Achieving low energy architecture from poor air quality in highland wooden houses at PM 2.5 content

Waste of energy is a global problem that is included in the field of architecture.Material selection is one of the factors that need to be considered in order to create an energy-efficient residential house.Residential houses with wooden walls are sustainable and energy efficient.Residents of wooden houses in the highlands use to heat their rooms.The use of fireplace creates smoke, which causes poor indoor air quality.The purpose of this research is to reveal the air quality in wooden houses and the achievement of energy efficient houses.The study used a quantitative method by measuring the PM 2.5 variable which is the indoor air quality variable.The research object is 39 wooden houses in the highlands.Measurements were carried out in four rooms, namely outdoor, terrace, living room and kitchen.Data analysis was performed using graphical methods and statistical tests.The results showed that the PM 2.5 content in wooden houses was relatively high and could affect the health of the occupants.Adjustment of residential elements can be a solution in overcoming poor air quality in wooden-walled residential houses that use traditional fireplaces.This research presents a novel approach by combining energy efficiency analysis with direct measurements of indoor air pollutants (PM 2.5) in traditional wooden houses, a topic that remains underexplored in existing architectural and environmental health research.