There have been considerable efforts to estimate risks to health from the present level of indoor air quality. However, there has been comparatively little work to relate these calculated risks to other risks of energy use or conservation, or to determine how large these risks will be in the future. This paper finds that, on the basis of extrapolated trends, risk associated with changes in indoor air quality in the United States. The other two are associated with the expected change to smaller automobiles and the entire coal fuel cycle, from producing electricity to synthetic fuels.
Presents results obtained in field studies of control and test houses provided with low cost retrofit infiltration controls. There are significant estimates of average energy savings during both heating and cooling seasons. However, the 95% confidence intervals for the heating season span the origin and theprobability that savings were actually observed is less than 85% for the heating season. The probability that actual savings were measured during the cooling season is >95%.
Within the last ten years, energy shortages, economic pressures, and changes in indoor environmental requirements have resulted in buildings that are more energy efficient but less forgiving, environmentally. These results indicate that energ
Examines the behaviour of buildings with regard to ventilation and air leakage. Calculation of the air leakage of a building involves application of well known and accepted relationships concerning hydrodynamics and aerodynamics. Sets out some elementary cases in order to illustrate thecalculation procedure, and to show the way in which air leakage is dependent on the type of ventilation system in the building.
Describes a program which enables a hand-held computer to perform the energy audit calculations used in Building Practice Note No.20 "Estimating energy savings from reinsulating houses". The computer prompts the user for information, and provides a fast and versatile way of performing energy audit calculations.
Develops a model apartment building based upon existing surveys of such buildings and computer simulations carried out to determine the independent effects of climate and size on its energy consumption. The Meriwether Energy System Analysis program used has previously been calibrated by simulating four existing buildings of known energy consumption. From these results, develops data which enables a norm to be derived from the energy consumption of any high rise apartment building at any location in Canada.
Presents the analysis of the effect of energy saving retrofits installed in low-income housing under a nationwide weatherization demonstration program. Weatherization techniques included caulking and weatherstripping, insulation and modification or replacement of heating systems. Two years of pre-retrofit fuel consumption data were analyzed to predict energy usage if the house had not been retrofitted. Energy reduction due to retrofitting was calculated from this. The average saving in fuel consumption for retrofitted dwellings was 30%.
Presents the results of tests on the air leakage characteristics of a number of different energy conservation products applied to a double hung window. Gives air leakage characteristics under simulated in-situ conditions atvarious wind speeds for the different products. Results show that interior shutters perform best, followed by interior storm windows, a reflective shade, quilts and standard window shades. Within a group, products involving perimeter sealing give the best air leakage characteristics.
Assesses energy saving as a function of window air tightness, and transforms value into a corresponding U-value. Uses a single-cell infiltration model, and shows that using the U-value is a convenient way of comparing different energy saving methods. As an example, computes the U-value for the windows in a detached single-family house in an urban area and for Gothenburg weather conditions.
Reports on measurements carried out by energy consultants at a national test centre using thermography to determine any improvements in insulation and airtightness through the injection of mineral wool in Dormer houses. Measurements show results which are much better than expected. States costs and payback period of approx 6 years.