Ventilation determines the indoor air quality and has a profound effect on the energy consumption and thermal (summer) comfort of buildings. Simulation of natural ventilation leads to the prediction and evaluation of these performances.Coupling ventilation network and thermal simulation models is necessary to simulate natural ventilation as the mass and energy balance are physically linked in a naturally ventilated building. Several ways of coupling exist, each having its own possibilities and difficulties.
With environmental issues (such as high energy costs for air-conditioning and related C02 emissions and global warming) in mind, designers are increasingly considering natural ventilation as the primary design option. Naturally ventilated office buildings can typically consume less than half the delivered energy consumed in air-conditioned buildings representing cost-effective energy savings of the order of 20-30%.
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