English

How accurately can reduced-order dynamic building energy simulation models (with Dymola simulation software) simulate the indoor climate (i.e., indoor air temperature, relative humidity and CO2-concentration) in common inhabited residential buildings? In order to address this question, high resolution measurement data of a zero-energy case study dwelling were gathered through a measurement campaign. A dynamic multi-zone modelling approach has been applied to have room-level indoor climate results.

In this paper various direct reading instruments and techniques used in air monitoring are reviewed. Principles of operation are described, pointing out advantages and disadvantages of using such instruments. A procedure for inspection activities, and a sampling and analysis approach is outlined. One case study, covering inspection in an office space is presented in detail, describing monitoring of different types of contaminants, possible false positives and calculations related to exposure limits.

This study aims to use the WELL Building Standard (v2), an internationally recognised rating system for health & wellbeing in buildings, to perform a qualitative and quantitative analysis of the effect of wellbeing measures on an office building’s energy use in three different climates. The qualitative analysis was based on literature review and engineering rules of thumb to assess the potential energy impact of WELL’s 120 features.

Indoor environmental quality in educational buildings is recognized as a crucial aspect for the achievement of the learning outcomes for students. Nevertheless, indoor school conditions are often found unsatisfactory in several European countries, including Italy, especially as regards indoor air quality IAQ. For instance, taking CO2 concentration as IAQ indicator, the threshold of 1000 ppm is often overcome, suggesting insufficient ventilation rates.

The primary purpose of ventilation and air-conditioning system is to ensure internal comfort conditions through a continuous supply of air and maintaining the assumed indoor parameters. High air velocity in the occupied zone may result in an uncomfortable feeling of the draft, cooling effect, or local discomfort. The subjects of the study are linear diffusers, which depending on the purpose, are installed in ceilings, floors, or walls. Models may vary widely in their shape, number or size of slots/nozzles, and the length or shape of the deflector blades.

Nowadays people spend an average of 87% of their time inside buildings. Schools are a particularly delicate type of buildings for several reasons. Firstly, their primary occupants such as children, boys and girls are more vulnerable than adults, and spend a large portion of their time in schools. Secondly, pupils, but also teachers and other school personnel have often little or no control on the indoor environmental quality (IEQ). Thirdly, school buildings are usually either old and cannot ensure an adequate IEQ (e.g.

Urbanization has led to systemic environmental factors that degrade air quality and microbial diversity, negatively impacting human health and wellbeing. Conventional building Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) units that filter airborne pollutants and support Indoor Air Quality (IAQ), are often energy intensive, decrease indoor microbial diversity, and are still unable to address specific pollutants or seasonal psychrometric profiles.

The present study investigates acoustic comfort in naturally ventilated residential buildings through an indoor soundscape approach. Preliminary results from a laboratory listening test are presented, where, in a mock-up living room with a window sight, participants have been exposed to 20 acoustic scenarios, obtained as a combination of 4 indoor sound sources and 5 outdoor urban environments filtered through a window ajar. Participants were asked to rate each exposure condition.

The steady-state concentration of occupant generated carbon dioxide (CO2) is used in some applications as an indicator of compliance with a required ventilation rate. These applications assume that the CO2 is at a uniform concentration in the space being considered, and that the outdoor concentration, ventilation rate, and CO2 emission rate are all constant. Emission rates are often derived using an equation in the ASHRAE Fundamentals Handbook, which is poorly referenced and not based on the most recent understanding of the principles of human metabolism.

This study aims at obtaining feedback from occupants of low-energy retrofitted houses concerning the indoor environmental quality (IEQ) and the building systems in their homes. A questionnaire study was carried out in a social housing complex consisting of 2007 single-family houses, of which 1305 were retrofitted between 2014 and 2019. The different retrofitted houses were equipped with two types of heating systems, as well as balanced mechanical ventilation with two inlet locations.