Abstract
There are indications that energy-retrofitted buildings can create risks for indoor environmental quality (IEQ) and therefore for health and comfort of occupants. A review was conducted to identify and verify those risks, within three themes: building envelope, heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC)-systems, and occupants. Publications from the last five years in major peer-reviewed journals from different fields (energy, buildings, indoor air, social sciences) were found by using a variety of keywords (health effects, occupant behaviours, energy-efficient retrofitting, etc.). For the building envelope, retrofitted buildings tend to be air-tighter and more thermally insulated. Hence, humidity problems, build-up of pollutants, and overheating may occur. Installing HVAC-systems and issues within (ducts, filters, maintenance, noise) may also compromise IEQ. Although relationships are difficult to establish, evidence shows that certain retrofits increase the risk of health problems, particularly for airways, skin, and eyes. Despite the installation of energy-retrofitting technologies, not all buildings lower their energy consumption. This is partly due to occupants (behaviours, preferences, needs, awareness) and partly due to technical issues. The studies reviewed, mainly focused on the performance gaps of energy-retrofitted homes and on energy-saving measures. “Comfort” and “health” tend to be disregarded, with both being seldom measured and only assessed by simulation. Occupant behaviours, preferences, and needs are understudied and need to be incorporated into the research and development of retrofitting measures. More interdisciplinary approaches are needed, in which buildings & HVAC-systems, occupants, health and comfort, and IEQ are investigated as interacting elements and based on an integrated approach.
Highlights
In a study on the effects of energy retrofits on the IAQ of multifamily buildings in Finland and Lithuania, an increase in the chemicals benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene (BTEX) and in radon concentrations was found in the Lithuanian cases while mechanical ventilation in the Finnish buildings was associated with lower formaldehyde concentrations [43]
Having the ability to control or the perception of being able to control the environment and surroundings, has been shown to reduce effects of stress, and increase overall health. This is a process that tends to be studied in psychoneuroimmunology (PNI) studies, as of the writing of this article, no PNI studies exist in dwellings [80,81,82]
It can be concluded that the feedback needs to show environmental data, comfort, and health data, while being easy to access, personalized in terms of details shown, and frequency. Another important risk factor in houses is the occupant. Their activities, preferences and needs, and the interactions they have with the building and its systems to adapt/change the indoor conditions to their needs, are possible risk factors for indoor environmental quality (IEQ), and possible associated with health effects
Summary
People spend more than 60% of their time at home [1] and the rest of their time at work, at school and/or commuting, resulting roughly in 90% of their time or more indoors. Many studies on social housing all over the world have shown that living in social housing is often associated with negative health effects, with high prevalence of respiratory problems and links with living conditions (e.g. poor thermal comfort, pollution due to cigarette smoking, presence of pests) [7]. It is well-known that a ‘bad’ indoor environmental quality (IEQ) (including IAQ, thermal, acoustical, and lighting quality) can affect the health and comfort of occupants. Literature from major peer-reviewed journals (e.g. Indoor Air, Building and Environment, Indoor and Built Environment, Energy Build., Energy research & Social Science, Building Research & Information) in the past 5 years were searched using key words such as energy-efficient retrofitting, occupant behaviour, health effects, social housing, etc. to identify and verify possible IEQ-related risks, along three main themes: the building envelope, the heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC)systems (and interfaces), and the occupants
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