In this study, we examined odor components in smoking rooms for use in determining an evaluation index for the odor. We measured the concentrations of substances with specified offensive odor, concentration of acetic acid,odor intensity, hedonic, and odor concentration in smoking rooms with a smoke separating equipment and a ventilation fan.

The results are as follows:

(1) Odor evaluation after a certain period of non-smoking by smoker panels showed an odor concentration of 32 and an odor intensity of about 2.5. This value is equal to or higher than the cognitive threshold value.

(2) Acetaldehyde concentration could be used as the index of sensory evaluation in the period of smoking, but not during the period of non-smoking.

(3) The n-valeraldehyde concentration could be measured in correspondence with the odor sensory evaluation during the periods of both smoking and non-smoking. Therefore, it was suggested that n-valeraldehyde be used as an evaluation index for the odor in smoking rooms, because it can also be measured during the period of non-smoking.

This study investigated a sound masking effect on mental performance with conversation noise. The subjects were ten healthy young females. They did two mental tasks, typing task and subtraction task, under background noise condition first, and then, under different noise condition. The four noise conditions were recruited; background noise (BN),conversation noise (CN), CN + pink noise (PN), and CN + sound masking noise (SM). Correct numbers of typing task and subtraction task were significantly decreased under CN condition, whereas there were no significant decrements of the performance under other conditions. Subjective comfort on SM condition was higher than on CN condition. The present findings suggest that sound masking noise can prevent negative effect of conversation noise on mental performance and subjective comfort.

A questionnaire survey was conducted among citizens of Beijing and Shanghai in the metropolitan area of China in order to comprehend the presence and use of indoor plants and the environment of the house, as well as analyze the evaluation relationship between the setters and the non-setters for indoor plants. The setters are more able to actually feel the comfort and atmosphere be improved with the presence of indoors plants than the non-setters, and the evaluation level will be higher in the case of caring for indoor plants. At the same time, non-setters also expressed expectations for the effect of the settings. On the other hand, in the investigation for the setters, it was clarified that the sound environment and the adjacent green environment will affect the evaluation level of the indoor plants. For the houses with a high level of indoor comfort, atmosphere, and satisfaction, there is also a tendency to increase the number of types of plants, the number of rooms with indoor plants and the types of settings. We analyzed the results obtained and considered the methods of using indoor plants in the future.

　We conducted an Internet questionnaire survey that included information-providing videos to verify the psychological climate paradox in Japan and explore effective communication strategies. As a result, the following knowledge was obtained.

　First, many people perceive that the living environment and the economy will deteriorate as a result of measures, even though they have a sense of crisis in the climate change problem. Second, there is no specific image of a decarbonized society. In particular, it is rarely imagined as being linked to the improvement of the living environment, including the thermal environment, and the improvement of the local economy. Thirdly, this perception creates cognitive dissonance, which is likely to hinder the sense of crisis and sense of responsibility from leading to the support of a decarbonized society.

　In order to form a positive attitude toward a decarbonized society, it is important that the improvement of quality of life and the creation of a decarbonized society are recognized as continuous in the same direction through communication sharing the co-benefits of measures.

The influence of plants set in living room on environmental evaluation is surveyed under different sound conditions with and without uncomfortable noise. In survey result, the interaction between plant factor and sound factor is significant in the evaluation on the comfort of sound environment; plants can decrease the uncomfortableness brought by noise. In the evaluation on comprehensive comfort, visual comfort and annoyance, the main effect of sound factor has significant difference. Sound factor influence not only annoyance but also indoor comfort. The significant influence of plant factor on visual comfort is confirmed. The interaction between plants and sound has no significant difference in all items of impression evaluation on indoor space. However, main effect of plants has significant difference as for the three items “relaxing”, “satisfying” and “easy to be intimate with”. Therefore, it can be judged that indoor plants can make the space more relaxing, more satisfying and easier to be intimate with. In addition, as for the 8 items of evaluation on indoor impression except for “commodious”, the main effect of sound factor has significant difference. It can be seen that sound exerts intense influence on the impression on indoor space.