Abstract
Effective and efficient ventilation is essential when improving energy performance and Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) of buildings. Reducing air permeability can considerably improve the energy performance of buildings; however, making the buildings more airtight may result in lower rates of natural ventilation which may in turn increase the risks of condensation and unacceptable IAQ. This study evaluates the effects of different air permeability rates, background ventilation and occupants’ lifestyles on the energy performance as well as the risk of condensation and CO2 concentration in domestic buildings. Dynamic computer simulations were conducted in EnergyPlus. Results indicated direct relations between the ventilation rates, energy performance and IAQ. Higher air permeability along with background ventilation resulted in considerably better IAQ while energy consumption increased by up to four times. Occupants’ lifestyles were identified as a major contributor to the risk of condensation.
Highlights
Britain has the oldest housing stock in the developed world [1]
The results of simulations were evaluated for different airtightness values for the Trickle Vents (TV) open and closed conditions
According to the results for the air permeability of 1 m3/h.m2@50 Pa when the TV was closed, CO2 concentration levels were above 1000 ppm, 1500 ppm and 5000 ppm for 85%, 69% and
Summary
Britain has the oldest housing stock in the developed world [1]. According to BRE [2] more than 65%and 49% of domestic buildings in the UK have uninsulated walls and single glazed windows respectively. Improving the quality and energy performance of new and existing buildings has been one of the major priorities of the UK Government during the recent years This is to achieve the CO2 emission targets set for 2050 [5,6] and to tackle fuel poverty which affects more than 2.3 million households [7]. National schemes such as the Green Deal [8] and Warm Front intend to improve energy efficiency of buildings through better insulation and reduced air permeability to reduce the risk of thermal discomfort as well as unnecessary heat loss [9].
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