Monitoring VOCs’ concentrations in a circular biobased residential building using low-cost sensors

Most current building materials are industrially processed, resulting in increased carbon emissions. Global annual carbon emissions due to construction materials reached its peak in 2013, 9.5 gigatons of CO2 were produced. Upcoming circular economies can have a positive impact on the environment since reusing materials can lower carbon emissions. This economy encourages the use of more innovative materials (e.g., textile insulation, cellulose insulation, hemp, and cork) and recycling old materials. However, there is a lack of knowledge in the literature on the effect these innovative and recyclable materials have on the indoor air quality (IAQ) and human health. Most studies have been conducted in a lab environment and there is a need to monitor IAQ in a real test case study under dynamic indoor and outdoor climatic conditions. The aim of this work was to establish a monitoring campaign of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in a circular biobased residential building in Belgium using new emerging low-cost VOCs sensors. Given their economic benefits, more sensors can be used covering a wider monitoring area compared to high-end sensors. Measurements were conducted for a trial of two weeks for a case of no ventilation and natural ventilation. Opening of the windows resulted in a large reduction in VOC concentrations, with several sensors measuring values underneath the most stringent threshold value of 300 μg/m³.