Low-Cost Residential Air Quality Device using Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation (UVGI) light

Many New Zealand residential dwellings suffer from dampness and fungi during the winter, which can cause respiratory health problems. This can be due to poor insulation and ventilation, and the situation worsens when residents cannot afford to heat the dwelling. The main aim of this paper is to modify an existing dehumidifier so that it can remove moisture, heat the living space and reduce fungi growth and bacteria. To achieve that, we installed ultraviolet germicidal lights (UVGI) in an existing dehumidifier with a total cost of NZD 213.76. The UVGI lights are known to be efficient in destroying the DNA of fungi and bacteria. The results show that the device reduced the fungi growth and did increase the room temperature because the dehumidifier captured two litres of water over 24 hours of testing. Therefore, our proposed low-cost device does improve the indoor air quality (IAQ) in the living space.
The design files for the modified dehumidifier will be included here.

新西兰许多住宅冬季易出现潮湿及霉菌滋生问题，此类问题可能引发呼吸道健康疾患。该问题根源在于保温措施不足与通风状况不佳，若住户无力负担住宅供暖费用，则情况会进一步加剧。本研究的核心目标是对现有除湿机进行改造，使其兼具除湿、提升居住空间温度、抑制霉菌滋生与杀灭细菌的多重功能。为达成该目标，我们在一台现有除湿机中加装了紫外线杀菌灯（ultraviolet germicidal lights, UVGI），总成本达213.76新西兰元。紫外线杀菌灯可有效破坏霉菌与细菌的DNA结构，该杀菌机制已得到学界广泛认可。测试结果显示，该改造设备成功抑制了霉菌滋生，同时提升了室内温度：在24小时的测试周期内，除湿机共收集了2升冷凝水。综上，我们提出的低成本改造设备可有效改善居住空间的室内空气质量（indoor air quality, IAQ）。
本改造除湿机的设计文件将随本文一同发布。