Heating system-generated indoor air pollution

Abstract

Heating systems may emit pollutants into living spaces of buildings. In this paper we try to answer the questions: 1) How can we estimate exposure to these pollutants? and 2) how will their concentrations be affected by energy conservation measures? In order to answer the first question, we derived a differential equation and a simple APL program for numerical integration. This new model allows for variation during the day of v, the air exchange rate, and ΔT, the inside-outside temperature difference. This is necessary because heating systems operate and pollute most at night, when it is coldest outside, when v is greatest and when the greatest number of people is at home. Ignoring these variations could result in underestimating nighttime pollutant levels by as much as 1.5- 2-fold. The model also shows that ΔT and v may be assumed constant in order to answer the second question, as we have previously done. We conclude that if infiltration heat loss I, the proportion of heat lost by convection, is prevented from rising, then v may be reduced without increasing heating system-generated pollution. I may be kept constant by “balanced conservation” that is simultaneous reduction of v and installation of insulation.