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China's confluence of exploding development and notorious air quality offers tremendous opportunity to improve indoor air quality. Capitalizing on the expected 38% of world construction in China over the next ten years, many firms now design for highly polluted cities. Only three of 74 cities monitored by the Chinese government met official minimum standards, which already exceed international standards. Cities around the world experience the same confluence, though often to a lesser extent. This paper presents two case studies that illustrate how additional air-improving costs have been successfully justified to building owners. Lessons learned from the operation of these systems contribute to the knowledgebase of demonstrated strategies that improve indoor air quality. A mixed-use tower in Wujiang, China provides operable windows to naturally ventilate a forty-two-story atrium when outdoor conditions allow. Although poor outdoor air quality may be expected to keep the windows closed, historical air quality data suggests otherwise. On-site measured outdoor air quality will be included as one of many control parameters that determine when natural ventilation can be used. Demonstrating the value of a natural ventilation system helped warrant additional monitoring and controls costs. An office tower in Guangzhou, China is similarly designed to address outdoor air quality. Its use of an internally ventilated double wall helps reduces infiltration to improve indoor air quality, while simultaneously reducing envelope loads and increasing comfort. Demonstrating the synergy offered by the double wall to not only improve air quality, but also enhance building performance contributed to its use. In both case studies, enhanced indoor air quality measures were justified by values and goals uniquely established by each client. Incorporating enhanced indoor air quality measures into a holistic design that caters to a particular client has compelled decision makers to approve increased costs.

Citation: ASHRAE Papers: 2015 ASHRAE Annual Conference, Atlanta, GA