Modern ventilation techniques - the indoor environment and occupant perception.

In recent years there has been a gradual re-emergence of the use of passive or 'low energy' ventilation and cooling techniques including mixed mode application. It is apparent that many clients developers and agents are reluctant to make a commitment to such 'low energy' buildings due to concerns, albeit unsubstantiated by hard evidence, that such buildings will provide acceptable comfort levels for occupants. The project included tJ1e measured assessment of three buildings which utilise these modem 'low energy' ventilation techniques, evaluating the internal environment performance with particular reference to occupant comfort and perception. The monitoring was carried out in both the winter and summer seasons on a zonal basis using both long and short term logging techniques. BREI RSH style questionnaires [I] were also used in both seasons with the personal well-being questions asked only during the winter monitoring. The results of the three larger buildings are given relating the measured environmental parameters to the occupants' perception of their environment.