Abstract
Recently, there has been an increase in apartments with a large number of inhabitants, i.e., high residential density. This is partly due to a housing shortage in general but also increased migration, particularly in suburbs of major cities. This paper specifies issues that might be caused by high residential density by investigating the technical parameters influenced in Swedish apartments that are likely to have high residential density. Interviews with 11 employees at housing companies were conducted to identify issues that might be caused by high residential density. Furthermore, simulations were conducted based on extreme conditions described in the interviews to determine the impact on the energy use, indoor environmental quality, and moisture loads. In addition, the impact of measures to mitigate the identified issues was determined. Measures such as demand-controlled ventilation, increase of a constant ventilation rate, and moisture buffering are shown to reduce the risk for thermal discomfort, mold growth, and diminished indoor air quality; while still achieving a lower energy use than in a normally occupied apartment. The results of this study can be used by authorities to formulate incentives and/or recommendations for housing owners to implement measures to ensure good indoor environmental quality for all, irrespective of residential density conditions.
Highlights
Published: 13 May 2021In Sweden, over a million homes were built during the so called “million homes program”, 1965–1974, in order to manage the housing shortage and abolish poor housing standards [1]
The question is, how the increased number of residents, and the excess moisture load and increased indoor air pollution, will affect the risk of poor indoor air quality ( IAQ) and moisture damage? The apartments from the million homes program were designed for a normal-sized family of two to four persons, with natural ventilation in many of the buildings [4], and in some buildings mechanical exhaust ventilation systems [4], primarily designed to ensure an air exchange in the apartment according to the Swedish building regulations at that time
3.1.1–3.1.6, issues associated with high residential density are summarized by the authors and grouped based on their possible impact
Summary
Published: 13 May 2021In Sweden, over a million homes were built during the so called “million homes program”, 1965–1974, in order to manage the housing shortage and abolish poor housing standards [1]. During the last few years, the number of residents in many apartments in these buildings, especially in suburbs of major cities, has increased due to a housing shortage in general and due to immigration [2,3]. The question is, how the increased number of residents, and the excess moisture load and increased indoor air pollution, will affect the risk of poor indoor air quality ( IAQ) and moisture damage? The ventilation in many of these apartments is already insufficient at normal residential load compared to modern standards, since approximately half of them have air change rates lower than 0.5 ac/h [4], which approximately corresponds to modern requirements of 0.35 L/(s·m2 ).
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