Energy saving as a consequence of the proposed change in Spanish regulations relating to indoor air quality

Recently research at the Eduardo Torroja Institute for construction sciences proposes a new wording for the IAQ regulations for dwellings included in the Spanish Building Code.
The main goal of the earlier research was to adapt required ventilation rates to real needs to achieve a reduction of ventilation rates and energy demand with no negative impact on indoor air quality.
This goal will be achieved by firstly setting maximum values of CO2 concentration as an indicator of air quality (allowing the use of variable ventilation rate systems), and, secondly, by deriving a table summarizing the minimum continuous ventilation rate threshold values that provide this air quality. As a result, it will be easier to optimize energy demand using either variable flow or lower continuous flow ventilation systems.
For this research, IAQ simulations and energy saving assessment have been performed. IAQ simulations have been developed to optimize the continuous ventilation flows. In this paper the results of the energy saving assessment are presented for different types of dwellings, according to the number of bedrooms and bathrooms and for two distinct Spanish climatic zones. Results show how it should be possible to achieve target CO2 concentration values in addition to conserving energy.