Marcella Ucci

Active buildings: modelling physical activity and movement in office buildings. An observational study protocol

Introduction Health benefits of regular participation in physical activity are well documented but population levels are low. Office layout, and in particular the number and location of office building destinations (eg, print and meeting rooms), may influence both walking time and characteristics of sitting time. No research to date has focused on the role that the layout of the indoor office environment plays in facilitating or inhibiting step counts and characteristics of sitting time. The primary aim of this study was to investigate associations between office layout and physical activity, as well as sitting time using objective measures. Methods and analysis Active buildings is a unique collaboration between public health, built environment and computer science researchers. The study involves objective monitoring complemented by a larger questionnaire arm. UK office buildings will be selected based on a variety of features, including office floor area and number of occupants. Questionnaires will include items on standard demographics, well-being, physical activity behaviour and putative socioecological correlates of workplace physical activity. Based on survey responses, approximately 30 participants will be recruited from each building into the objective monitoring arm. Participants will wear accelerometers (to monitor physical activity and sitting inside and outside the office) and a novel tracking device will be placed in the office (to record participant location) for five consecutive days. Data will be analysed using regression analyses, as well as novel agent-based modelling techniques. Ethics and dissemination The results of this study will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications and scientific presentations. Ethical approval was obtained through the University College London Research Ethics Committee (Reference number 4400/001).

Historic Variations in Winter Indoor Domestic Temperatures and Potential Implications for Body Weight Gain

It has been argued that the amount of time spent by humans in thermoneutral environments has increased in recent decades. This paper examines evidence of historic changes in winter domestic temperatures in industrialised countries. Future trajectories for indoor thermal comfort are also explored. Whilst methodological differences across studies make it difficult to compare data and accurately estimate the absolute size of historic changes in indoor domestic temperatures, data analysis does suggest an upward trend, particularly in bedrooms. The variations in indoor winter residential temperatures might have been further exacerbated in some countries by a temporary drop in demand temperatures due to the 1970s energy crisis, as well as by recent changes in the building stock. In the United Kingdom, for example, spot measurement data indicate that an increase of up to 1.3°C per decade in mean dwelling winter indoor temperatures may have occurred from 1978 to 1996. The findings of this review paper are also discussed in the context of their significance for human health and well-being. In particular, historic indoor domestic temperature trends are discussed in conjunction with evidence on the links between low ambient temperatures, body energy expenditure and weight gain.

Indoor Tracking to Understand Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour: Exploratory Study in UK Office Buildings

Little is known of the patterns of physical activity, standing and sitting by office workers. However, insight into these behaviours is of growing interest, notably in regard to public health priorities to reduce non-communicable disease risk factors associated with high levels of sitting time and low levels of physical activity. With the advent and increasing availability of indoor tracking systems it is now becoming possible to build detailed pictures of the usage of indoor spaces. This paper reports initial results of indoor tracking used in conjunction with the ActivPAL activity monitoring device. In this paper we give an overview of the usage of the tracking system and its installation and illustrate some of the resultant data. We also provide preliminary results that investigate the relationship between location, light physical activity and sitting in a small sample of office workers (n=33) from two separate office environments in order to demonstrate the relevance and explanatory power of the technique.

A review of occupational physical activity and sedentary behaviour correlates

BACKGROUND Physical activity reduces the risk of morbidity and high sedentary time may be associated with negative health outcomes. The workplace offers an arena to promote physical activity and reduce sedentary time, but existing workplace-based interventions have typically yielded small effects. AIMS To collate the literature on correlates of occupational physical activity and sedentary behaviour and to inform future novel approaches to workplace-based intervention or policy. METHODS Systematic literature searches were conducted in December 2014 using multiple databases. Identified papers were screened against an inclusion criterion. Papers were deemed eligible for this review if they included occupational physical activity and sedentary behaviour as an outcome, were quantitative observational studies and included an adult working population. Identified correlates of occupational physical activity and sedentary behaviour were organized into levels of the socioecological model. RESULTS Forty studies met the inclusion criterion. A higher number of studies included only occupational physical activity, not sedentary time, as an outcome and were carried out in the USA and Australia. The review identified that white-collar workers are at greater risk of low occupational physical activity and high sedentary time. The majority of correlates found to be associated with occupational physical activity and sedentary time were intrapersonal and non-modifiable. CONCLUSIONS Intervention efforts to increase occupational physical activity and reduce sedentary time may be most effective when targeted at white-collar workers. Research is needed to identify additional modifiable correlates of occupational physical activity and sedentary behaviour, in white-collar workers.

A review of evidence linking ventilation rates in dwellings and respiratory health: a focus on house dust mites and mould

Abstract This paper reviews the literature for evidence of links between ventilation rates in dwellings and moisture related respiratory health with a particular focus on house dust mites (HDM) and fungal growth. There is general consensus that a link exists between ventilation rates in dwellings and respiratory hazards (for example HDM). There is also general consensus of a link between these respiratory hazards and respiratory problems, but it is not clear to what extent hazards cause ill–health. Most existing data are inadequate for conclusions to be drawn whether ventilation rates directly cause respiratory problems. We discuss the many difficulties in attempting to establish these relationships, and suggest the need for larger studies.

Reproduction and Development of Laboratory and Wild House Dust Mites (Acari: Pyroglyphidae) and Their Relationship to the Natural Dust Ecosystem

Abstract Life histories of “wild” house dust mites, Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Trouessart) (Acari: Pyroglyphidae), were compared with laboratory cultures by using a diet consisting of skin and dust or a laboratory diet consisting of dried liver and yeast. Under constant conditions of 25°C and 75% RH, fecundity and rate of reproduction were higher in laboratory cultures on both diets compared with wild mites. There were also trends for a shorter prereproductive period and more rapid egg development of laboratory mites compared with wild mites. Overall, there was little effect of diet on either strain of mites at 75% RH. At low RH (64%), fecundity was significantly lower (for both strains on both diets), and there were also trends for longer prereproductive period, reduced rate of reproduction, reduced adult survival, prolonged egg and juvenile development, or a combination compared with 75% RH. Additionally egg and juvenile mortality were significantly higher on the liver and yeast diet. Overall, the skin and dust diet favored both strains of mites at 64% RH. On the liver and yeast diet at 64% RH, wild mite adults performed significantly better than laboratory mites, and egg mortality was lower. These results suggest that laboratory mites have stronger reproduction and development than wild mites, except when under environmental stress and that diet is a significant factor, particularly in suboptimal conditions. This could have important implications for predictive models of house dust mite populations in their natural habitat. Ideally, such models should be developed using data from wild dust mite populations reared on a natural diet.

Behaviour change potential for energy saving in non-domestic buildings: Development and pilot-testing of a benchmarking tool

Due to recent studies and government policies, designers and facilities managers are becoming increasingly aware of the role of occupant behaviour in energy conservation in buildings. While the use of post-occupancy surveys and benchmark tools is widespread in the built environment, there is limited research on assessing environmental and energy saving behaviours – particularly in non-domestic buildings. This article focuses on the development and pilot-testing of a novel benchmarking tool for the assessment of behaviour change potential for energy saving in the workplace, with findings from an industrial case study comprising a manufacturing and office environment. Beyond the findings of the case study, the article aims to provide a methodological framework for an easy-to-use benchmarking tool of user-behaviour within the context of energy saving in factories and offices. Practical Implications: This article discusses the development and pilot-testing of a novel questionnaire-based benchmarking tool for the assessment of behaviour change potential for energy saving in office and industrial settings. Its application to a case-study from the manufacturing sector demonstrates that the tool is easy to use, and it provides valuable insights on areas for improvement in energy use within non-domestic buildings, with a focus on user behaviour and management approaches. The tool can be used in applied research, for example in intervention studies for comparison within the same organisation (before and after), and/or for benchmarking against the performance of similar organisations.

Application of a transient hygrothermal population model for house dust mites in beds: assessment of control strategies in UK buildings

This article discusses the capabilities and the application of an innovative combined hygrothermal and population model to assess the impact of building design and occupant behaviour on house dust mite populations in a mattress. The combined model is the first of its kind able to predict the impact of hourly transient hygrothermal conditions within a 3-dimensional mattress on a population of ‘wild’ Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus mites. The modelling shows that the current drive for energy efficiency in buildings might lead to an increase in house dust mite infestations in UK dwellings. Further research is needed to accurately determine the size of these effects and to adequately evaluate any trade-offs between energy efficiency measures and health outcomes.

Sitting less, moving more: the indoor built environment as a tool for change

The health risks of physical inactivity are widely understood as evidence has accumulated, particularly in the medical, public health, sport and exercise science disciplines. Physical inactivity is estimated to cause more than 5 million premature deaths annually across the globe – 9% of all deaths – mainly from coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, Type 2 diabetes, cancer, depression and falling, making it a health hazard similar to that of smoking and obesity (Lee et al., 2012). Sedentary behaviour, particularly prolonged periods of sitting, has been found to be a health hazard independent of physical inactivity (e.g. Parry & Straker, 2013). ‘Sitting less and moving more’ summarizes guidance that has been emerging from organizations focused on public health such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (2008), the World Health Organisation (WHO) (2010), and Public Health England, via Buckley et al. (2015). Campaigns and pressure groups have been forged, e.g. ‘Get Britain Standing’ and ‘Stand Up Victoria’ (Australia). Media reports headlined ‘sitting is the new smoking’, or similar, now appear with increasing regularity.

Low-carbon buildings, health and wellbeing: Current perspectives and critical challenges

This Special Issue of Indoor and Built Environment addresses health and wellbeing within the context of the current drive for ‘low-carbon’ buildings – where the term ‘low-carbon’ is used here to include zero or nearly zero carbon/energy approaches. Papers are mainly from invited authors, and a few are extended versions drawn from a relevant Conference of the UK Indoor Environments Group (UKIEG) held in June 2013. All papers were subject to the journal’s peerreview process from authoritative independent experts. Whilst the focus is primarily on the United Kingdom and Europe, and especially on heating-dominated countries, many lessons/issues are also broadly applicable to other climates and regions. This introductory Editorial provides a background overview of the topic, discusses key themes emerging from the papers and argues that the lack in joined-up thinking in the climate change and health policy agendas requires researchers to urgently address one of the main challenges in this field – namely how to ‘sell’ the importance and value of addressing complexity and uncertainty. The intrinsically complex nature of the relationship between health/wellbeing and low-carbon buildings has been discussed for some time in various contexts. Various communities have debated the matter, including the UK Indoor Environments Group (UKIEG), a multidisciplinary network of academic, policy makers and industry concerned with the quality of indoor environments – especially from a health and wellbeing perspective. UKIEG members – some of whom are authors of papers in this Special Issue and have presented at our Conferences – have debated the topic(s) of this Special Issue several times since the UKIEG’s foundation in 2003. These debates have often been accompanied by a great deal of frustration amongst concerns of: (1) a disconnect between the health and the energy/carbon policies; (2) a lack of suitable evidence that current trajectories for low-carbon buildings are sufficiently robust and will provide ‘healthy’ indoor environments (or at least as healthy as current environments). Thus, this Special Issue is timely, not only as a formal contribution to those debates occurring within the UKIEG and other similar groups worldwide, but also because the implementation of the low-carbon buildings agenda is gaining momentum in several countries, both for new builds and retrofits. This means that the question of whether low-carbon buildings are more/ less conducive to health and wellbeing must be addressed urgently. Also, in the past couple of years the first mainstream low-carbon buildings (as opposed to isolated prototypes) have been constructed and inhabited, representing a fantastic opportunity to study the issue in situ. Buildings are responsible for more than 40% of global energy use and one-third of global greenhouse gas emissions both in developed and developing countries. Furthermore, the Building Sector has a large potential for delivering long-term, significant and cost-effective greenhouse gas emission reductions. Consequently, most developed countries and many developing countries have already taken steps to address emissions from the Building Sector, mainly in the form of legislation dictating minimum carbon/ energy standards – especially (but not solely) for new buildings and major renovations. For example, the European Union (EU) ‘Energy Performance of Buildings Directive’ was first published in 2002 (Directive 2002/91/EC), requiring all EU countries to enhance their building regulations and to introduce energy certification schemes for buildings, as well as inspections of boilers and air-conditioners. A further version of the Directive published in 2010 (Directive 2010/31/EU) also included, amongst other things, a move towards new and retrofitted nearly zero energy buildings. As highlighted by several authors in this Issue, the drive for new low-carbon design paradigms