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First clean water, now clean air

finmoorhouse.com

11–20 of 149 posts

Re: First clean water, now clean air

#11

I bought a CO2 monitor, and although the effects of CO2 in cognition and energy levels are debatable[1], it shocked me and raised awareness to how poor my indoor ventilation is. We live in a small apartment, and just being 30 min with 2 people in the room raises the CO2 ppm from 400 to >1000. Opening a window quickly lowers it. Never-mind doing some light activity like yoga or similar. So if we want to do something,…

If possible, I recommend ventilation by creating a current by opening the front door and cycling every room (windos, balcony doors) of your apartment.

I do this every day regardless of the season. Works best during windy weather

Re: First clean water, now clean air

#12
post #8

I bought a CO2 monitor, and although the effects of CO2 in cognition and energy levels are debatable[1], it shocked me and raised awareness to how poor my indoor ventilation is. We live in a small apartment, and just being 30 min with 2 people in the room raises the CO2 ppm from 400 to >1000. Opening a window quickly lowers it. Never-mind doing some light activity like yoga or similar. So if we want to do something,…

> , it shocked me and raised awareness to how poor my indoor ventilation is. Do you want indoor circulation? Wouldn't that just mean your apartment loses heat/AC?

In a heating/cooling system that has been specifically designed to improve ventilation, one can pull fun tricks like using the outgoing (stale) air to help heat/cool the incoming (fresh) air. Also in some places houses are built with enough thermal mass that the air within the building doesn't contain the majority of the heat therein.

In general there is likely some level of ventillation that will be worth taking on slightly increased heating/cooling costs.

Re: First clean water, now clean air

#13
post #8

I bought a CO2 monitor, and although the effects of CO2 in cognition and energy levels are debatable[1], it shocked me and raised awareness to how poor my indoor ventilation is. We live in a small apartment, and just being 30 min with 2 people in the room raises the CO2 ppm from 400 to >1000. Opening a window quickly lowers it. Never-mind doing some light activity like yoga or similar. So if we want to do something,…

> , it shocked me and raised awareness to how poor my indoor ventilation is. Do you want indoor circulation? Wouldn't that just mean your apartment loses heat/AC?

You can use a heat exchanger to get "fresher" air while keeping the heat/cool inside. Although many places don't have this in place. It is probably mostly due to lack of awareness or concern than any technical reason.

Re: First clean water, now clean air

#15

I bought a CO2 monitor, and although the effects of CO2 in cognition and energy levels are debatable[1], it shocked me and raised awareness to how poor my indoor ventilation is. We live in a small apartment, and just being 30 min with 2 people in the room raises the CO2 ppm from 400 to >1000. Opening a window quickly lowers it. Never-mind doing some light activity like yoga or similar. So if we want to do something,…

That's why I'm not changing my very leaky and drafty windows - I don't want to live in a hermetically sealed Tupperware container.

Once I install an HRV system then I'll do the windows!

Re: First clean water, now clean air

#16
It doesn't take away from the general thrust of the post but it's interesting that lack of quality sewage treatment leading to it being dumped into rivers is thought to be a key issue in the current British council voting:

Local elections 2023: How sewage topped the political agenda

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-65190097

Re: First clean water, now clean air

#17

I bought a CO2 monitor, and although the effects of CO2 in cognition and energy levels are debatable[1], it shocked me and raised awareness to how poor my indoor ventilation is. We live in a small apartment, and just being 30 min with 2 people in the room raises the CO2 ppm from 400 to >1000. Opening a window quickly lowers it. Never-mind doing some light activity like yoga or similar. So if we want to do something,…

If possible, I recommend ventilation by creating a current by opening the front door and cycling every room (windos, balcony doors) of your apartment. I do this every day regardless of the season. Works best during windy weather

*watch out for slamming doors and windows :-) Took me ages to work out how best to perform such in my place, and yes - daily opening, even for 5 minutes - does seem to help (me). I also do it last thing at night. In the morning - a less stuffy apartment. On work days, I'll probably open for a few minutes before going to work, but definitely after getting home.

Re: First clean water, now clean air

#18
post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> , it shocked me and raised awareness to how poor my indoor ventilation is. Do you want indoor circulation? Wouldn't that just mean your apartment loses heat/AC?

You can use a heat exchanger to get "fresher" air while keeping the heat/cool inside. Although many places don't have this in place. It is probably mostly due to lack of awareness or concern than any technical reason.

Cost

Re: First clean water, now clean air

#19
If, hypothetically, we dramatically reduced the prevalence of airborne disease, what would the effect on our immune systems be? Some hypothesize that living in too sterile an environment leads to autoimmune diseases, since the immune system is calibrated to a certain baseline level of activity, and will turn on the body if this level is not met by external pathogens.
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