Webinars

Setting sustainable urban development goals and developing energy efficient solutions for buildings are crucial elements of climate action. Urban living is introducing new challenges both for architectural design and technical solutions. Ventilation systems have an important impact both on energy use as well as indoor climate and health in buildings. So, how can we develop good home ventilation solutions fit for urban living?

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. However, rather limited expertise is available as regards the durability of building airtightness at mid- and long-term scales.

Cooking is a major source of indoor contaminants, including moisture, odors and particles. Proper venting of cooking activities is an essential part of providing acceptable indoor air quality in homes. This webinar will discuss kitchen venting, including measurements of contaminants that are emitted from cooking, discussions of kitchen exhaust ventilation system performance and guidance on best practices for kitchen ventilation.

Various studies have shown that ductwork leakage has a major impact on energy use (i.e. increased fan energy use, heating & cooling losses etc.). However, in most European countries, it is not common to perform ductwork airtightness tests, which is probably due to the lack of awareness on the consequences of ductwork leakage. As follows, ductwork airtightness is not properly taken into account in most Energy Performance Regulations and Calculations.

MOS VOC sensors gain increasing attention in the ventilation community because of their low price and claimed ability to supplement or even substitute CO2 sensors for demand control. Even though there are many “IEQ” meters available on the market, where these sensors are used, the amount of scientific studi`es focused on their reliability and applicability is still limited.

Ventilative cooling reduces overheating, improves summer comfort and decreases cooling loads. It is therefore one of the most efficient ways to improve summer comfort. Conditions on site, thermal inertia, solar control and other constraints have an impact on the choice of the system and its design. The overall performance is linked to good sizing, design, correct usage of thermal storage, and last but not least a correct control, commissioning and maintenance.

AIVC defines smart ventilation as a process to continually adjust the ventilation system of a building in order to provide the desired Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) benefits while minimizing energy consumption, utility bills and other non-IAQ costs (thermal discomfort, noise, etc.). Smart ventilation responds to one or more of the following: building occupancy, outdoor conditions, electricity grid needs, operation of other building systems, direct sensing of contaminants.

Work performed so far in the field of ductwork airtightness has shown that it may lead to important energy losses and increased fan energy use. Nevertheless, a recent survey has shown that ductwork airtightness does not seem to be taken into account (neither in regulation nor in energy performance programmes) in most European countries. Progress is therefore needed to better understand the impact of ductwork airtightness on energy use (fan, cooling and heating) and indoor air quality.

The objective of this webinar was:

Over the years, different approaches and indices have been used to define indoor air quality. The most frequently used, recognised by the public, and equated with indoor air quality are, of course, ventilation rate and concentration of carbon dioxide. Other approaches define the levels of dissatisfaction with acceptability of indoor air quality, as expressed by the building occupants. At some point in time, the total concentration of airborne volatile organic compounds was proposed, as well.

The BUILD UP portal for energy efficient buildings is holding an online webstreamed event to mark the launch of the improved website.

Expert speakers will present the findings of the Concerted Action EPBD. This is the forum for 28 European Member States plus Norway to exchange best practice on implementing the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive in their countries.

Agenda