LoginThe measurement systems used at Twin Rivers for determining energy usage are described.
Bibliographic database Airbase
AIRBASE is the Bibliographic Database of the AIVC. It contains publications and abstracts of articles related to energy efficient ventilation. Where possible, sufficient detail is supplied in the bibliographic details for users to trace and order the material via their own libraries. Topics include: ventilation strategies, design and retrofit methods, calculation techniques, standards and regulations, measurement methods, indoor air quality and energy implications etc. Entries are based on articles and reports published in journals, internal publications and research reports, produced both by university departments and by building research institutions throughout the world. AIRBASE has grown and evolved over many years (1979 to present day, over 22000 references and 16000 documents available online). For most of the references, the full document is also available online.
Access to the publications is free of charge.
Details the retrofits at Twin Rivers, grouped into packages A,B, C and D. A,B and D reduced heat flow through attic and basement.
Reports wind-tunnel tests on simple cubical model made of plastic to see effect of outside wall leakage on internal and external pressures. Three wind directions are studied and results extended to smoke-control problems.
After retrofitting of town houses at Twin Rivers it was found that heat loss from attics was much higher than predicted. This was accounted for by heat transfer within the wall dividing adjacent townhouses (party wall) from each other.
Discusses reasons for making buildings air-tight and the requirements of the swedish building code.
Describes retrofitting a wood-frame residence, having only limited insulation in the attic, to reduce its energy requirements for heating and cooling.
Points out that increased levels of thermal insulation in dwellings make ventilation heat loss an increasingly significant proportion of total dwelling heat loss and of great significance for sizing heating installations and selecting their contro
Compares the new draft standard with the 1959 original. More sophisticated mathematical methods and meteorological data processing has necessitated the revision.
Describes pressure method for testing whole houses for air leakage. States main advantages compared to tracer gas technique are that equipment is inexpensive, easy to handle and so well adapted to routine tests.
Describes retrofitting a wood-frame residence in three stages to reduce its energy requirements for heating and cooling.
Gives a summary of the work in building thermography in the scandinavian countries, especially Sweden. Deals with the principles of thermography, how to detect thermal resistance deficiencies and air leakage.
Reports measurements of air pressure differences to determine influence of wind on air flow directions through door and window gaps.
Describes briefly mechanisms and sources by which air infiltration occurs in dwellings. Compares leakage rates through windows and through houses with european standards to illustrate values that can occur in the U.K.
States that ventilation needs can be identified from a study of people's behaviour. Reports results of regular systematic observations of open windows in a group of scottish houses which confirmed earlier work in Britain.
Presents method for collecting air infiltration data in a large sample of dwellings. The method consists of a tracer gas dilution technique using sulphur hexafluoride and employing air sample bags which are analyzed in a central laboratory.
Discusses the mechanisms which govern natural ventilation. These are wind speed, flow, characteristics of openings in buildings and pressures generated at building surfaces by wind and temperature difference. Gives formulae for simple cases.
Reviews the requirement in building regulations for cavity barriers in roofs.
Proposes general method to identify contribution of resident-dependent effects to observed variability of energy consumption in similar houses.
Describes the two major methods of measuring air leakage in buildings; the tracer gas method and the pressure method.
Briefly outlines the approach used and the results obtained by computer modelling in estimating the magnitude of natural ventilation in irish housing. Concludes that in general air-change-rates in irish housing are excessive.