Overheating in retrofitted flats: occupant practices, learning and interventions

© 2016 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group The overheating risk in flats (apartments) retrofitted to energy-efficient standards has been identified by previous studies as one that is particularly high. With climate change and rising mean temperatures this is a growing concern. There is a need to understand the kinds of practices, learning and interventions adopted by the occupants of individual homes to try to reduce overheating, as this area is poorly understood and under-researched. This case study focuses on the impact of different home-use practices in relation to the severity of overheating in 18 flats in one tower block in northern England. Internal temperatures monitored in comparable flats show that the percentage of time spent above the expected category II threshold of thermal comfort according to BS EN 15251 can differ by over 70%. Extensive monitoring, covering a full year, including two summer periods, has identified emergent changes in heatwave practices linked with increased home-use skills and understanding among the research participants. Close analysis of design intentions versus reality has identified key physical barriers and social learning opportunities for appropriate adaptation in relation to heatwaves. Recommendations for designers and policy-makers are highlighted in relation to these factors

Housing performance evaluation: challenges for international knowledge exchange

Developing effective building performance evaluation and feedback processes is a vital part of global efforts to reduce building energy use and gain insight into the actual performance of buildings and technologies. Although attempts have been made to introduce internationally agreed models for these processes, it is clear that various countries are producing different approaches according to their cultural, institutional and policy differences. Knowledge exchange is potentially a key means of developing a shared understanding of values, meanings and practices in relation to building performance evaluation. This paper identifies cultural and institutional barriers in the European Union for international building performance communities of practice utilizing knowledge exchange, from an experiential ‘real-world’ perspective. The preparation of a 30-month research project to help develop building performance evaluation in Poland and an associated bilateral symposium is closely evaluated through an action research case study in terms of the stakeholders, the national contexts in which they operated and the key challenges they faced. Recommendations are then made in terms of the support needed to develop more responsive research programmes in relation to developing international knowledge exchange, and the capacity-building elements required for these international communities of practice

Building performance evaluation – understanding the benefits and risks for the stakeholders involved. Lessons for Poland based on the UK experience

Ocena funkcjonowania budynków (BPE) jest przedsięwzięciem zespołowym. Badania takie potencjalnie mogą dostarczyć wiedzę ułatwiającą doskonalenie środowiska zbudowanego, co jest ważne w czasie szybko rosnących oczekiwań względem budynków. Jednak ich potencjał może zostać uwolniony, tylko jeśli uda się zapewnić dobrowolne zaangażowanie kluczowych grup interesariuszy, a ich potrzeby i oczekiwania są odzwierciedlone w prowadzonych badaniach. Ten artykuł jest krytyczną refleksją na procesem wprowadzania BPE do kręgu zainteresowania przemysłu budowlanego w Wielkiej Brytanii. Autorka jest przekonana, że wnioski wyciągnięte z tamtego kontekstu stanowią cenny wzorzec, który może być wykorzystany w Polsce, pomimo wszelkich różnic pomiędzy oboma krajami. Określiła więc podstawowe korzyści i ryzyko, jakie poszczególni interesariusze mogą łączyć z własnym udziałem w badaniach. Wymieniła odpowiednie elementy badań BPE zabezpieczające uzyskanie korzyści i ograniczające wystąpienie ryzyka. Ich nazwanie uzasadnia konieczność rozumienia badań jako procesu całościowego, którego wszystkie elementy mają ważną rolę do odegrania.Building performance evaluation (BPE) is a group endeavour. It has the potential to enable context based learning and improvement of the built environment necessary at a time of rapidly increasing expectations towards buildings. This potential can only be released however if voluntary engagement of key stakeholders is secured and their needs and expectations are carefully considered. The paper is a critical reflection on the process of introducing BPE into the scope of interest of the mainstream building industry stakeholders in the UK. It is believed that these lessons provide useful precedent applicable in the Polish context despite any differences between the two countries. Key benefits and risks different stakeholder groups may link with their engagement in BPE are identified. BPE process elements securing specific benefits and addressing relevant risks are named in order to justify the necessity of thinking of BPE holistically