Behaviours, opportunities and expectations as thermal defences

Three papers were presented in this workshop. The first was on the subject of the Wintry Thermal Environment and Domestic Energy Use in Nepal. It was presented by Pokharel Ram and co-written with Hom Rijal and Masanori Shukuya from Tokyo City University (CATE 2019 Proceedings, pp. 377-382). This paper introduced several unique elements to the discussion if climate and comfort. The most glaring was that of altitude, that in Nepal dictates to a large extent the climate of a settlement. The verticality of the country offered a new insight into the impact of elevation on comfort. The second paper was on Indoor air quality, cold stress and thermal comfort in multi-family timber frame buildings by Timothy O. Adekunle, University of Hartford, Connecticut, USA (CATE 19 Proceedings, pp. 383-394). The paper provided an overview of environmental conditions measured in the homes in winter and provided an interesting contrast to the Nepalese study. The mean temperatures measured in the homes we above this measured in the Nepalese ones and there were recorded complaints about the stuffiness and the occasional smells and measurements did show theoretically high levels of humidity and CO2 in the occupied homes. However, these may seem insignificant when set against the Nepalese data where in some homes up to a dozen people may sleep in the same room. Clothing and life styles as well as expectations of what is required as a bare minimum for comfort may affect researchers thinking in such studies. The third paper in the workshop was on the surface of it very different. It was given by Kheira Anissa Tabet Aoul of the Architectural Engineering Department, United Arab Emirates University, UAE. It was on the subject of Sustainability, Literacy and Higher Education: Paradigms and Challenges in the Built Environment of the Gulf Region (CATE 19 Proceedings, pp395-406). In this paper Aoul raises the really important question of how best to transform our educational systems into high impact mechanisms for delivering to student's vital education on how they can survive and thrive in a rapidly changing world, with it changing climate. She looked at ways in which her own taught courses address this changing world and shared with the workshop her own endeavours to integrate essential and often basic sustainability and resilience lessons into her education and training programmes

TVOCs and PM 2.5 in Naturally Ventilated Homes: Three Case Studies in a Mild Climate

In southern Europe, the present stock of social housing is ventilated naturally, with practice varying in the di erent seasons of the year. In winter, windows are kept closed most of the day with the exception of short periods for ventilation, whereas the rest of the year the windows are almost permanently open. In cold weather, air changes depend primarily on the air infiltrating across the envelope and when the temperature is warm, on the air flowing in through open windows. CO2, PM2.5, and TVOC concentration patterns were gathered over a year’s time in three social housing developments in southern Europe with di erent airtightness conditions and analyzed to determine possible relationships between environmental parameters and occupants’ use profiles. Correlations were found between TVOC and CO2 concentrations, for human activity was identified as the primary source of indoor contaminants: peak TVOC concentrations were related to specific household activities such as cooking or leisure. Indoor and outdoor PM2.5 concentrations were likewise observed to be correlated, although not linearly due to the presence of indoor sources. Ventilation as presently practiced in winter appears to be insufficient to dilute indoor contaminants in all three buildings, nor does summertime behavior guarantee air quality

Characterising Draught in Mediterranean Multifamily Housing

Social housing dating from the postwar years through the end of the twentieth century is one of the major stores of European cities’ residential stock. As it is generally characterised by a poor thermal performance and an ine cient control of energy consumption, it constitutes one of the main targets for residential heritage renewal. This study aimed to locate and quantify air leaks across building envelopes in Mediterranean multifamily housing with a view to curbing the uncontrolled inflow of outdoor air that has a direct impact on occupant comfort and housing energy demand. Airtightness tests conducted in a series of protocols to quantify draught across envelope elements were supplemented with qualitative infrared thermographic and smoke tests to locate leakage pathways. Air was found to flow mainly across façade enclosures, primarily around openings, as well as through service penetrations in walls between flats and communal areas accommodating electrical and telecommunication wires and water supply, domestic hot water (DHW), and drainage pipes. The general absence of evidence of draught across structural floors or inter-flat partitions was consistent with the construction systems in place

Rethinking User Behaviour Comfort Patterns in the South of Spain—What Users Really Do

Although energy analysis techniques can contribute to substantial energy savings in housing stock retrofitting operations, the outcomes often deviate significantly from the predicted results, which tend to overestimate potential savings by overestimating the starting energy baselines, particularly in southern Europe. This deviation can be largely attributed to occupant practice relating to the use of air conditioning facilities and the temperatures at which occupants feel comfortable. The patterns observed differed widely from standard values. In this study environmental variables, primarily indoor air temperature both with and without HVAC, were monitored in occupied dwellings for a full year. The data gathered were supplemented with surveys on occupants’ temperature-related behaviour to define comfort patterns. The findings show that the standards in place are not consistent with actual comfort-accepted patterns in medium- to low-income housing in southern Spain, where energy consumption was observed to be lower than expected, mostly because occupants endure unsuitable, even unhealthy, conditions over long periods of time. A new user profile, better adjusted to practice in southern Europe, particularly in social housing, is proposed to reflect the current situation

Thermal Perception in Mild Climate: Adaptive Thermal Models for Schools

A comprehensive assessment of indoor environmental conditions is performed on a representative sample of classrooms in schools across southern Spain (Mediterranean climate) to evaluate the thermal comfort level, thermal perception and preference, and the relationship with HVAC systems, with a comparison of seasons and personal clothing. Almost fifty classrooms were studied and around one thousand pool-surveys distributed among their occupants, aged 12 to 17. These measurements were performed during spring, autumn, and winter, considered the most representative periods of use for schools. A new proposed protocol has been developed for the collection and subsequent analysis of data, applying thermal comfort indicators and using the most frequent predictive models, rational (RTC) and adaptive (ATC), for comparison. Cooling is not provided in any of the rooms and natural ventilation is found in most of the spaces during midseasons. Despite the existence of a general heating service in almost all classrooms in the cold period, the use of mechanical ventilation is limited. Heating did not usually provide standard set-point temperatures. However, this did not lead to widespread complaints, as occupants perceive the thermal environment as neutral—varying greatly between users—and show a preference for slightly colder environments. Comparison of these thermal comfort votes and the thermal comfort indicators used showed a better fit of thermal preference over thermal sensation and more reliable results when using regional ATC indicators than the ASHRAE adaptive model. This highlights the significance of inhabitants’ actual thermal perception. These findings provide useful insight for a more accurate design of this type of building, as well as a suitable tool for the improvement of existing spaces, improving the conditions for both comfort and wellbeing in these spaces, as well as providing a better fit of energy use for actual comfort conditions

Impact of controlled ventilation systems on energy consumption in mediterranean school buildings

Current standards for indoor air quality (IAQ) in non-residential buildings demand high air renewal rates with different filtration stages and constant flow. Currently, new school buildings must incorporate mechanical ventilation systems which modify traditional heating installations in order to comply with the requirements for indoor air quality and energy efficiency. This study analyses the technical and energy outcomes involved in a school building when changing from a traditional central heating system with radiators, to an HV system which fulfils the current regulatory framework

Protocols for measuring the airtightness of multi-dwelling units in Southern Europe

The airtightness of building envelopes is one of the factors which most affects the hygrothermal conditions and the air quality of the indoor environment, as well as the energy consumption of the building. In multi-dwelling units this contributes significantly to the overall load for heating or air conditioning, making it possible to calculate the repercussion of infiltrations on the energy demand of a dwelling as between 20 to 50% of the total amount, depending on the climate zone and construction characteristics of the envelope. Hence the importance of knowing the parameters that characterise it. Pressurisation/depressurisation tests are the best method for characterisig these, but must be carried out in accordance with specific measurement procedures. The main objective of this paper is the proposal of five specific protocols for carrying out these tests in MDU, and their specific use in buildings in Southern European regions. In order to develop and validate this proposal we have carried out a series of multi test in ten dwelling units in a block recently built in the south of Spain. The results of these tests are presented and analysed here. These confirm the need for some protocols to distinguish between wet and dry spaces within the dwelling, given the difference in airtightness between them, and to expand the study indicators proposed by international regulations for a more accurate rendering of the behaviour of the envelope and the elements within it

Methodology for the study of the indoor environment, energy consumption and resilience of heritage buildings

Historic Heritage buildings play an important role in modern societies, as they are a way of keeping your identity safe for future generations. Its conservation challenges the cultural diversity ensurance in a constantly changing world. However, it is an area characterized by the level of energy inefficiency that contributes to a large amount of pollutant emissions. In addition, global warming and the current epidemic crisis make the indoors environmental quality become a very critical point regarding to today's future. It is necessary to understand the adaptation processes and the historic city evolution, to design strategies that make the conservation of heritage compatible with improvements in the inhabitants' quality of life, allowing a sustainable conservation of the historic city. Our main objective is to establish a methodology that identifies the fundamental aspects that affect the environmental conditions and energy conditions of heritage buildings, taking into account their ability to adapt to climate change and their safety of use, within a context of energy efficiency and sustainability. This sample paper describes the formatting requirements for Conference Proceedings, and this sample file offers recommendations on writing for the worldwide readership. Please review this document because some format details have changed related to previous years

CO2 Concentration and Occupants’ Symptoms in Naturally Ventilated Schools in Mediterranean Climate

A large part of the school building stock in Andalusia lacks ventilation facilities, so that the air renewal of the classrooms is achieved through the building envelope (air infiltration) or the opening of windows. This research analyses the airtightness of the classrooms in Andalusia and the evolution of CO2 concentration during school hours through in situ monitoring. Pressurization and depressurization tests were performed in 42 classrooms and CO2 concentration was measured in two di erent periods, winter and midseason, to study the impact of the di erent levels of aperture of windows. About 917 students (11–17 years of age) were surveyed on symptoms and e ects on their health. The mean n50 values are about 7 h-1, whereas the average CO2 concentration values are about 1878 ppm, with 42% of the case studies displaying concentrations above 2000 ppm with windows closed

Predictive models for airtightness in social housing in a Mediterranean region

This article describes two models developed to predict airtightness in multifamily buildings in a Mediterranean region. They are designed to enable city planners, architects and engineers to estimate airtightness in homes built from 1980 to date (predictive model 1) or prior to 1979 (predictive model 2), when the first domestic energy conservation regulations entered into effect. They are based on a series of readily accessible parameters such as winter severity, envelope exposure, presence of a bathroom window and façade type. The estimated n50 data can be used with energy certification software, which presently envisages the same, non-experimentally quantified mean value for all types of housing. They can also be entered into energy and comfort simulation programs to predict energy consumption and expected indoor temperatures