Both infiltration and exfiltration has a predominant influence on the space heating requirements in cold climates. Good predictive design methods are required to estimate the air leakage component in buildings. This predictive methods will be useful in implementing the air leakage control strategies for reducing the problems associated with air infiltration in both new and existing high-rise buildings.
Air infiltration and ventilation has a profound influence on both the internal environment and on the energy needs of buildings. In most electrically heated high-rise residential buildings, in cold climates, during the peak winter conditions (below -18 deg C ambient temperature and above 15 km/hour wind velocity), the air infitration component contributes to heating load by 10 to 28 w/m2 - roughly 25 to 35% of peak heating demand. Any reduction in such uncontrolled air infiltration, without sacrificing indoor air quality, will have potential to reduce the peak heating demand.
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