Evaluation of Indoor Environmental Quality and Thermal Environment in Airtight Energy-Efficient Naturally Ventilated Dwellings

Noticeably higher concentrations of gaseous pollutants were measured in bedrooms than living rooms, and in winter than summer, where p-values were found to be of a stringent significance (average p = 0.008). PM2.5 concentrations were found to be exceeding the WHO 24-h average threshold of 15 µg/m3 in kitchens for the week-long monitoring time (92% in winter, 51% in summer). High percentages of carbon dioxide concentrations exceeded the WHO guideline in bedrooms during the winter week (mean: 1251 ppm) and summer week (mean: 1028 ppm), with lower percentages in living rooms in comparison (mean in winter: 893 ppm, mean in summer: 735 ppm). TVOC week-long mean values across the bedrooms was 463 ppb in winter and 293 ppb in summer. Temperature and humidity were within limits in general. Air change rate mean values ranged from 0.08 to 0.37 h-1 in summer, and from 0.09 to 0.27 h-1 in winter, across the monitored bedrooms.