English

This study examines a broad range of implications associated with the adoption of the National Energy Code for Housing (NECH) in Ontario. It is based on Public Review Draft 1.0 of the NECH. This study compares the OBC and the NECH providing commentary on key differences between the documents. It examines the energy, environmental and industry implications of adopting the NECH in Ontario. It reviews the cost implications of adoption from a capital, energy and life cycle viewpoint while examining environmental costs by monetizing space heating equipment emissions.

The use of energy for operating ventilation systems in underground car parks in Hong Kong is considered. A site survey has been carried out in 22 underground car parks. The physical size, configurations, and electrical rating of ventilation fans were the main mailers of interest. The indoor thermal environments, carbon monoxide concentrations, and operation of ventilation systems were examined. Mathematica/ expressions are developed and the predicted results examined for another 54 underground car parks.

Accurately controlling the amount of outdoor air brought into a building is a major factor in ensuring good indoor air quality (IAQ). However, controlling this minimum ventilation volume is difficult  variable-air-volume (VAV) systems.               

Buildings with different mass levels were monitored in the summer of 1993 in Pala, South California, under different ventilation and shading conditions. The effect of mass in lowering the daytime (maximum) indoor temperatures, in closed and in night ventilated buildings, was thus evaluated. Night ventilation had only a very small effect on the indoor maxima of the low-mass building. However, it was very effective in lowering the indoor maximum temperatures for the high mass building below the outdoor maxima, especially during the 'heat wave' periods.

A simple procedure to determine the best locations for the installation of smoke detectors in residential buildings is presented. Consideration is given to both detection of fires and audibility of the alarm.

Studies at the Oxford Brookes University have shown that opportunities for improving a building's fabric thermal storage performance relate more to aspects of its configuration, control and ventilation strategy than the choice of structural system.