Early results of a study on improving energy efficiency of housing stock, IEQ and public health in North-East Europe

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The INSULAtE project aims to demonstrate the effects of improving energy efficiency (EE) of dwellings on indoor environmental quality (IEQ) and public health, and to develop a common protocol for assessment of these effects related to national policies and programs implementing the European Energy Performance of Buildings Directive. METHODS: In the first phase, 20 case and control buildings from both Finland and Lithuania are included. The case buildings are multifamily buildings undergoing renovation improving EE, such as adding thermal insulation or changing windows. Measurement data on IEQ parameters (inc. 24h monitoring of PM, CO, and CO2; 1wk passive sampling of VOCs, formaldehyde, and NO2; 2mo monitoring of T and RH; 2mo passive sampling of radon and settled dust) and questionnaire data on occupant health are collected from 5 apartments per building both before and after renovation. Since the winter of 2011-2012, data have been collected from 65 (before) and 7 (after) apartments from Finland, and 82 (before) and 4 (after) apartments from Lithuania. RESULTS/CONCLUSIONS: At this point, data are available (i.e. samples analyzed and data entered in the database) from 22 apartments from Finland and 32 - 82 apartments from Lithuania before renovation. We interpret the findings relative to national reference or guideline values. Preliminary screening of the data reveals thermal index values below recommended (TI = 65) in 11 of 22 apartments in Finland and 34 of 82 in Lithuania. In Lithuania, recommended level of CO2 (1200 ppm) was exceeded in 22 of 76 apartments, formaldehyde concentration was > 0.01 mg/m3 in 32 of 39 apartments, NO2 > 0.04 mg/m3 in one of 61 apartments, and ethylbenzene > 0.02 mg/m3 in one of 39 apartments. All other values (inc. RH, CO, TVOC, and radon) were within recommended limits or data not yet analyzed (inc. microbial levels and mineral fibers in settled dust as well as occupant questionnaire data) in both countries. We will present preliminary results from before and after renovation measurements, and discuss the implications on the assessment protocol development.