Quantitative relationships between classroom CO2 concentration and learning in elementary schools

The data from published studies were used to build relationships between learning outcomes and air quality in classrooms. Psychological tests measuring cognitive abilities and skills, school tasks including mathematical and language-based tasks, ratings schemes and tests used to assess progress in learning including end-of-year grades and exam scores were considered to represent learning outcomes. Indoor air quality was characterized by concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO2). Short-term sick leave was included as well because it can influence learning.

Ventilative cooling in a single-family active house from design stage to user experience

Ventilative cooling through window airing presents a promising potential for low energy houses in order to avoid overheating risks and to reduce energy consumption of air conditioners. This case study aims at describing how ventilative cooling has been taken into account as from the design stage of a low-energy single-family active house located near Paris. Its performance on thermal comfort and air renewal, monitored from both sociological (feedback from a family) and scientific approach, is described and compares these two qualitative and quantitative approaches.

Automated window opening control system to address thermal discomfort risk in energy renovated dwellings. Summertime assessment

Major and deep energy renovations of single-family houses (more than 60% of the building stock) are expected in Europe over the next several years (Psomas et al., 2016a). A number of research projects have documented and verified overheating risk during the design and operation phase in nearly zero energy or existing renovated single-family houses without mechanical cooling systems in temperate climates. Post occupancy surveys and comfort studies have also monitored high indoor temperatures over 27oC and 28oC even in Northern countries (Psomas et al., 2016a).

Comparing extracting and recirculating residential kitchen range hoods for the use in high energy efficient housing

Residential cooking can be a significant indoor source of odour, pollutants and particulate matter. Conventionally, range hoods expel the air into the ambient. A number of studies have investigated their contaminant capture performance. However, for highly energy efficient houses the installation of extracting range hoods can pose certain challenges, e.g. high ventilation losses, additional thermal bridges and potential air leakage sites.

A Case Study assessing the impact of Shading Systems combined with Night-Time Ventilation strategies on Overheating within a Residential Property

Overheating in domestic homes, specifically in built up urban areas, has become a pressing problem throughout the UK. It is likely to become a costly energy problem in years to come if passive design strategies are not fully understood and integrated. This research looks to investigate how internal and external solar shading systems impact on operative temperatures when differing blinds together with a night time natural ventilation strategy are adopted within a renovated block of flats in North London.

Effect of human walking on air curtain sealing in the doorway of an airtight building

Heat and mass flow between cold and warm environments due to the pressure difference between both sides. This exchange causes a loss of energy and human comfort in the buildings. The indoor air quality (IAQ) also reduces because of the passage of dust, odour, insects and bacteria along with the fluid across a doorway. To minimise this heat and mass flux and to maintain IAQ, an air curtain is often used as an artificial separation barrier in public and industrial buildings.

Full-scale experimental study of ceiling turbulent air jets in mechanically ventilated rooms

Experimental investigation of ceiling circular grille air jets was conducted in a full-scale entirely controlled test room (6.2 x 3.1 x 2.5 m). Our case study is based on a realistic ventilation system configuration: it introduces a plenum box, two air exhausts, as well as a vertical wall near the air inlet. Analyses were initially concentrated at the air inlet region since it is the zone having strong gradients. Deviations concerning the trajectory of the actual jet were observed with respect to the theoretical jet.

Characterising the actual performance of domestic mechanical ventilation and heat recovery systems

This paper describes the findings and recommendations of a meta-study examining the actual in-use performance of whole-house mechanical ventilation heat recovery systems (MVHR) installed in 54 low energy dwellings in the UK, as part of a national research programme. The performance of the systems is assessed using monitored data on indoor air quality (temperature, relative humidity, CO2) and energy use, cross-related with actual experiences of operating these systems through resident surveys.

The industries vision and activities for better buildings in the future

The industry is now focusing in system solutions and the goal is to be able to deliver complete reliable, energy efficient solutions that is understandable and easy to maintain by the normal service personal.
In order to do this the basic products have to perform exactly as they are described in the technical documentation. The documentation have to help the designer and the installer to actually build the system in the correct way without compromises from other stakeholders.

The effect of enhanced stove design on ‘real life’ exposure to PM2.5 and CO in rural dwellings in Salambu, Nepal

About 3 billion people worldwide, and more than 90% in developing countries, are at risk of developing respiratory and cardiovascular diseases and cancer, due to exposure to household air pollution attributable to the combustion of solid biomass fuels. In Nepal, various types of fuel are used, such as wood, animal dung, and agricultural residues, as a primary source of energy for domestic cooking and heating.

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