Describes the Computerized Instrumental Residential Audit (CIRA), a collection of programs for energy analysis and energy auditing of residential buildings. Air infiltration is modelled using the LBL infiltration model based on effective leakage. For a given budget, CIRA can also develop an optimally sequenced list of retrofits with the highest combined savings. Energy calculations compare well with those of DOE-2.1 and with measured energy consumptions from a sample of monitored houses.

Describes a detailed simulation program for estimating heat loads and room air temperatures of a residential building. Sets out the algorithms and the example simulation of a house by the program. As room surface temperaures and natural ventilation are important factors in considering the thermal environment and the heat load of the room, they are treated more rigorously than in a previously developed program.

Develops a calculation procedure to predict the room air temperature and heat load of Japanese housing. Includes the process to calculate natural ventilation precisely. Predicts the room air temperatures of 2 experimental houses using this method. Finds that the prediction agrees well with actual measurements.

Evaluates the intensity and acceptance of body odour as perceived by 89 male and female judges entering 2 auditoria occupied by 50-200 men. Performs 200 experiments with varied ventilation rate, space volume per occupant and temperature. Finds carbon dioxide to be a useful index of body odour intensity. Does not find any significant influence of space volume per occupant on steady-state ventilation requirements. Establishes a relationship between percentage dissatisfied and CO2 concentration.

The Fanger Comfort Equation is coupled to a building simulation model. Discusses some factors related to thermal comfort. Incorporates variables influencing comfort as subroutines in the main thermal analysis program. If the temperature calculated is significantly different from the prevailing air temperature, amelioration measures such as changes in the rate of ventilation (natural or mechanical) or conditioning of air are determined by thesubroutine CONAIR.

Reviews the published data on component air leakage, and from this compiles a set of component leakage figures for use in estimating leakage areas and their distribution in buildings. These calculations are compared with measurements of leakage areas in 36 houses in different locations in the US. The model predicts leakage area accurately for the average of the 36 houses, while for individual houses the standard deviation is about 20%. Discusses the assumptions and methods to convert other types of component leakage data to component leakage area.

Measures the airtightness of various types of 25 residential units (9 detached houses and 16 apartments) using the fan pressurization technique. Shows the relationship between the pressure difference across the building envelope and the volumetric flow rate of air as well as the ratio of the effective leakage area of one building element to the total leakage area. Compares the airtightness of various types of houses in different countries using the valueof the effective leakage area per floor a at a pressure difference of 10 Pa.

Reviews air infiltration studies in New Zealand. Tighter houses have evolved over the years through changes in building methods and materials. Some of the tighter houses can have condensation problems. Investigates the airtightness of 40 houses together with the leakage resistances of a range of building components and bulk sheathing materials. A comparison with houses in other countries shows that comparatively tight houses can arise from simple construction methods not employing vapour barriers. Gives air infiltration rates as a function of windspeed for 4 of the 40 houses.

Determines ventilation rates and intercell flow rates in naturally ventilated office building using multiple tracer gases. Subdivides the building into 3zones and seeds each zone individually with a different tracer gas. Monitors the time histories of the concentrations of all gases in each zone using non-dispersive infra red gas analysers. Calculates air flow rates from experimental data.

Describes the testing of 8 federal office buildings (size from 3000 sq.m. - 45000 sq.m.) for their air infiltration characteristics, as part of the NBS program to develop diagnostic test methods for evaluating the thermal integrity of federal office buildings. Performs tracer gas tests in the autumn, winter and spring to evaluate both the ventilation of these buildings during occupied periods and the natural air leakage under various weather conditions.