A comparison of measured and estimated electric energy use and the impact of assumed occupancy pattern

The use of building performance simulation (BPS) tools to guide decisions during the design process in its early stages requires making assumptions. That is as the design specification, information about building use and future external climate are not available. This may lead to differences between the buildings performance in operation and its predicted performance. The aim of the presented work is to assess the impact of the building use on observed differences in performance. Parameters of concern are occupation period, occupancy density, electrical energy use and sensible heat gains from equipment and light fittings. The results of the study show that the difference between estimated and measured local electric energy use is below 10%. The important parameters related to the office use are identified as occupation period and heat gains from light fittings. In case of the considered building the use of medium high internal heat gains would have lead to overestimating the cooling demand by 30%. The identified parameters should be considered with great care when using BPS–tools for guiding the design of office buildings as they contribute significantly to the accuracy of simulation results

Implementation of a group-based physical activity programme for ageing adults with ID: A process evaluation

Rationale, aim and objectives This paper describes the results of the process evaluation of a physical activity programme for people with intellectual disabilities (ID), including information about the concepts 'fidelity', 'dose delivered', 'satisfaction' and 'context'. Methods Qualitative and quantitative methods among participants and programme leaders were used. Results The programme was well accepted, feasible and applicable to ageing people with ID. It was successfully implemented in terms of fidelity and dose delivered, although differences between day-activity centres were observed. Conclusions The hampering factors that are revealed in this study and the facilitating activities that were part of the implementation plan may be used by care provider services for (ageing) people with ID and other groups of people with cognitive and/or physical deficits, such as frail elderly people or people with dementia when developing and or preparing implementation of health promotion programmes

Individueel comfort bij betonkernactivering

Bij betonkernactivering wordt gebruik gemaakt van de buffercapaciteit van het beton om warmte op te slaan. De trage betonmassa zorgt voor een lage reactiesnelheid en voor weinig invloed voor de gebruiker op het binnenklimaat. Metingen en interviews in een gebouw met betonkernactivering hebben inzicht gegeven in de werking van betonkernactivering. Betonkernactivering kan zorgen voor een aangenaam binnenklimaat, maar het is noodzakelijk om extra aandacht besteden aan de detaillering van de buitengevel om koudebruggen te voorkomen. Met behulp van Methodisch Ontwerpen is een concept bedacht waarbij betonkernactivering in combinatie met een luchtvoerend systeem in de vloer zorgt voor individuele regelbaarheid. Dit artikel beschrijft het afstudeeronderzoek naar individueel comfort bij betonkernactivering

A structured physical activity and fitness programme for older adults with intellectual disabilities: Results of a cluster-randomised clinical trial

Background: The physical activity level of older adults with intellectual disabilities (ID) is extremely low, and their fitness levels are far beneath accepted norms for older people with normal intelligence and comparable with frail older people. A physical activity programme, including an education programme, was developed for older adults with ID using behaviour change techniques. The programme aimed at improving or maintaining adequate levels of physical activity (primary outcome measure) and motor fitness, cardio respiratory fitness, morphologic and metabolic fitness, activities of daily living, cognitive functioning and depressive symptoms (secondary outcome measures). Method: The programme's efficacy was evaluated in a cluster-randomised clinical trial among people aged 43years and over with mild-moderate levels of ID. Five day-activity centres were randomised to the participation group. In these centres, 81 older adults participated in groups of 8 to 10 in the programme, three times a week during 8months. The programme was executed by physical activity instructors and staff of day-activity centres. Five other day-activity centres were randomised to the control group; 70 older adults in these centres received care as usual