Indoor air quality and occupant behaviour in inherently airtight dwellings built using structurally insulated panels

Indoor air quality (IAQ) in inherently airtight dwellings, such as those built with structurally insulated panels (SIPs), is crucial for occupant health and building longevity. Occupants often opt for natural ventilation but face challenges due to tighter seals. Monitoring shows IAQ deterioration, especially in the morning.

Mechanical ventilation units with heat recovery (MVHR) offer a solution by exchanging stale indoor air with fresh outdoor air while recovering heat, improving IAQ and energy efficiency. Educating occupants about the importance of ventilation is vital. Combining MVHR with education presents a holistic approach to enhancing IAQ in SIP-built dwellings, promoting healthier indoor environments and building integrity. 

About Elena

Elena is the founder of Evissa. As a registered architect and certified Passivhaus designer, she is an avid advocate for addressing environmental issues, climate change and sustainability. Elena brings almost two decades of experience to her clients and believes that architects have the overarching power to influence the way we live and organise our spaces.

She believes in collaborative environments and has a passion for building physics and material technology that challenges the built environment status quo. While working as a registered architect within the construction industry for both the private and the public sector, across different European and Australian practices, she has become aware of the importance of cross-cultural knowledge and multi-disciplinary thinking, which enables us to achieve the best outcomes for our end users.