EPISODE · Oct 27, 2025 · 1H 29M
#95 - Chandra Sekhar: From Singapore to Ireland: How Different Climates Shape Our Approach
from Air Quality Matters · host Simon Jones
When Worlds Collide: Tropical Wisdom Meets Temperate Challenges In this wide-ranging discussion, Chandra brings over 35 years of experience from Singapore's hot, humid environment to share insights that challenge conventional thinking about ventilation and comfort. As one of three pioneers who established Singapore's indoor air quality research unit in the early 1990s, his team's tagline – "energy efficient, healthy buildings" – has guided decades of innovation in tropical building design. The conversation reveals striking contrasts: while European buildings might operate at 21-23°C, Singapore's newest net-zero buildings maintain comfort at 26-27°C using elevated air speeds from ceiling fans. This isn't just about energy savings – it's a fundamental rethinking of how we achieve thermal comfort. As Chandra explains, tropically-acclimatized people actually prefer air movement, unlike those from colder climates who perceive it as draft. Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction: Meeting a Legend of Indoor Air Quality 00:02:08 Air Quality as a Human-Centered Challenge 00:23:17 Making the Invisible Visible: Sensors and Awareness 00:42:58 Hot and Humid Climates: Engineering Lessons from Singapore 00:52:50 Decoupling Ventilation from Cooling: A Revolutionary Approach 01:00:55 Net-Zero Buildings and Adaptive Comfort 01:12:25 Global Equity and Simple Solutions 01:23:30 Building Preparedness and Future Resilience Chandra Sekhar - LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/professor-chandra-sekhar-singapore/ The Air Quality Matters Podcast in Partnership with Zehnder Group - Farmwood - Eurovent- Aico - Aereco - Ultra Protect - The One Take Podcast in Partnership with SafeTraces and Inbiot Do check them out in the links and on the Air Quality Matters Website. If you haven't checked out the YouTube channel its here. Do subscribe if you can, lots more content is coming soon.
What this episode covers
When Worlds Collide: Tropical Wisdom Meets Temperate Challenges In this wide-ranging discussion, Chandra brings over 35 years of experience from Singapore's hot, humid environment to share insights that challenge conventional thinking about ventilation and comfort. As one of three pioneers who established Singapore's indoor air quality research unit in the early 1990s, his team's tagline – "energy efficient, healthy buildings" – has guided decades of innovation in tropical building design. The conversation reveals striking contrasts: while European buildings might operate at 21-23°C, Singapore's newest net-zero buildings maintain comfort at 26-27°C using elevated air speeds from ceiling fans. This isn't just about energy savings – it's a fundamental rethinking of how we achieve thermal comfort. As Chandra explains, tropically-acclimatized people actually prefer air movement, unlike those from colder climates who perceive it as draft. Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction: Meeting a Legend of Indoor Air Quality 00:02:08 Air Quality as a Human-Centered Challenge 00:23:17 Making the Invisible Visible: Sensors and Awareness 00:42:58 Hot and Humid Climates: Engineering Lessons from Singapore 00:52:50 Decoupling Ventilation from Cooling: A Revolutionary Approach 01:00:55 Net-Zero Buildings and Adaptive Comfort 01:12:25 Global Equity and Simple Solutions 01:23:30 Building Preparedness and Future Resilience Chandra Sekhar - LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/professor-chandra-sekhar-singapore/ The Air Quality Matters Podcast in Partnership with Zehnder Group - Farmwood - Eurovent- Aico - Aereco - Ultra Protect - The One Take Podcast in Partnership with SafeTraces and Inbiot Do check them out in the links and on the Air Quality Matters Website. If you haven't checked out the YouTube channel its here. Do subscribe if you can, lots more content is coming soon.
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#95 - Chandra Sekhar: From Singapore to Ireland: How Different Climates Shape Our Approach
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