This paper presents a complete overview of energy and indoor air quality issues related to ventilation. It comments ventilation in standards and in practice and gives information on the human response, health effects, air distribution, ventilation efficiency and different types of ventilation systems.

This paper discusses architectural design of buildings for a good indoor air quality, material selection, building design process, relationships between indoor and outdoor air quality. It shows that the roles of architects and engineers are complementary to obtain a good indoor air quality.

Ventilation and indoor air characteristics were measured in 63 apartments for elderly people in Finland and residents were inquired about indoor climate. Results are shown and analysed.

A thermal manikin with a simulated lung was placed in an air-conditioned office with fresh air supplied in close proximity to the facial area at flow rates from 0.1 to 2 l/s. CO2 concentration measurements allow to define the fresh air utilization efficiency and the pollutant exposuer reduction efficiency.

Performance on a long-term period of time of an HVAC installation to ensure thermal comfort conditions can be evaluated by estimating the number of hours when the thermal condiitons are outside a given range. Another method consists in weighing this number of hours according to the indoor temperatures. These methods are demonstrated and discussed using data from measurements in an existing building.

A personalized ventilation system located underneath the front edge of a desk was tested regarding to its ventilation efficiency using a heated mannequin and tracer gas. The air change effectiveness ranged from 1.4 to 2.7.

This paper examines the performance of five different air terminal devices for personalized ventilation in relation to the quality of air inhaled by a breathing thermal manikin in a climate chamber. The personalized air was supplied either isothermally or non-isothermally (6 C cooler than the room air) at flow rates ranging from less that 5 l/s up to 23 /s. The air quality assessment was based on temperature measurements of the inhaled air and on the portion of the personalized air inhaled. The percentage of dissatisfied with the air quality was predicted.

Thermal comfort (PMV and PPD indices) of a floor return underfloor ventilation system was evaluated through experiments with different supply air temperatures and internal heat loads. Results are shown and analysed.

Experiments with 30 human subjects were performed in an office equipped with personalized ventilation systems (individual control of flowrate and direction) for 6 workers and with different supply air temperatures to analyse perceived air quality and sick building symptoms.

Thermal comfort obtained with a ceiling cooling system was investigated through experiments with human subjects. Results give their perception of thermal comfort and its relationships with skin temperatures measured at several parts of the body.