An Evaluation of Indoor Environment in Deprived Community Housing in Yorkshire and the Humber Region of England, UK

Abstract

This study has been undertaken as part of the BIG Energy Upgrade (BEU) a.k.a. Energy Innovation for Deprived Communities (EIDC) project, which aims to provide a detailed understanding of indoor environment and to deliver a new approach to energy efficiency and renewable energy projects within a minimum of ten of the most deprived communities across six Local Authorities in Yorkshire and the Humber region in the UK. It was important for the success of the BEU/EIDC project that detailed monitoring and post occupancy evaluation is performed on a sample of houses before rolling out wider refurbishment. The data were collected from the indoor monitoring equipment for two houses and statistically analysed to investigate the indoor thermal condition and air quality. Air temperature and relative humidity levels within an indoor environment will vary with the time of year and physical indoor environment. However, increased temperature within a confined space such as an indoor environment can create a more suitable environment for the growth of unwanted bacteria and fungi. With the guidelines, it would be reasonable to maintain a temperature of around 23–25 °C within a house. Also, if levels of humidity become too dry, i.e. below 40 % can have adverse effects, some people susceptible to sore throats due to the dryness of the air. Air temperature, relative humidity and carbon dioxide levels were monitored, and the results have been compared with the accepted standard guidelines such as ASHRAE and CIBSE. The results showed that the indoor thermal environment conditions in the two naturally ventilated homes had a mean air temperature and relative humidity of 20.5 °C and 47 % respectively during autumn season. The mean CO2 levels were in the range 520–1,400 ppm and followed a pattern rising during morning and evening periods in response to human indoor activity. Detailed analysis of CO2 at four periods during the day showed that afternoon times contained lower values of CO2 compared with morning and evening.