Bengaluru: Emphasising that homes should promote both human well-being and environmental sustainability, Bill McQuade, President of ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers), said that a home’s value goes beyond its physical structure when it ensures good indoor air quality, proper lighting, thermal comfort, acoustics, and access to safe drinking water.
He was speaking at the inauguration of a seminar titled “Pathways to Decarbonisation and Sustainability” organised by the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Nitte Meenakshi Institute of Technology in Bengaluru.
McQuade noted that sustainable technologies in the built environment play a crucial role in improving human health and protecting the planet. Experts, he said, recommend minimum ventilation standards and other measures to safeguard occupants from the adverse health effects of poor indoor environments. Improved ventilation is linked to lower respiratory illnesses, enhanced cognitive performance, and greater comfort in spaces such as offices, schools, hospitals, and homes worldwide.
Highlighting the seriousness of indoor air pollution, he said a 2019 study estimated that about 0.61 million deaths in India were attributable to household air pollution. By 2022, the number of deaths linked to indoor air pollution had risen to more than 1.7 million. Such pollution is associated with diseases including Ischemic heart disease, Stroke, and Lower respiratory infections, underscoring the need for urgent regulatory measures.
He also stressed the importance of natural daylight in homes, noting that it helps improve mood, regulate sleep cycles, and increase Vitamin D levels. Natural light also supports mental health, reduces stress, enhances productivity, and acts as a natural disinfectant.
Arun Doraisami, Associate Engineering Leader at Trane Technologies in Chennai, attended the programme as the Guest of Honor.
Among others present were Girish Sharma, Additional Secretary of the Department of Technical Education, Skill Development and Employment, Government of Madhya Pradesh; Rohit Punja, Trustee of Nitte Education Trust; H. C. Nagaraj, Principal of the institute; and Sandeep Shastri, Vice President of Nitte (Deemed to be University), Bengaluru Campus.
The seminar was coordinated by N. Kapilan, while N. Ramesh Babu, Convenor and Head of the Department of Mechanical Engineering, organised the event with participation from heads of sister institutions of Nitte Deemed to be University.
ನಿರಂತರ ಅಪ್ಡೇಟ್ಗಳಿಗಾಗಿ ಉಪಯುಕ್ತ ನ್ಯೂಸ್ ಟೆಲಿಗ್ರಾಂ ಚಾನೆಲ್ಗೆ ಜಾಯಿನ್ ಆಗಿ
ಉಪಯುಕ್ತ ನ್ಯೂಸ್’ ಫೇಸ್ಬುಕ್ ಪುಟ ಲೈಕ್ ಮಾಡಿ
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