Occupant-controlled heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) systems allow inhabitants of open-plan spaces some degree of control over their immediate microclimate. Typically, cooled air is supplied at floor or desktop levels. The amount and direction of air flow is under occupant control. Productivity increases have been attributed to this form of control. This paper proposes a simplified model of the thermal environment created by an occupant-controlled HV AC system and the behavior of the occupants within it.
The cost of higher insulation measures in all new house types may be paid for by savings from smaller, simpler and more efficient heating systems. These houses are more comfortable to live in, as well as up to 50% cheaper to heat.
The paper describes a method to calculate the heat flow through a multiple layer wall in a natural climate. The thermal properties needed for the calculation are the thermal resistance and the heat capacity of each layer, and they are assumed to be independent of the temperature. The natural climate can be measured temperatures, either surface temperatures or temperatures of the surrounding air. The method is based on well-known equations for calculating the heat flow due to a sinusoidal temperature variation.
Since the mid 70's, the construction industry has made significant advances in energy conservation and improved indoor conditions. These improvements, however, are shadowed by an increase in building envelope problems to include water penetration, condensation on and in roofs and exterior walls and cladding damages in many of our newer buildings; These problems have been attributed to uncontrolled air leakage.
The objective of this one-day seminar was to address the issues of design and provision of low energy ventilation strategies for non-domestic buildings located in urban and city centres where external air and noise pollution may be of prime concern. Current concerns about energy usage and C02 emissions have led to an increasing number of buildings, both new builds and major refurbishments, employing low-energy ventilation strategies such as natural or fan-assisted ventilation.
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