Healthy Indoor Environments: The Need for a Holistic Approach

Aneta Wierzbicka, Eja Pedersen, Roger Persson, Birgitta Nordquist, Kristian Stålne, Chuansi Gao, Lars-Erik Harderup, Jonas Borell, Héctor Caltenco, Barry Ness, Emilie Stroh, Yujing Li, Mats Dahlblom, Karin Lundgren-Kownacki, Christina Isaxon, Anders Gudmundsson and Pawel Wargocki
Additional contact information
Aneta Wierzbicka: Ergonomics and Aerosol Technology, Lund University, P.O. Box 118, 221 00 Lund, Sweden
Eja Pedersen: Environmental Psychology, Department of Architecture and Built Environment, Lund University, P.O. Box 118, 221 00 Lund, Sweden
Roger Persson: Department of Psychology, Lund University, P.O. Box 213, 221 00 Lund, Sweden
Birgitta Nordquist: Building Services, Lund University, P.O. Box 118, 221 00 Lund, Sweden
Kristian Stålne: Materials Science and Applied Mathematics, Malmö University, SE-205 06 Malmö, Sweden
Chuansi Gao: Ergonomics and Aerosol Technology, Lund University, P.O. Box 118, 221 00 Lund, Sweden
Lars-Erik Harderup: Building Physics, Lund University, P.O. Box 118, 221 00 Lund, Sweden
Jonas Borell: Ergonomics and Aerosol Technology, Lund University, P.O. Box 118, 221 00 Lund, Sweden
Héctor Caltenco: Certec, Lund University, P.O. Box 118, 221 00 Lund, Sweden
Barry Ness: Centre for Sustainability Studies (LUCSUS), Lund University, P.O. Box 170, 22 100 Lund, Sweden
Emilie Stroh: Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Lund University, Scheelevägen 2, 22 363 Lund, Sweden
Yujing Li: Materials Science and Applied Mathematics, Malmö University, SE-205 06 Malmö, Sweden
Mats Dahlblom: Building Services, Lund University, P.O. Box 118, 221 00 Lund, Sweden
Karin Lundgren-Kownacki: Ergonomics and Aerosol Technology, Lund University, P.O. Box 118, 221 00 Lund, Sweden
Christina Isaxon: Ergonomics and Aerosol Technology, Lund University, P.O. Box 118, 221 00 Lund, Sweden
Anders Gudmundsson: Ergonomics and Aerosol Technology, Lund University, P.O. Box 118, 221 00 Lund, Sweden
Pawel Wargocki: Centre for Indoor Environment and Energy (CIEE), Danish University of Technology, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark

IJERPH, 2018, vol. 15, issue 9, 1-13

Abstract: Indoor environments have a large impact on health and well-being, so it is important to understand what makes them healthy and sustainable. There is substantial knowledge on individual factors and their effects, though understanding how factors interact and what role occupants play in these interactions (both causative and receptive) is lacking. We aimed to: (i) explore interactions between factors and potential risks if these are not considered from holistic perspective; and (ii) identify components needed to advance research on indoor environments. The paper is based on collaboration between researchers from disciplines covering technical, behavioural, and medical perspectives. Outcomes were identified through literature reviews, discussions and workshops with invited experts and representatives from various stakeholder groups. Four themes emerged and were discussed with an emphasis on occupant health: (a) the bio-psycho-social aspects of health; (b) interaction between occupants, buildings and indoor environment; (c) climate change and its impact on indoor environment quality, thermal comfort and health; and (d) energy efficiency measures and indoor environment. To advance the relevant research, the indoor environment must be considered a dynamic and complex system with multiple interactions. This calls for a transdisciplinary and holistic approach and effective collaboration with various stakeholders.

Keywords: healthy indoor environment; holistic approach; transdisciplinary studies; multidisciplinary studies; indoor environment quality (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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