Nikhil is currently a PMRF Research Fellow in Architecture Department at National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirappalli. By profession, he is an architect with a masters in energy-efficient and sustainable design. His research interests are focused on thermal comfort, energy-efficient and sustainable built environment. Nikhil loves travelling and photography in addition to research and academics.

Analyzing Indoor Environment of Classrooms in India

With a building stock of 15 lakh schools and 800 universities in India, there is ever increasing demand for good classroom environmental quality. Since Students spend a considerable amount of time in formal learning settings such as classrooms and labs in higher education institutions (HEIs), therefore, it is required to maintain a healthy indoor environment in the classroom is required to improve their alertness and productivity. Many schools in India are situated in congested areas exposed to unwanted noise, pollution mostly in poorly designed buildings where Thermal, Acoustic, and Indoor air quality are significant impediments to the learning and teaching process. The problem is complex in naturally ventilated classrooms where it is impossible to exercise control over Thermal comfort conditions, external noise, and internal noise. In order to understand the issue and to provide a possible solution, the aim of the project is to examine the effect of the thermal and acoustic environment on comfort in lecture halls in warm and humid climate region in India.

Our research group mainly focuses on thermal comfort and energy efficiency.