Healthy Communities:
Germicidal UV Light Research: Improving Occupant Health
New York, NY June 2020 - Present
Light fixtures already exist in every room. What if they could keep us healthy and safe?
Before the pandemic, indoor spaces were not typically seen as a threat to our health, but the necessity for clean air in shared public spaces is now more evident than ever. This research project explores the application of UV-C and its germicidal properties, particularly for the treatment of upper-room air, in order to re-occupy shared spaces safely. The goal is to generate the most effective means of integrating this technology with architectural lighting in a sustainable, safe, non-intrusive, and affordable way. At HML, we aspire to make spaces healthier and safe for occupants, on our own campus, in affordable housing, and beyond.
Parsons’ MFA Lighting Design and Healthy Materials Lab Innovate for COVID-Safety
The current pressure to create safer environments that reduce viral transmission is accelerating.
Sales of aerosol disinfectant sprays have increased by 385% and hand sanitizer by 600% since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic (Nielsen, March 2020). UVGI disinfection can be a safer, healthier alternative to harmful solvents and aerosol disinfectants.
Ultraviolet light can be used to reduce the spread of airborne viruses and bacteria in indoor environments, specifically UV-C. We have been researching how this technology can utilize existing light fixtures in schools and other public spaces like the hallways of public housing developments. Many commonly used disinfectants include antimicrobials which are chemicals that are associated with developmental, hormonal, and reproductive problems. Ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) could be a healthier option.
UVGI uses specific wavelengths in the UV-C range to inactivate viruses and bacteria. Healthcare facilities often use UVGI to sanitize both air and surfaces. At the onset of the pandemic, we began wondering how this technology could be used in a wider variety of spaces, including our own school. After months of extensive, cross-disciplinary research, MFA Lighting Design Director and Professor, Craig Bernecker is testing light fixtures to determine the feasibility and safety of using them on The New School campus.
Accidental exposure to specific wavelengths of ultraviolet light can cause eye and skin irritations. By orienting the fixtures towards the ceiling and carefully designing the controls, UV-C can safely reduce viral transmission. As people occupy the room, thermal plumes from body heat and/or air flow from ventilation devices such as fans or an open window, will carry exhaled air upwards to the fixtures, where it will be treated by exposure to germicidal uv. Then the disinfected air can safely return to the lower, occupied portion of the room.
Neighborhoods with the highest rates of COVID-19 cases also have some of the highest number of service workers, rent-burdened households, and people of color. How can retrofitting light fixtures typically found in public spaces and housing drastically improve the air quality and reduce risk for residents?
The integration of UVGI technology with architectural lighting sparks interest in what this could mean beyond our own institution’s walls. Could this be a safe and simple way to keep the air clean in other densely occupied spaces such as community spaces? Could it be a feasible option for affordable housing?
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