Submitted by Maria.Kapsalaki on Mon, 11/23/2020 - 15:58
The current development in building energy efficiency towards nZEB buildings represents a number of new challenges to design and construction. One of these major challenges is the increased need for cooling in these highly insulated and airtight buildings, which is not only present in the summer period but also in the shoulder seasons and in offices even in midwinter. Resilient ventilative cooling can be an energy efficient solution to address this cooling challenge in buildings.
Submitted by Maria.Kapsalaki on Fri, 10/23/2020 - 14:58
Air infiltration in buildings has multiple consequences on energy use and indoor environmental quality which depend on the location and distribution of leakages. Among others, pollutant infiltration and air draft are highly affected by leakage distribution. In current practice, leakage detection is frequently performed together with an airtightness test. Leakage detection methods allow to identify the locations of the leakages, but in most cases do not allow to quantify the amount of leakage corresponding to each identified leakage.
Submitted by Maria.Kapsalaki on Tue, 01/21/2020 - 16:06
Mandatory or voluntary building airtightness testing has come gradually into force in many European countries mostly because of the increasing weight of building leakage energy impact on the overall energy performance of low-energy buildings. Therefore, airtightness levels of new buildings have significantly improved in the last decade, but a lot of questions remain regarding the durability of airtightness products.
Submitted by Maria.Kapsalaki on Thu, 02/12/2026 - 16:11
This webinar followed up on contributions presented at the Buildair 2025 Symposium in Hannover and brought these insights to a wider international audience.
Submitted by Maria.Kapsalaki on Mon, 11/03/2025 - 16:04
In this webinar studies from four different countries were presented to document and analyse the Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) in schools based on monitoring of various indoor environmental parameters, including PM and CO2. Schools represent crucial environments due to children's extended exposure and increased vulnerability to air pollution. Therefore, studying the school environment allows to develop evidence-based strategies to minimise exposure to indoor air pollution and enhance children’s health and well-being.
Submitted by Maria.Kapsalaki on Fri, 09/12/2025 - 18:30
Recent years have seen important evolutions in building ventilation regulations, inspection practices, and market developments across Europe, with significant differences between countries. While Spain has progressively moved towards performance-based IAQ regulations and the adoption of smart ventilation systems, France is transitioning from prescriptive to performance-based frameworks while maintaining its long-standing tradition of mechanical ventilation in dwellings.
Submitted by Maria.Kapsalaki on Fri, 07/25/2025 - 10:36
Climate change is increasingly recognized as a driver of indoor environmental health risks, particularly through the promotion of mould growth, including strains resistant to heat and fungicides. As people spend over 80% of their time indoors, the growing vulnerability of buildings to elevated humidity and moisture poses a significant public health risk. Mould exposure has been linked to respiratory and cardiovascular illnesses, allergic reactions, cognitive decline, and diminished quality of life—outcomes reflected in rising Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs).
Submitted by Maria.Kapsalaki on Thu, 04/10/2025 - 09:01
Major discrepancies are found between countries regarding both the building and ductwork airtightness trends, primarily due to varying national policies, construction practices, and climates. In some countries, minimum airtightness requirements for buildings are included in regulations, such as in U.S. states that have adopted the IECC energy code, which mandates testing to justify airtightness in residential buildings. In Estonia and Germany, achieving high airtightness in the building envelope is encouraged by disadvantageous default values for Energy Performance calculations.
Submitted by Maria.Kapsalaki on Wed, 04/09/2025 - 14:31
The inspection of ventilation systems in non-residential buildings is a growing priority across Europe, driven by the need for better energy efficiency and indoor air quality. Inspection protocols can be challenging to develop as, unlike for residential buildings, a wide range of building types and use has to be covered. Moreover, inspection protocols vary significantly between countries due to different national policies and building practices.
Login