Influence of Natural Ventilation on Indoor Air Quality in a Single-Family Dwelling in the Northwest Area of Madrid

Authors

  • Melany Isabel Pinilla-Hernandez

    Architecture and Design Department, Escuela Politécnica Superior, Universidad CEU San Pablo, Montepríncipe Campus, 28668 Boadilla del Monte, Spain
  • Sofia Melero-Tur

    Architecture and Design Department, Escuela Politécnica Superior, Universidad CEU San Pablo, Montepríncipe Campus, 28668 Boadilla del Monte, Spain
  • Tamar Awad Parada

    Departamento de Ideación Gráfica Arquitectónica, Escuela Técnica Superior de Arquitectura de Madrid, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
  • Roberto Alonso Gonzalez-Lezcano

    Architecture and Design Department, Escuela Politécnica Superior, Universidad CEU San Pablo, Montepríncipe Campus, 28668 Boadilla del Monte, Spain

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.30564/re.v8i3.12506
Received: 20 October 2025 | Revised: 21 January 2026 | Accepted: 29 January 2026 | Published Online: 27 April 2026

Abstract

Indoor air quality (IAQ) is a fundamental characteristic of eco-friendly buildings and sustainable environments, significantly impacting the well-being and behavior of occupants. Even in low-occupancy residences, maintaining good IAQ is essential for health and comfort. Buildings must meet both regulatory standards and occupant satisfaction to ensure a healthy indoor environment. Regardless of external conditions, people are constantly exposed to their surroundings, making air quality management a critical challenge. This study evaluates the impact of natural ventilation on IAQ in a single-family home in northwest Madrid through continuous monitoring of particle concentrations and CO2 levels. The results reveal that daily indoor activities—particularly cooking, cleaning, and evening occupancy—significantly influence pollutant levels. Cleaning processes release particles ranging from 1 µm to 10 µm, while midday cooking generates notable emissions from stoves and ovens. CO2 concentrations regularly exceed 1000 ppm at night in bedrooms with poor ventilation, whereas the living room maintains levels close to outdoor air due to consistent daily ventilation practices of approximately 3 h typically below 600 ppm. The monitoring also showed that volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are heavily influenced by furnishings, pets, tobacco, airflow patterns, temperature and humidity, among other factors with greater variability than CO2. Based on these findings, the study provides targeted recommendations to optimize natural ventilation, emphasizing schedule-based airing routines and material considerations for furnishings. These insights will be valuable to homeowners, architects, engineers, and public health professionals seeking sustainable, health-focused indoor environments. By enhancing IAQ through passive strategies, this study advances occupant well-being and environmental sustainability.

Keywords:

Environment; Energy Conservation; Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ); Natural Ventilation; Carbon Dioxide and Volatile Organic Compounds

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How to Cite

Pinilla-Hernandez, M. I., Melero-Tur, S., Awad Parada, T., & Gonzalez-Lezcano, R. A. (2026). Influence of Natural Ventilation on Indoor Air Quality in a Single-Family Dwelling in the Northwest Area of Madrid. Research in Ecology, 8(3), 1–19. https://doi.org/10.30564/re.v8i3.12506

Issue

Vol.8, Iss.3 (June 2026)(in progress)

Article Type

Article

License

Copyright © 2026 Melany Isabel Pinilla-Hernandez, Sofia Melero-Tur, Tamar Awad Parada, Roberto Alonso Gonzalez-Lezcano

Creative Commons License

This is an open access article under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0) License.

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