LAUSR

Abstract Many New Zealand residential homes suffer from poor indoor air quality (IAQ). Cold, damp and mould-ridden homes can cause severe respiratory health problems. Poor IAQ can arise due to inadequate insulation and ventilation and is compounded when dwellers cannot afford to heat their homes during colder months. Grandfathering of standards means many New Zealand houses have single glazed windows and insufficient or no wall insulation. These have become mandatory for newly built houses since 2016 under the New Zealand Standard NZS4246:2016 Energy Efficiency. This paper aims to present the results of modified ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) lights-dehumidifier coupled with two different types of filters (carbon-fibre or polyester). The modified devices were designed to improve ambient air temperature by removing moisture, particulate matter and reducing mould and bacteria growth in a room. Seven different scenarios were investigated, which include combinations of UV light and filtration. The results showed that the UVGI was superior to filtration only; however, the polyester filter with UV lights (PFUV) was the most effective configuration. The PFUV effectively impeded the mould growth, with a 13.3% reduction in relative humidity and a 4.1 °C increase in the room temperature in the absence of a heating source. The results showed good potential for improving the IAQ of buildings.