ventilation

Workers sitting at computer screens in an open plan office

Ventilation reduces the risk of COVID. So why are we still ignoring it?

02 Dec 2022

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

Will Australia follow Europe into a fourth COVID wave? Here's how to avoid it

23 Nov 2021

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

Relying on vaccination from December isn't enough. Here's what we need for freedom

30 Sep 2021

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

Air purifiers with HEPA filters in every classroom could help with COVID, bushfire smoke and asthma

19 Aug 2021

$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.

At last, health, aged care and quarantine workers get the right masks to protect against airborne coronavirus

18 Jun 2021

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.

Poor air quality in classrooms detrimental to kids' wellbeing and learning

14 Apr 2021

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

5 tips for ventilation to reduce COVID risk at home and work

15 Dec 2020

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

Our buildings aren't made to keep out bushfire smoke. Here's what you can do

09 Jan 2020

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

Year in review: the stories that shaped our cities

20 Dec 2019

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, not air-conditioning

27 Jun 2019

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