The research was intended to discover which species of mould occurred, whether there were different species on the same spot or whether one species was dominant, whether the species were different from one dwelling to another or whether the same species occurred in all the houses, and whether there were differences according to the furnishing materials used or the presence of fat, for example on kitchen walls.
The average UK household spends about +500 per year on heating, lighting and power for domestic appliances but there is a huge variation between individual household expenditures. Field trials, in which the energy use in occupied dwellings is measured, show that the physical characteristics of the dwelling and the lifestyles of the occupants are about equally important in determining energy consumption. It is clear, therefore, that realistic estimates of domestic energy consumption can only be made if both these factors are considered together.
The article in last month's issue of "Energy Management" gave a brief overview of the Energy Efficiency Office's programme of demonstrations in the housing sector, as managed by BRE the Building Research Establishment. In the case of new housing, these are showing the benefits of integrating packages of energy efficiency measures into the designs of range of dwelling types.
The report gives the first results of the measurement campaign of 1986-1987. The 'Lindeman' housing estate was built by the coal mine of Zolder for its miners shortly after the 2nd World War (1947-1948). The estate consists of about 230 dwellings and accommodates 272 households. The majority of the population consists of immigrants, especially Turks and Italians, people who are used to another, hotter climate than the wet cold temperature climate in Belgium. The rented houses were refitted in 1981.
The study presented has resulted in a simplified procedure for obtaining an overview and a comprehensive picture of the analysis of energy turnover in single family houses, with special consideration given to random and time dependent variations. This procedure is particularly suitable for use in thesolution of sub problems such as the heat storage capacity of various structures and its influence on the energy supply required for the heating system. Harmonic analysis makes it possible to study problems of non-steady heat with arbitrary periods.
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