Well Living Lab Publications

A brief nonattachment intervention based on the three marks of existence: development, rationale, and initial evidence

Buddhist philosophy and practice is essentially a non-theistic cognitive-behavioral intervention designed to induce nonattachment (N-A). N-A is the absence of a need for one’s personal reality to be other than it is. This study investigated a core Buddhist teaching designed to induce N-A called the Three Marks/Truths of Existence; these truths are: 1. some degree of suffering is inevitable, 2. all things are constantly changing, and 3. many events are not in our immediate control. Two experiments showed that the Three Marks teachings resulted in (a) higher nonattachment attitudes, and (b) shorter stress durations. These results provide evidence that 2500-year old trainings such as the Three Marks can be an effective tool to increase distress tolerance while attenuating stress reactivity.

Authors: Klein, R. J., Terry, B., & Robinson, M. D.

Journal: Anxiety, Stress, & Coping (2023)

A psychological flexibility perspective on well-being: Emotional reactivity, adaptive choices, and daily experiences

According to psychological flexibility theory, fully experiencing one’s emotions, even negative ones, can enhance well-being. Consistent with psychological flexibility theory, three studies using the DART showed that more intense emotional reactions were associated with higher levels of well-being. Two additional studies showed that happy individuals, relative to less happy individuals, exhibited more functional approach/avoidance behavior in behavior-focused tasks. Together, the results are consistent with the idea that adaptive emotion generation systems are those that flexibly adapt emotion output to concurrent emotion-related stimulation. This program of research adds to our understanding of the relationship between emotion reactivity and well-being while highlighting specific processes through which emotion and well-being interact.

Authors: Klein, R. J., Jacobson, N. C., & Robinson, M. D.

Journal: Emotion (2023)

General cognitive ability, as assessed by self-reported ACT scores, is associated with reduced emotional responding: Evidence from a Dynamic Affect Reactivity Task

The notion that general intelligence, or general cognitive ability, is linked to more deliberative and less intense emotional reactions has been theorized for decades. Using the Dynamic Affective Reactivity Task, developed by Dr. Klein, in conjunction with a sequence of emotional reaction scoring algorithms, the investigation showed direct support for a linkage between general intelligence and moderated emotional reactions. The article is one of basic science, and improves our understanding of the ways, processes, and mechanisms through which emotions are generated in the brain.

Authors: Robinson, M. D., Irvin, R. L., Pringle, T. A., & Klein, R. J.

Journal: Intelligence (2023)

Perceived Air Quality and Satisfaction During Implementation of an Automated Indoor Air Quality Monitoring and Control System

Cooking and cleaning are among the largest sources of home pollutant emissions. To reduce these emissions, we developed an automated indoor air quality (IAQ) control intervention that operated based on real-time sensor readings of particulate matter (PM2.5) and evaluated the perceptual differences between this intervention and a baseline condition. Observations indicated that weekly IAQ satisfaction, perception, and preferences were similar between the two conditions—despite lower PM2.5 concentrations during cooking and cleaning for the automated condition versus standard condition. When pairing IAQ complaints with PM2.5 concentrations during cooking, participants made complaints when PM2.5 concentrations >∼80 μg/m3 but few complaints when <∼60 μg/m3. Our observations suggest a connection between PM2.5 concentration and IAQ complaints made by participants, thereby providing possible thresholds for perceivable IAQ changes.

Authors: Son, Y., Pope, Z.C., Pantelic, J.

Journal: Building and Environment (2023)

Effects of Portable Air Filtration on Submicrometer- and Micrometer-Sized Particle Deposition and Concentration in a Natural Ventilated Skilled Nursing Facility

The risk of airborne transmission of respiratory diseases in indoor environments is a significant concern. The use of portable air filtration units in such settings has been explored as a potential mitigation strategy. This study examined how these units impacted the way particles deposited onto surfaces and remained suspended in the air within a skilled nursing facility. Prior to the use of portable air filtration units, the facility was naturally ventilated via the use of open windows only. Observations indicated that the use of portable air filtration units led to a decrease in two different particle sizes consistent with those emitted during human breathing. In sum, observations highlighted the potential of portable air filtration units to reduce exposure to airborne particles in indoor environments, particularly beneficial in settings like skilled nursing facilities within which lowering risk of respiratory disease transmission is crucial.

Authors: Li, L., Pope, Z.C., Son, Y., Eilts, S.M., Hogan Jr., C.J., Meng, K.

Journal: Building and Environment (2023)

Psychosocial and Behavioral Outcomes in the Adult Workforce During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A 1-Year Longitudinal Survey

While SARS-CoV-2, the virus causing COVID-19, and other respiratory viruses spread primarily via airborne transmission, layered mitigation should still include high touch surface disinfection. Indeed, we have observed airborne particles to travel several feet and deposit onto/contaminate surfaces, with viruses able to persist on surfaces for multiple hours or days. This study showed that two common disinfectants were able to render the SAR-CoV-2 virus incapable of causing infection given their ability to rapidly inactivate this virus.

Authors: Senerat, AM., Pope, Z.C., Rydell, S.A., Mullan, A.F., Roger, V.L., Pereira, M.A

Journal: BMC Public Health (2023)

Cooking Emission Control with IoT Sensors and Connected Air Quality Interventions for Smart and Healthy Homes: Evaluation of Effectiveness and Energy Consumption

Modern-day environmental challenges, such as population growth and climate change, require innovative solutions. IoT environmental sensing for urban, building, and personalized air pollution and thermal exposure control holds promise. This review highlighted that data convergence was key to utilizing IoT effectively for controlling air pollution and thermal exposures, with lack of guidance and standards as well as data underutilization identified as barriers. Future research and engineering efforts should focus on improvement in these areas.

Authors: Pantelic, J., Son, Y., Staven, B., Liu, Q

Journal: Energy and Buildings (2023)

The Impact of Automated Control of Indoor Air Pollutants on Cardiopulmonary Health, Environmental Comfort, Sleep Quality in a Simulated Apartment: A Crossover Experiment Protocol

This paper described a protocol for investigating indoor air pollution's effect on cardiovascular and respiratory health, with a particular concentration on particle emissions created during household cooking. Exposure experiments were completed in one-bedroom apartments within a highly-controlled lab space. Environmental sensors monitored indoor air quality, and changes in participants' health indicators due to indoor air pollutant exposure were measured through blood and urine samples as well as through assessments of blood pressure, heart rate, heart rate variability, exhaled nitric oxide, and lung function. A pilot study was conducted to test this protocol, with the main study having implemented adjustments based on pilot study observations. The main study has been completed, with results forthcoming.

Authors: Pantelic, J., Aristizabal, S., Liu, Q., Senerat, A., Son., Y., Byun, K., Li, L., Mullan, A., Zhang, R., Johnson, B.D., Clements, N.

Journal: Frontiers in Built Environment (2023)

Transformational IoT Sensing for Air Pollution and Thermal Exposures

Authors: Pantelic J, Nazarian N, Miller C, Meggers F, Lee JKW and Licina D

Journal: Frontiers in Built Environment (2022)

Bridging the Gap from Test Rooms to Field-tests for Human Indoor Comfort Studies: A Critical Review of the Sustainability Potential of Living Laboratories

It's important to understand how people behave in different indoor environments. Traditional experiments on human responses to indoor conditions have been conducted in controlled test rooms or via field monitoring. Living laboratories, also known as living labs, offer a valuable alternative as they closely resemble real-world settings, allowing researchers to observe actual behaviors while maintaining control over the indoor environment. This study reviewed 34 living labs worldwide that focus on human comfort studies to determine their scope, characteristics, and significance. Most of these labs are office environments, primarily located in Europe and the United States, with limited representation in other regions and climates. More studies in living labs are needed to better understand their unique contributions compared to traditional approaches. The review demonstrates that living labs provide opportunities for testing and optimizing human-centered solutions for comfortable and sustainable buildings.

Authors: R.J. Cureau, I. Pigliautile, A.L. Pisello, M. Bavaresco, C. Berger, G. Chinazzo, Zs. Deme Belafi, A. Ghahramani, A. Heydarian, D. Kastner, M. Kong, D. Licina, A. Luna-Navarro, A. Mahdavi, A. Nocente, M. Schweiker, M. Vellei, A. Wang

Journal: Energy Research & Social Science. (2022)

Effect of Low-Cost Recirculating Air Filtration on Aerosol Particle Deposition and Concentration in a Conference Room: Experiment, Theory, and Simulation Comparison

This study investigated the impact of a low-cost recirculating portable air filtration system on the way airborne particles remained suspended in the air and deposited to surfaces within a conference room. Observations suggested that the low-cost system employed could significantly reduce the number of particles in the air and depositing onto surfaces, thereby potentially reducing airborne disease transmission risk.

Authors: Li, L., He, R., Kong, M., Eilts, S. M.,Hong, J.,Hogan Jr,C., Pope, Z. C.

Journal: Journal of Aerosol Science. (2022)

Investigating How Auditory and Visual Stimuli Promote Recovery After Stress With Potential Applications for Workplace Stress and Burnout: Protocol for a Randomized Trial

Work-related stress is a top stressor among working professionals. Relaxation rooms are a strategy being tested to reduce workplace stress. Studies have shown that using these rooms might reduce perceived stress. Yet, only a few have examined the physiological and cognitive changes that could explain why relaxation rooms are effective at stress reduction. More detailed studies could therefore help develop better workplace stress reduction strategies. The paper reviews a research protocol for a study that sought to understand how physiological measures, cognitive performance, and perceived stress and anxiety change during exposure to an acutely stressful situation and how specific sensory features of a relaxation room might be more or less effective in promoting stress recovery. Since publication of this paper, the outlined study has been completed, with results due out soon.

Authors: Byun, K., Aristizabal, S., Wu, Y., Mullan, A., Carlin, J., West, C., & Mazurek, K.

Journal: Frontiers in Psychology. (2022)

Study on the Evolution Characteristics of Temperature and Heat Storage of the Soil Surrounding the Tunnel with Years

The thermal performance of subway tunnels is crucial for ensuring safe train operations. Previous research has mostly focused on the air temperature inside the tunnel but ignored the surrounding soil. This study used reduced-scale experiments and computer simulations to investigate the energy performance and temperature changes in the soil surrounding subway tunnels. Observations indicated that the soil temperature reached a stable state after about 10 years, and the properties of the surrounding soil, such as density, specific heat capacity, and thermal conductivity, played a significant role in controlling the tunnel air temperature. Sandstone was found to have the best heat storage capacity, making it a recommended choice for practical engineering. Observations from this research can help enhance the safety and reliability of subway operations and also provide valuable insights for temperature control in tunnels, leading to energy savings in train air conditioning systems both on board and within subway stations.

Authors: Wang, L., Zuo, H., Kong, M., Ma, C., Mao, Z., Zeng, X., ... & Cheng, J.

Journal: Energy and Buildings. (2022)

Localized and Whole-Room Effects of Portable Air Filtration Units on Aerosol Particle Deposition and Concentration in a Classroom Environment

The risk of airborne transmission of diseases such as COVID-19 and influenza is a significant concern in classrooms. One strategy to mitigate this risk is the use of portable air filtration units. These units, when strategically placed throughout a classroom, have been found to significantly reduce the number of particles suspended in the air and depositing onto surfaces. This study, using a highly rigorous methodology, suggested that use of portable air filtration units throughout a classroom was able to significantly reduce the number of particles in the air and depositing onto surfaces within most areas of a classroom.

Authors: Kong, M., Li, L., Eilts, S.M., Li, L., Hogan, C.J., Pope, Z.C.

Journal: American Chemical Society (ACS) ES&T Engineering. (2022)

Development of a Testing and Evaluation Protocol for Occupancy Sensing Technologies in Building HVAC Controls: A Case Study of Representative People Counting Sensors

Occupancy-based control (OBC) in smart buildings has the potential to improve energy efficiency (e.g., increasing or decreasing the ventilation based on the number of people in a room). To effectively implement OBC, it is important to accurately determine if a space is occupied and how many people are present. However, there is a limited market for reliable people-counting sensors, and there is a lack of standardized guidance to evaluate and compare their performance. This paper presents the design of an evaluation protocol and discusses case studies that evaluated four types of people-counting sensors. Test observations provide valuable insights for sensor developers, ventilation system designers, and building managers in selecting suitable people-counting sensors for OBC design and improving overall system performance.

Authors: Zhang, R., Kong, M., Dong, B., O'Neill, Z., Cheng, H., Hu, F., Zhang, J.

Journal: Building and Environment (2022)

HVAC Energy Savings, Thermal Comfort, and Air Quality for Occupant-Centric Control through a Side-by-Side Experimental Study

Advancements in sensing technologies have been frequent in recent years. One focus area is occupancy sensing systems which track how people behave in indoor spaces. Occupancy-based building system control is a smart strategy that adjusts building operations based on occupant behavior to improve energy efficiency while maintaining or improving human comfort. This study used an innovative approach to evaluate the performance of occupancy-based control in commercial buildings, integrating three advanced occupancy sensing technologies into real-time ventilation system control. Observations showed that the occupancy- based control maintained good perceived comfort among occupants and indoor air quality, with a satisfaction rating of over 80%. Energy savings varied depending on the accuracy of the occupancy sensors and outdoor conditions, but on average, there was a weekly energy savings of 17-24%.

Authors: Kong, M., Dong, B., Zhang, R., O’Neill, Z.

Journal: Applied Energy. (2021)

Healthy home interventions: Distribution of PM2.5 emitted during cooking in residential settings

This study investigated how to use different intervention methods to reduce the number of cooking-emitted particles in the air of a one-bedroom apartment. The different interventions included portable air filters, a stove hood, and the increase of the air supply and exhaust rates of the apartment’s HVAC system. These interventions were tested separately and in combination while bacon, to represent the pollutant source, was cooked on the stovetop. Observations suggested that the combination of increased HVAC ventilation and stove hood use was one of the most impactful interventions at lowering the number of particles within the apartment while the combination of increased HVAC ventilation and use of portable air filters best removed cooking-emitted particles from the apartment’s air.

Authors: Liu, Q., YJ Son, Li, L., Wood, N., Senerat, A.M., Pantelic, J.

Journal: Building and Environment (2022)

Inactivation of replication-competent severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) on common surfaces by disinfectants

Authors: Pope, Z., Weisend, C., Shah, A., Ebihara, H., Rizza, S.

Journal: Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology (2022)

Characterization of Exhaled Particle Deposition and Ventilation in an Indoor Setting

The interplay between how particles behave in the air and deposit onto surfaces relative to how those particles are cleared from a room via a building’s ventilation system is understudied and was the focus of this investigation. This is critical to prevent disease transmission via airborne particles. Observations indicated that the speed that particles deposited to surfaces, beyond 2 meters from the study’s breathing simulator, was significantly lower than the building’s ventilation rate. This suggested that the disease transmission at distances beyond 2 meters is primarily through direct inhalation of airborne particles. Additional study observations included the importance of maintaining proper physical distancing and regularly cleaning surfaces that have been in close proximity to potentially infected individuals for a prolonged period.

Authors: Eilts, S., Li, L., Pope, Z., Hogan, C.

Journal: Atmospheric Environment. (2021)

Psychosocial and Behavioral Outcomes and Transmission Prevention Behaviors: Working During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic

Relative to before COVID-19, corporate employees were observed to have poorer psychological outcomes and health behaviors during the first few months of the pandemic. While employees thought COVID-19 prevention behaviors, such as mask wear and physical distancing, were important, these psychological and health behavior outcome data suggested the potential for harmful long-term effects of the pandemic on corporate employee well- being. A longitudinal study was completed and published given the observations made within this study.

Authors: Senerat, A., Pope, Z., Rydell, S., Mullan, A., Roger, V., Pereira, M.

Journal: Mayo Clinic Proceedings: Innovations, Quality & Outcome (2021)

Inactivation of Replication-Competent Vesicular Stomatitis Virus as SARS-CoV-2 Surrogate on Common Surfaces by Disinfectants

While respiratory viruses spread primarily via airborne transmission, layered mitigation should still include high-touch surface disinfection. Indeed, we have observed airborne particles to travel several feet and deposit onto/contaminate surfaces, with viruses able to persist on surfaces for multiple hours or days. This study showed that two common disinfectants were able to render a virus (vesicular stomatitis virus) similar to the SAR-CoV-2 virus, the virus causing COVID-19, incapable of causing infection given their ability to rapidly inactivate this virus.

Authors: Pope, Z. C., Kottke, T. J., Shah, A., Vile, R. G., & Rizza, S. A.

Journal: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (2021)

The Feasibility of Wearable and Self-report Stress Detection Measures in a Semi-controlled Lab Environment

Stress is a common mental health issue in America, with individuals experiencing varying intensities of stress daily. Stress causes several physiological and behavioral responses. Recent technological advancements in wearable devices, such as smartwatches, have gradually provided an attractive, non-invasive method to continuously capture these stress responses. This study assessed how the use of machine learning (i.e., an advanced computer algorithm) could combine wearable-assessed skin temperature/electrical activity and heart rate metrics with self-reported measurements of stress and anxiety. Observations showed that combining the wearable-assessed metrics with the self-reported measurements resulted in 96% accuracy in detecting stressful time periods relative to 88% accuracy with wearable devices alone. Thus, the study suggested combining both measurement types is critical in stress studies.

Authors: Aristizabal, S., Byun, K., Wood, N., Campanella, C., Porter, P., Jamrozik, A., Mullan, A., Bauer, B.

Journal: IEEE 2021, (9).

Biophilic office design: Exploring the impact of a multisensory approach on human well-being

Humans seek connections with nature and other forms of life. Biophilic design has emerged in recent years as an architectural approach that aims to connect building occupants with various natural elements integrated into the indoor built environment. This study investigated the effects of nature-based visual and auditory elements on office worker well-being and performance. Observations suggested that immersive biophilic indoor environments can enhance office workers’ perceived productivity and cognitive performance while also reducing stress. These observations expand a small, but growing, body of literature on the positive impact of multisensory biophilic office design while demonstrating the ease of application of this approach to other built environments.

Authors: Aristizabal, S., Byun, K., Porter, P., Clements, N., Campanella, C., Li, L., Mullan, A., Ly, S., Senerat, A., Nenadic, I.Z., Browning, W.D., Loftness, V., Bauer, B.

Journal: Journal of Environmental Psychology (2021)

Implementing a Negative Pressure Isolation Space within a Skilled Nursing Facility to Control SARS-CoV-2 Transmission

Air quality has a hypothesized link to changes in the gut microbiome of which could be relevant for health and disease. This review summarized the existing studies that examined the impact of air pollution on the gut microbiome. Observations across studies revealed that air pollution might be associated with moderate alterations in gut microbiome composition and, therefore, could have a health impact. However, more consistent methodology during future studies is necessary if more detailed claims are to be made regarding the impact of air quality on the gut microbiome.

Authors: Miller, S., Clements, N., Mukherjee, D., Wilson, J., Steiner, C.

Journal: American Journal of Infection Control (2020), 1-9

Impacts of Dynamic LED Lighting on the Well-being and Experience of Office Occupants

This study explored the effects of dynamic, circadian, LED lighting in an office space on workers’ moods, productivity, and satisfaction, among other outcomes. The study suggested that dynamic, circadian, LED lighting has the potential to improve workers’ mood, productivity, and satisfaction within the office. Further, it was observed that when allowing workers to adjust the light levels slightly throughout the day, a more comfortable and stimulating workspace was perceived by workers.

Authors: Zhang, R., Campanella, C., Aristizabal, S., Jamrozik, A., Zhao, J., Porter, P., Ly, S., Bauer, B.

Journal: International Journal of Environmental Research & Public Health (2020)

Biomarkers and Indoor Air Quality: A Translational Research Review

Air pollution is associated with increased rates of disease and death. Humans spend most of their days indoors meaning indoor air quality can considerably influence health. This review identified physiological health indicators most impacted by indoor air pollution among the existing studies on this topic. Observations across studies suggested that particulate matter air pollution had the greatest impact on several physiological health indicators associated with inflammation within the body. Other airborne pollutions, such as volatile organic compounds, were also observed across studies to have some of the same health impacts. Overall, the review showed that more (1) consistent assessments of air pollution and physiological health indicators should be employed across studies, and (2) studies that randomize individuals to specific exposure groups should be conducted in a safe manner.

Authors: Senerat, A.M., Manemann, S.M., Clements, N.S., Brook, R.D., Hassett, L.C., Roger, V.L.

Journal: Journal of Clinical and Translational Science. (2020)

Exposure to Air Pollution in Indoor Walkways of a Suburban City

This study measured and analyzed air pollutant concentrations within the indoor walkways of a suburban city, focusing on restaurants as pollutant sources, to help determine how prolonged exposure might impact health. Observations showed significant variability in concentrations of particulate matter, as well as ozone and volatile organic compounds, across walkway locations and different times of day. Via modeling scenarios using these collected real-world data, the study also highlighted the importance of understanding how pollutants vary from space-to-space to develop proper indoor air pollution mitigation strategies for public spaces, especially for sensitive populations like older adults.

Authors: Li, L., Mullan, A.F., Clements, N.

Journal: Building and Environment (2020)

Indoor Environment and Viral Infections

Indoor environmental conditions can play a major role in the spread of respiratory diseases such as influenza and COVID-19. This perspective discussed how indoor environmental conditions might increase or decrease the risk of respiratory disease spread while discussing the practical recommendations that might lower this spread. Temperature and humidity are noted as critical to control if seeking to lower respiratory disease spread, with calls for increased ventilation and filtration within homes and commercial buildings also stated as crucial for this objective.

Authors: Clements, N., Binnicker, M.J., Roger, V.L

Journal: Mayo Clinic Proceedings: Perspective and Controversy (2020)

Impact of air quality on the gastrointestinal microbiome: A review

Authors: Dujardin, C.E., Mars, R.A.T., Mannemann, S.M., Kashyap, P.C., Clements, N.C., Hassett, L.C., Roger, V.L.

Journal: Environmental Research (2020)

Human performance and productivity in buildings

The paper discusses the importance of optimizing buildings for human performance and identifies three barriers in achieving this goal. The first barrier is the inconsistent use of "productivity" terms such as performance, cognitive performance, and productivity, leading to confusion and contradictory claims about how building features impact these outcomes. The second barrier is the lack of standardized ways to measure performance and productivity within the building sciences. The third barrier involves determining where to start in optimizing buildings for human performance. To work around these challenges, it was recommended that (1) clear definitions for productivity and performance are used; (2) standardized human performance measures across research teams are employed; and (3) emphasis in study design is placed on the importance of understanding how different environmental conditions (e.g., indoor air quality, lighting, noise) impact various aspects of cognitive function; thus helping improve likelihood of achieving effective building designs.

Authors: Jamrozik, A., Clements, N.

Journal: ASHRAE Journal (2019)

Conducting Human-Centered Building Science at the Well Living Lab

The paper discusses the unique challenges faced by the Well Living Lab (WLL) as it studies how buildings can be designed to improve the health and well-being of the people who use them. Researchers at the WLL use a rigorous "living lab" approach which means they conduct their research in a realistic building environment where people can live and work naturalistically. To obtain the best information possible, the WLL combines data collection techniques from several fields including building science, engineering, and psychology. WLL researchers also use advanced sensor technology to monitor the building's environment to understand its effects on occupant health and well-being. Well Living Lab researchers balance the demands of each of these approaches while working with architects, engineers, and designers to find ways to make buildings healthier for the people who use them.

Authors: Aristizabal, S., Porter, P., Clements, N., Campanella, C., Zhang, R., Hovde, K., Lam, C.

Journal: Technology|Architecture + Design (2019)

Access to daylight and view in an office improves cognitive performance and satisfaction and reduces eyestrain: A controlled crossover study

This study investigated how workers’ access to daylight and views when in an office impacted cognitive performance, satisfaction, and eyestrain. Observations indicated that having access to natural daylight and views positively influenced cognitive performance, leading to higher levels of satisfaction among office workers. Additionally, it revealed a reduction in eyestrain symptoms when individuals had access to daylight and associated outdoor views. These observations also suggested the potential importance of incorporating natural elements (e.g., plants) into office environments to enhance overall well-being and productivity.

Authors: Jamrozik, A., Clements, N. Hasan, S.S., Zhao, J., Zhang, R., Campanella, C., Loftness, V., Porter, P., Ly, S., Wang, S., Bauer, B.

Journal: Building and Environment (2019)

The spatial and temporal variability of the indoor environmental quality during three simulated office studies at a living lab

Authors: Clements, N., Zhang, R., Jamrozik, A., Campanella, C., Bauer, B.

Journal: Buildings. (2019)

A novel methodology to realistically monitor office occupant reactions and environmental conditions using a living lab

This study introduced a novel way to monitor office workers’ responses to different environmental conditions in a living lab’s office setting. Observations indicated that temperature and lighting conditions significantly impacted workers’ comfort and satisfaction, with workers preferring higher temperature and lighting levels in the winter months. Further, high noise levels were observed to increase stress levels, ultimately impacting productivity. Finally, observations highlighted the benefits of personal control over the indoor environment, with workers expressing higher satisfaction when they had control over lighting and temperature. Overall, observations emphasized the importance of considering worker perceptions and preferences when designing and managing office environments.

Authors: Jamrozik, A., Ramos, C., Zhao, J., Bernau, J., Clements, N., Wolf, T.V., Bauer, B.

Journal: Building and Environment (2018)

Testing the single-pass VOC removal efficiency of an active green wall using methyl ethyl ketone (MEK)

In recent years, there has been more research on how indoor air can be cleaned using living green walls. These walls, often used for their natural calming effects, are now being tested for their ability to remove harmful chemicals called volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from the air inside buildings. This study introduces a new method for measuring how well an active green wall, which uses a mechanical system to push air through the plants and soil, can remove VOCs. The researchers conducted tests in a small chamber that mimicked a single room and exposed the green wall to a common VOC called 2-butanone. The results showed that the active green wall effectively reduced 2-butanone levels by an average of 57% in a single pass, indicating its potential to improve indoor air quality and reduce exposure to harmful chemicals.

Authors: Torpy, F., Clements, N., Pollinger, M., Dengel, A., Mulvihill, I., He, C., Irga, P.

Journal: Air Quality, Atmosphere & Health. (2017)

Other Publications

A review of Google’s Cloud Natural Language API service [White paper]

Author: Wood, N. (2020).

Preparing and architecting for machine learning [White paper]

Authors: Wood, N., Lam. C. (2020).

Environmental conditions and occupant satisfaction in the workplace: A controlled study in a living lab

Authors: Nguyen, J., Huynh, S., Jamrozik, A., Clements, N., Ramos, C., Bauer, B., Zhao, J. (2018).

Journal: International Building Physics Conference. 3.

Characterization of three scent diffusers using d-Limonene

Authors: Clements, N. Aristizabal, S., Ly, S.M.

Conference: International Air 2018 Conference: Sources and Emissions 2: 3D Printers and Consumer Products (SE2). (2018).

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Living labs: Measuring human experience in the built environment

Authors: Hasan S.S., Jamrozik, A., Campanella, C., Aristizabal, S., Zhang, R., Clements, N.

Conference: CHI EA ’18: Extended Abstracts of the 2018 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems. April 2018.

No W31:1-8.

Well Living Lab: A new tool for measuring the human experience in the built environment

Authors: Jamrozik, A., Campanella, C., Bauer, B.

Journal: The Centre for Conscious Design. (February 1, 2017). Journal No. 2.