Sacred spaces : a data-driven study of indoor environment quality, energy efficiency, and management practices in Sri Lankarama Temple, Otahuhu, New Zealand : a research report presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Construction (Research) in Construction Project Management, School of Built Environment, Massey University, New Zealand
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2025
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Massey University
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Abstract
Temples, such as Sri Lankarama Temple, situated at Otahuhu, New Zealand, are important for their cultural, spiritual, architectural, and communal significance. They act as hubs for cultural preservation, education, meditation, and social interaction. Because poor air quality can cause discomfort, decreased cognitive function, respiratory problems, and long-term degradation of temple materials, it is imperative that temples maintain a clean, stable, and healthy indoor environment. A careful and context-sensitive approach is needed to strike a balance between IEQ and energy efficiency. While minimizing energy use is essential, through avoiding excessive use of fans, air conditioning, and artificial lighting, inadequate ventilation and humidity control can result in poor IEQ while will negatively impact the building and it occupants. The aim of the study is to analyse the relationship between indoor Environment quality (IEQ), energy consumption, and building management practices across different spaces, identifying key inefficiencies and proposing data-driven strategies to optimise both occupant health and energy efficiency. As religious buildings are often overlooked in environmental and energy studies, this research aims to fill a critical gap by providing a data-driven analysis of how indoor conditions, energy usage, and operational practices interact in such settings. The temple comprises a range of diverse spaces, including prayer rooms, meditation halls, a kitchen, a library, and communal areas, each with different occupancy patterns and functional demands. The study was guided by five key objectives: to assess the compliance of IEQ with recommended international thresholds for temperature, humidity, and carbon dioxide, to Compare IEQ performance across different rooms within the temple, to analyse energy building consumption and the contribution of IEQ appliances, to investigating current practices influences the temple’s energy efficiency and IEQ, recommend strategies to enhance IEQ while maintaining efficiency through synthesis of qualitative and quantitative data. A mixed-methods approach was used to accomplish these goals. Using Internet of Things (IoT)-based sensors (EnviroQ), environmental data was gathered continuously for 30 days during Aril 2025, measuring CO₂, temperature, and relative humidity in six indoor spaces using 8 sensors. As a result, more than 15,000 data points were obtained and subjected to statistical and descriptive analysis. An overview of the appliances in each room and the temple's monthly electricity bills were used to estimate energy consumption. The building manager was also interviewed in a semi-structured manner to evaluate the temple's maintenance procedures, equipment usage, and air circulation. The findings demonstrated that the temple's overall IEQ performance, recorded 70.88% of temperature readings falling within the comfortable 20–24°C range, the temperature levels were relatively well-controlled. Additionally, areas such as the kitchen and meditation hall showed improved thermal consistency. On the other hand, humidity was a consistent problem in almost every area, with over 96% of recorded values surpassing the suggested upper limit of 60%. The open living room, kitchen, and prayer rooms were especially troublesome because of the high moisture content. With regards to CO2 level, more than 90% of readings falling within acceptable range (below 1000 ppm). Prayer Room 2 showed alarming results, with over 54% of CO₂ readings above the above the acceptable threshold, suggesting insufficient ventilation during periods of high occupancy. It was specially the case during certain occasional and cultural activities. On the other hand, open living room and library maintained excellent air quality with regards to CO2 level due to natural ventilation. High energy consumption did not always translate into better IEQ, according to energy analysis. Even though they consumed the most electricity, the kitchen, prayer rooms, and meditation halls continued to have high humidity and occasionally poor air quality. Conversely, low-energy areas like the library demonstrated strong IEQ results, indicating that well-planned, passively ventilated areas can sustain comfort levels without consuming a lot of energy. The majority of management practices were found to be reactive. The main source of ventilation was natural; mechanical systems were only employed for special occasions. Decisions were typically made based on observation rather than data, and there were no real-time monitoring systems in place. Building operators, who are mostly volunteers lacked environmental control and energy efficiency training, and there were no specific rules in place to control the use of, HVAC, lights, or other equipment in different rooms. The results led to specific room-specific recommendations, such as adding CO₂-triggered ventilation systems in high-occupancy rooms, installing dehumidifiers in high-humidity areas, upgrading to energy-efficient appliances, and putting smart controls and thermal curtains into place. To promote responsive, data-driven environmental management, it was also suggested that volunteers receive basic training and a real-time IEQ dashboard. The study makes significant contributions in spite of these limitations. It illustrates the importance of implementing energy audits, qualitative interviews, and quantitative sensor data to create a comprehensive picture of building performance. It also shows how modern environmental monitoring and energy optimisation techniques can greatly benefit sacred spaces, even though they are traditionally run. By implementing these suggestions, Sri Lankarama Temple could enhancing occupants/visitors comfort, safeguarding health, while cutting down on energy waste. By doing so, it can become a model for sustainable architecture of spiritual spaces, contributing to preservation of its cultural and spiritual mission. The impact and applicability of this approach will be expanded through future research that includes integrated energy and IEQ metering, long-term monitoring, and comparative studies across multiple heritage sites.