This paper presents the results of a series of measurements made in an occupied family house. Long and short-term measurements of the concentration of radon gas in the cellar and other living areas of the house were carried out. Subsequently a mechanical ventilation system was installed in the cellar and operated in both supply and extract mode with different air change rates. Further measurements of radon concentrations were carried out along with other physical parameters.
A high resolution particle-imaging velocimetry has been developed and applied to study full-scale room air flows. The system is designed to study local field quantities in occupied zones (microclimate), ventilation effectiveness, and airborne pollutant transport in the indoor environment. The system can be applied to evaluate indoor environment in typical commercial and residential settings. The technique and instrumentation have been applied successfully to study localized air flow patterns and particle concentration distribution in the indoor environment.
With effect from January 1st, 1995 the amended Heat Transfer Barrier Act (,,Warmeschutzverordnung ) was introduced in the Federal Republic of Germany, replacing the 1982 version. This decree is binding on all houses to be built so that they reach the low energy standard. Former decrees envisaged mainly the reduction of the transmission heat loss while the amended version takes into account all other relevant aspects such as internal and solar heat gains as well as ventilation heat losses, and includes them into an energy balance procedure.
Especially in modern buildings with small capacity of humidity storage it is necessary to reduce the humidity in the supply air. Normally a refrigeration system containing CFC s is used. There are some alternative fluids available, but mostly they show a high global warming potential. These systems all need electrical energy to be driven and therefore it is necessary to consider other possibilities with alternative systems. The most promising systems are sorptive systems which are used in open cycles.