ventilation

Workers sitting at computer screens in an open plan office

When it comes to reducing the spread of COVID, ventilation is often an afterthought. But cleaner air needs to be front and centre of our COVID mitigation strategy. Here’s why.

two masked people walk in a night market

For starters, we need to start thinking of fully vaccinated as three doses, not two. But vaccines alone won’t be enough.

People gather for picnics near Sydney Opera House

There are five groups in our community who are vulnerable under our current reopening plan. Here are the things we should do to help protect them.

an air purifier in a classroom with children in the background

$50 million could provide all NSW school classrooms with air purifiers with HEPA filters. This pales compared to the roughly $220 million-a-day cost of Sydney’s lockdown.

health worker with mask and gloves

Health workers have long called for better protections against COVID-19. Well fitting masks are now required when caring for COVID-19 patients. But the guidelines on ventilation miss the mark.

school kids learning in a classroom

Australian schools need better ventilation to improve student health and productivity, says new UNSW research.

Open window

Open windows and doors, use fans, and set your aircon to pull fresh air from outside.

bushfire

Air purifiers with a HEPA filter are an expensive option. Plugging ventilation holes in walls helps, but there are also dangers.

Opal Tower

From Opal Tower to Sculpture by the Sea, we look back on the top UNSW Built Environment stories in 2019.

Schools need ventilation for better health and student learning

Australian classrooms are recording high levels of carbon dioxide and other pollutants, says Built Environment Professor Mat Santamouris.