Feedback on the design of low energy buildings.

This paper presents the results from the monitoring of a low energy building, namely, the Portland Building University of Portsmouth - UK) during February and July 1997. The BMS Research Group at the University of Portsmouth has instrumented the building so that its performance can be compared with the predictions obtained at the design stage. The Building has been operational since July 1996 and the monitoring exercise commenced in January 1997. Sensors monitor air temperature, air relative humidity and slab temperature in selected areas of the building. Analysis of the data collected shows that the CO2 and water vapour levels are acceptable during the winter period and that the number of air changes per hour in the office and seminar room under consideration are adequate. The variations of air temperature in July 1997 inside a seminar room are compared with predictions from a simulation exercise carried out using ESP-r (simulation package) at the design stage and found to be in agreement. The underlying work is on-going and aims at providing feedback on the design on naturally ventilated buildings as well as improving the operational control aspects.