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Impact of cultural behaviour on indoor comfort: examining the air quality in homes and exploring observational and experimental methods of representation through filmmaking

Basavapatna Kumaraswamy, Satish ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1056-0242, Gall, Allister and Shahzad, Sally 2023. Impact of cultural behaviour on indoor comfort: examining the air quality in homes and exploring observational and experimental methods of representation through filmmaking. Presented at: 11th International Conference on Indoor Air Quality, Ventilation & Energy Conservation in Buildings, Tokyo, Japan, 20-23 May 2023. E3S Web of Conferences. EDP Open, 10.1051/e3sconf/202339602035

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Abstract

There is a limited understanding of householders’ cultural differences and their impact on spatial organisation and energy behaviour in dwellings. Indoor air quality directly impacts the health and well-being of occupants. The airborne COVID-19 epidemic has highlighted shortcomings of controlled ventilation systems in recent reports (PHE, Dec 2020). While efficiency interventions can make homes more affordable to heat, they can exacerbate conditions such as asthma, due to reduced indoor air quality and ventilation. Preliminary research conducted in Plymouth by the applicant indicates that British Asians use their homes differently compared to native British in terms of spatial organisation, cooking habits (on average, they spend five times more time cooking the daily meal) and ventilation strategies, all of which have an impact on indoor air quality. This project sets out to establish the impact of culturally informed choices on indoor air quality and the extent to which the norms that guide the design of energy-efficient homes ignore potentially significant cultural and behavioural differences. It will achieve this by focusing on the impact of energy behaviour and choices related to cooking on the indoor air quality of British-Asian households. The project aims to quantify temperature, humidity and air quality by data collected by a pilot study in Plymouth, UK. We will engage the community in a participatory methodology using correlational research and survey questionnaires and IAQ Data Loggers to evidence anomalies from the design norms currently used in the UK. In addition to traditional data analysis, our methodology includes artistic research, utilising observational and sensory ethnographic filmmaking techniques, to support, document, and evidence the impact of cooking in the home. We aim to explore how the intersection between these two methods can reveal and communicate new perspectives. The main outcome is to evaluate the impact of cultural behaviour on the air quality of super-insulated British-Asian homes through an interdisciplinary methodology. This project lays foundations for larger-scale research working with diverse ethnic minority communities to promote engagement in a low-carbon society.

Item Type: Conference or Workshop Item (Paper)
Date Type: Published Online
Status: Published
Schools: Architecture
Uncontrolled Keywords: indoor comfort air quality domestic homes filmmaking
Publisher: EDP Open
ISSN: 2267-1242
Date of First Compliant Deposit: 16 February 2024
Last Modified: 20 Feb 2024 13:35
URI: https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/162301

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