Sealed attic construction, by excluding vents to the exterior, can be a good way to exclude moisture-laden outside air from attics and may offer a more easily constructed alternative for air leakage control at the top of residential buildings. However, the space conditioning energy use and roof temperature implications of this approach have not been extensively studied. A computer modeling study (Rudd 1996) was performed to determine the effects of sealed residential attics in hot climates on space conditioning energy use and roof temperatures.
Can natural-ventilation techniques really cope with the demands of hot summer days? That is the question that Monodraught's Terry Payne was seeking the answer to when he invited a BRE team to monitor an installation at the University or Hertfordshire
Future information age technology will demand cleaner and more cleanrooms for the manufacture, assembly and repair of electronic components. Many special processes can be very sensitive to trace contaminants which are not removed by conventional air conditioning, filtering and distribution. High efficiency particulate air filters, high velocity streamline air flows, relatively dry air, clean ducts and plenums, cooling, noise reduction and perhaps disinfection are needed.
A short state of the art in heat attenuation studies and technology is presented, with reference to the climate conditions of Mediterranean countries. The main areas of mass, insulation, building shape, glazing and control are considered. The main problems pertaining to each area are discussed and the most promising perspectives illustrated. A possible scenario for a future European concerted action is proposed, considering both applied research, pre-normative studies, and industrial developments.
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