Page 11 - New England Condominium September 2020

NEWENGLANDCONDO.COM NEW ENGLAND CONDOMINIUM -SEPTEMBER 2020 11 important to anticipate—and hopefully mitigate—the potential impacts of in- evitable severe weather events. Condo, HOA, and co-op boards should also look at the site where their building is located, and create a landscaping plan that pro- motes healthy vegetation, soil, and drain- age ecosystems, which are meaningful for any residence in a flood zone. Consistent and regular upkeep of maintenance is an- other critical component of resilience. The fact is, our world is changing— and a dynamic real estate industry is responding to that change. “Resilience planning is about adaptation and miti- gation in the era of climate change,” says Tarafdar. “Residents want to know that repairs and improvements are making their homes safer and contribute to en- vironmental restoration and repair. The idea of a building being a vehicle for heal- ing is where the future of green building is heading. At USGBC, we call this vision LEED Positive, and it’s guiding the future development of LEED. A building that is safe and functional in a changing climate will be more valuable.” n A J Sidransky is a staff writer/reporter for New England Condominium, and is a pub- lished novelist. coronavirus’s spread among members of a vocal choir in Washington state, through an apartment building in Hong Kong, and in a restaurant in Wuhan, China. Drawing on what we know about how tuberculosis—another deadly airborne disease—is spread, Dr. Edward Nardel, an infectious disease expert affiliated with Harvard University, suggested re- cently in an interview for The Harvard Gazette that air conditioning use across the southern U.S. may well be a factor in that region’s recent surging COVID-19 cases. But while expert consensus is that HVAC equipment does have the capacity to spread the virus, questions of what ex- actly to do about that remain. What pre- cautions can we take to protect ourselves? been used for decades to sterilize the air factor for all air quality questions is venti- One facts-based option to make air of tuberculosis bacteria—could be used lation—how air moves around the build- conditioning systems safer is to use high- efficiency filters to essentially strain dan- gerous contaminants out of the air before through testing, ultraviolet light does depends on the type of building, as well as they get to anyone’s lungs. Peter Cata- pano, a mechanical engineer with O & S he says. But unfortunately, “\[o\]ne of the are generally ventilated by windows and Associates, a national engineering firm hazards of UV is that it’s also detrimental courtyards, for example, while post-war based in Hackensack, New Jersey, says the to humans. It causes skin cancer, and can high-rise buildings benefit from advances answer lies in high-efficiency particulate cause blindness, and it also causes plas- air (HEPA) filters, an existing technology tic substances to deteriorate. However, it’s chanical ventilation systems within the currently used in all kinds of medical fa- cilities to filter out many bacterial, fungal, erly applied for a specific period of time, and viral particles. HEPA technology is beneficial in both common areas and private apart- ment settings where HVAC systems are “UV has been widely used in healthcare active—basically anywhere a large filtra- tion system uses ducts to move air from and-true technology, but there is a debate place to place. As to individual window or as to whether or not anyone should be through-wall air conditioning units, there exposed to that light—whether the build- doesn’t appear to be any consensus at this ing has to be empty or not \[during treat- time on how—or even whether—they ment\]. So, running it at night in common help spread COVID-19. That said, com- mon sense would indicate that if a person answer to this question, but I would say or persons were carrying the virus, and absolutely that it’s a viable technology to were congregated in an enclosed room consider when seeking to kill the virus on cooled by an individual unit, the circulat- ing air currents could potentially propel viral bodies around the space, making it more likely that someone would inhale for COVID-19 are of course foremost in them and themselves become infected. UV vs. COVID Nardel also suggests in the same article the quality of air and ventilation in your that ultraviolet (UV) lights—which have building. In the end, the most important against the coronavirus. Catapano agrees, ing. To a great extent, the analysis and re- but with some caveats. “Scientifically, and mediation required for proper ventilation kill the virus if properly administered,” its age, size, and design. Prewar buildings been tested and documented that if prop- it will destroy the virus.” William T. Payne, a mechanical engi- neer also with O & S Associates, adds that and hospitals for a long time. It’s a tried- areas when no one is around could be an surfaces.” Considerations Beyond COVID While technologies and treatments everyone’s mind these days, there’s much more to be considered when evaluating in technology that usually include me- building core. According to Payne, “Prewar and low- SECURING... continued from page 1 continued on page 12 directory.newenglandcondo.com Your one source for all the businesses and services essential to your condo and HOA NEW ENGLAND CONDOMINIUM DIRECTORY OF BUILDING SERVICES Search by location: Search Enter Category or Company and Location Above Add Your Business Search By Category 13.95 9.648 6.669 4.503 4.301 9.775