Ventilation
Ventilation involves the promotion of clean air flow within a building, and is required to remove any air pollutants (such as carbon dioxide) that can build up while the building is in use. Ventilation methods can include windows, vents and air conditioning systems.
New energy efficiency ratings will soon be introduced with regards to the ventilation of buildings.
According to the Residential Ventilation Association, "Ventilation accounts for between 25-30% of the total building energy use. There are large disparities in the energy consumption of similar buildings in similar locations and this is due to various levels of thermal insulation, services system efficiencies, differences in building construction, occupancy behaviour and building management."
Therefore, getting it right will produce significant benefits, both in terms of energy use and in terms of occupancy health and satisfaction.
The Energy Savings Trust has produced a guide to Energy Efficient Ventilation, which includes considerations such as air-tightness, system design, and installation issues. The guide also contains information about Passive Stack Ventilation (PSV), which is intrinsically energy saving because it utilises the wind. Advice on installation and maintenance is included. Download: Energy Efficient Ventilation
Thermal Comfort
Thermal comfort describes how people feel about the temperature of their environment.
According to the HSE, the following factors affect thermal comfort
Environmental factors:
- Air temperature
- Radiant tempertaure
- Air velocity
- Humidity
Personal factors:
- Clothing Insulation
- Metabolic heat
For more information about Energy Efficient Ventilation Detailed guidance on assessing buildings for healthy living and working can be found at http://hope.epfl.ch/index.htm, which reports on the work of HOPE: Health Optimisation Protocol for Energy-efficient Buildings. This website includes a report defining energy-efficient healthy buildings. |
