English

States that to be effective, insulation must be installed correctly. Studies have shown that even small imperfections in how insulation is installed will significantly reduce its performance. There are problems associated with the settlement of loose fill insulation, and batt insulation can also sag and create voids - especially if they are not the full depth of the wall, of if they are narrower than the framing space into which they are put. Insulation installers usually work on a piecework basis, so have an incentive to cut corners.

The Eden project consists of two massive 'biomes' situated at the bottom of a former clay pit in Cornwall, UK. They mimic a 'humid-tropic' and a 'warm-temperate' environment and each houses a wealth of plant life. The aim is to let plants grow naturally in a climate designed to mirror nature as closely as possible. A Horticultural Management System monitors temperature conditions and there is a separate humidity control system. There are 24 Moducel air handling units in the humid tropics biome.

Describes a new hospital whose wards will all be naturally ventilated. It is a highly serviced facility, with services accounting for 44% of the total construction cost of the building, but naturally ventilated wherever possible. The hospital is designed as a deep plan building of 38,000 sqm and is on three floors. To maximise natural ventilation, as many rooms as possible were placed on the perimeter of the building and this includes all of the wards.

Gives brief details of the Canadian Construction Materials Centre's recent evaluation of three new ridge vent products made of either three-dimensional polymeric matting or moulded plastic.

Gives brief details of three ventilation retrofits that showed good results. The case studies are selected from a group of ten carried out by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. In each case temperature, humidity, and carbon dioxide were measured to assess levels of ventilation within houses in their preretrofit condition. The measurement were taken over a 2-3 day period with normal occupancy. Short-term monitoring was also used to measure the change inventilation with the house operating in postretrofit condition.

This paper presents a Chinese approach to ventilation and air conditioning, which are important measures needed to improve the indoor air environment of a building. They are important because improper design of a system may degrade the indoor air environment rather than enhance it. This is a situation that might be called sick air conditioning. Also, in circumstances where the outside air is heavily polluted air treatment is necessary to avoid worsening the indoor environment.

The Hong Kong Environmental Protection Department has recently launched a set of guidance notes on indoor air quality (IAQ) management for offices and public places. An IAQ Certification Programme will be conducted on a self-regulatory basis that is intended to divide IAQ in mechanically ventilated buildings into three classes. Due to the large number of buildings in Hong Kong and the associated cost implications, a simplified, operationally feasible and scientifically sound assessment has been developed.

Describes how home performance contractors in New York are able to partner up to benefit from the US Energy Star program. Homeowners can elect to have a comprehensive package of building performance work done on their home by a certified contractor through this new state initiative. Many homes suffer from unnecessary health, safety and comfort problems due to improperly installed mechanical systems, inadequate insulation levels, and uncontrolled air infiltration.

Discusses the importance of selling the cost benefit of tight building practices in the absence of national or local codes or regulations to mandate well-sealed apartment buildings. States that studies carried out by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation have found that air leakage in apartment buildings can contribute to as much as 20% of the annual space-heating energy load. It also represents a substantial proportion of the peak space-heating load.

When natural ventilation is being used, the quality of the air inside a building depends on the quality of the outside air. What is the outside air quality trend in the urban environment and what are the forecasts for the future? How is air quality measured and what are the expected European standards for outside air quality in 2010? The implications of these developments for the hybrid ventilation of buildings close to roads and motorways are explained.