English

Discusses MEPA (Microcomputer Energy Programs for Architects) which has been developed in Sweden to supply energy analysis information during the early stages of design of residential and small commercial buildings, and is used inSweden, Kuwait and the US. It is designed especially for architects using microcomputers.

Describes the Computerized Instrumental Residential Audit (CIRA), a collection of programs for energy analysis and energy auditing of residential buildings. Air infiltration is modelled using the LBL infiltration model based on effective leakage. For a given budget, CIRA can also develop an optimally sequenced list of retrofits with the highest combined savings. Energy calculations compare well with those of DOE-2.1 and with measured energy consumptions from a sample of monitored houses.

Describes a detailed simulation program for estimating heat loads and room air temperatures of a residential building. Sets out the algorithms and the example simulation of a house by the program. As room surface temperaures and natural ventilation are important factors in considering the thermal environment and the heat load of the room, they are treated more rigorously than in a previously developed program.

Evaluates the intensity and acceptance of body odour as perceived by 89 male and female judges entering 2 auditoria occupied by 50-200 men. Performs 200 experiments with varied ventilation rate, space volume per occupant and temperature. Finds carbon dioxide to be a useful index of body odour intensity. Does not find any significant influence of space volume per occupant on steady-state ventilation requirements. Establishes a relationship between percentage dissatisfied and CO2 concentration.

The Fanger Comfort Equation is coupled to a building simulation model. Discusses some factors related to thermal comfort. Incorporates variables influencing comfort as subroutines in the main thermal analysis program. If the temperature calculated is significantly different from the prevailing air temperature, amelioration measures such as changes in the rate of ventilation (natural or mechanical) or conditioning of air are determined by thesubroutine CONAIR.

Summarises the sources and the effects on health of tobacco smoke and formaldehyde, and includes general information on air pollution.

Describes tests to investigate the sealing qualities of Kleeneze brushstrip (a fibrous draught-proofing strip) and the frictional forces exerted by it as the brushstrip compression is varied.

Treats pilot study where the ventilation was controlled by the carbon dioxide content in the indoor air.

Notes the large savings possible if ventilation were adapted to the prevailing need. A promising possibility for indicating occupancy and thus the ventilation requirement is measuring the level of carbon dioxide. The project includes a test with equipment for CO2-monitoring of the exhaust air flow in an office building which controls the volume of outdoor air supply, thusmaintaining the CO2 level constant. Measures how the CO2 level can vary locally,how other pollutants in air can vary, how much energy can be saved.

Studies the airtightness of about 50 passive solar homes located through out the USA using low cost measurement techniques. Measures include pressurization tests to measure airtightness and tracer gas measurements to determine air infiltration rates. Pressure tests show a variation in airtightness of homes from 3-30 changes/hr at 50 Pa, with a median of 5-9 changes/hr.The air infiltration measurements cover a wide range from 0.05-3 changes/hr, with a median of 0.5 changes/hr. Finds that these passive solar homes are not significantly tighter than less energy-conscious houses.