house

Reports measurements of air infiltration and leakage using tracer gas and the pressurization technique in a three bedroom townhouse having a gas-fired forced-air furnace system. The measurements were made in order to quantify the amount of infiltration due to various mechanisms.

The ventilation rate and energy consumption of one of the ECRC test houses was monitored continuously during one heating season, with one bedroom window open by various amounts. Results show that a very small window opening is sufficient to satisfy ventilation requirements most of the time. 

This is a practical handbook for constructing an energy efficient house. Describes energy conservation measures for the reduction of space heating in an average house on the Prairies. Describes conservation measures for a new house which include the improvement of air tightness, insulation, passive solar gainand insulation of window systems. Also describes refitting an older house, reducing energy used to heat water and reducing electricity consumption. Gives a short list of sources of information.

Briefly describes instrumentation and techniques for measuring concentrations of radon daughters in air. Reports measurements of radon daughter levels made in nine structures in Grand Junction, Colorado. Tailings from uranium mines had been used in their construction and measurements were made in the basement or first-floor of slab type structures. Gives results in the form of average concentration with standard deviation.

The wind pressures on a building can be decreased by a shelter hedge. Gives results of wind tunnel tests which show how this shelter effect depends on the distance between hedge and house, and on the wind direction.

Presents diagrams showing the behaviour of air currents in two passive solar houses. Suggests some straightforward means by which repetitive patterns of discrete currents can be engineered. An appendix briefly outlines the operation of a discrete current flat plate collector with a 65 - 75% normal winter efficiency.

Presents further measurements of wind pressures on models of the experimental Aylesbury house of the Building Research Establishment (U.K.). following a previous paper in which mean pressure coefficients only were compared, this stud compares fluctuating pressures as well. In these tests, the upwind hedges of the full scale site were modelled, but found to cause little difference to the velocity profiles and to the measured pressures.

Describes results of measurements of air leakage, surface pressures and air infiltration for several conventional and energy efficient houses located throughout the United States. The measurements are compared with predicted infiltration obtained from a simple model combining measured air leakage values and average surface pressures. It was found that within limits therewas reasonable agreement between measurements and predictions. Particular features of the energy efficient houses which reduce air leakage, and therefore air infiltration, are described.

Presents examples of the use of a generalized model of air infiltration, developed earlier, to estimate the air infiltration characteristics of two test homes using data for the structures, weather and furnace installation. One of these is a single-storey home with basement of wood- frame construction, equipped with an oil-fired central heating furnace.

Surveys published ventilation rates, primarily of single housing units. Finds helium is the most commonly used tracer gas and that average annual ventilation rate of most occupied houses is between O.5 and 1.5 air changes per. hour. Summarises important recommendations and gives bibliography of 230references.