Indoor Environmental Quality Project Description EH522, Fall 2010

Goals ‘Hands-on’ practical experience and knowledge of the problems associated with indoor environmental quality and health You are the “investigators” in this exercise –work in groups of 3/4 –responsible for investigating your assigned microenvironment Project divided up in four stages –strongly interdependent each stage builds on the previous stage

Timeline Sep 16: Meet with the manager(s) of your assigned microenvironments Sep 23: Stage 1; initial building walk-through –Oct 11, 9am: Stage 1 results to be submitted into course website DROPBOX Oct 14: Stage 2; occupant investigation/interviews, statement of hypotheses; study design –Oct 25, 9am: Stage 2 results to be submitted into DROPBOX Oct 28 & Nov 4: Jose Vallarino will train students on the use of IEQ instruments Nov 4: Stage 3; field measurements, investigation of hypotheses –Nov 22, 9am: Stage 3 results to be submitted into DROPBOX Nov 18: Stage 4; mitigation strategies, conclusions –Dec 6, 9am: Poster (pdf) to be submitted into DROPBOX Dec 8, 5pm: Please submit your presentation slides into the course website DROPBOX Dec 9: Group presentations –10-15mins each group, with 5mins discussion

Grading Stages 1 – 4: 8% each Group presentation: 8% TOTAL: 40% of final grade

Important Due to the sensitivity of IEQ matters, and the potential for legal ramifications –all people contacted (students, personnel, faculty and any other building occupants) must be clearly told that the investigation is strictly an academic exercise. reminded that you are not a professional, and therefore, any conclusions, data collected, etc… cannot legally be used to resolve any indoor environmental quality issue. Please also post on your final reports a disclaimer on the first page saying that –“neither the authors, the course instructors, nor the University assume responsibility if the contents of this report are used for any other purpose.” It is also your responsibility to explain to the interviewee that the contents of the interview will be kept confidential and that the interviewee has the right to refuse to answer any question and / or to terminate the interview at any time.

Microenvironments One week prior to each stage, please contact the facilities manager(s) of your assigned site, informing them of the time and date that you will be working in the area.

Microenvironments 1)Harvard School of Public Health, Kresge building, Sebastian’s Café Facilities Manager: Danny Beaudoin, General Manager: Lori Torf, tel: The Kresge building and café were constructed in , and the café underwent renovations during the summer of 2008 that included installation of new carpeting, furniture, wooden floor planks, ceiling tiles and lights. Your investigation will focus on the dining area, but not the kitchen or food service areas. The dining area is typically occupied by students, faculty, and staff of HSPH, who use it as a place to eat, study, meet, and hold special events. IMPORTANT Speak with Lori Torf at least one week prior to stage one, describing all stages, and let her know that you have permission from Danny Beaudoin. During stage 3 (field measures), place informative folded tents on each table in the dining area, stating something like “EH522 Class Project: Indoor Environmental Quality Assessment Under Way” At the end of your measurements, please make sure you remove these.

Microenvironments 2) Harvard University Graduate School of Design, Gund Hall Studio Trays Manager of Building Services: Kevin Cahill, The physical layout of the GSD's building, George Gund Hall, was designed to augment the studio culture. With each student provided with a carrel on one of the 5 levels of the open, terraced studio area (known as The Trays.) The studio area is itself a giant laboratory for all sorts of work that has an ever- increasing computing component. Please ensure that your walkthrough and field measures do not disrupt the work of occupants.

Assigned Sites HSPH Cafeteria –Raphael Arku –Kathleen Attfield –Jose Laurent –Phoebe Chang GSD Studio –Hanine Estephan –Devankush Saha –Christopher Zevitas –Timur Dogan

Any questions?