a ventilation system to make the building more fascinating and improve the mood of occupants.

From the excerpt, the ministry also mentions that the materials used must not cause any pollution to the surrounding. In buildings that are present now, machines such as printer and photocopier release harmful pollutants which are unavoidable. Aiken (2012) CEO of AppliedSensor says that installing smart indoor air quality sensors to detect volatile organic compound (VOC) can help to improve IAQ. As some materials and furnishings give out pollutants that cannot be prevented, he states that the sensor can feedback to the air conditioning system to increase ventilation when the air quality is not ideal. Once the air quality level is back to normal, it will feedback the system to turn off. 

Lastly, the ministry back in 1996 should work towards achieving green mark certified as it will be beneficial to both the building and the occupants. Building construction authority set standards for building in Singapore focusing not just on construction and design but also individual efforts to maintain the efficiency. In the news article, Phua (2017) says buildings that are green mark certified had lower bacteria and pollutants in the air. The green mark scheme focuses on the occupant's health and comfort. She states that the building construction authority set to improve the green mark scheme by encouraging building owners to use an efficiency filters air distribution system and sensors to monitor the air quality. 

Overall, apart from focusing on the design of construction to improve IAQ, the use of smart technologies, plants and adopting green mark scheme can help to enhance IAQ. Occupants health and comfort should also be taken into consideration as well.


References:
Aiken, T. (2012). Three steps to improve indoor air quality. Retrieved, September 26, 2018, from https://www.buildings.com/news/industry-news/articleid/14047/title/three-steps-to-improve-indoor-air-quality


Lafond, A. (2017). How to Improve Indoor Air Quality with Plants. Retrieved September 30, 2018, from https://foobot.io/resources/how-to-improve-indoor-air-quality-with-plants/


Phua, R. (2017). New initiatives under Green Building Masterplan to emphasise healthier work environments. Retrieved, September 30, 2018, from https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/new-initiatives-under-green-building-masterplan-to-emphasise-9206834

Singapore Ministry of the Environment. (1996). Guidelines for Good Indoor Air Quality in Office Premises. Retrieved, September 26, 2018, from https://www.bca.gov.sg/greenmark/others/NEA_Office_IAQ_Guidelines.pdf


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