Phil F. G. Banfill
Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, UK
Sophie A. Simpson
Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, UK
Mark C. Gillott
The University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
Jennifer White
The University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
Download article
http://dx.doi.org/10.3384/ecp110571102Published in: World Renewable Energy Congress - Sweden; 8-13 May; 2011; Linköping; Sweden
Linköping Electronic Conference Proceedings 57:46, p. 1102-1109
Published: 2011-11-03
ISBN: 978-91-7393-070-3
ISSN: 1650-3686 (print), 1650-3740 (online)
The ventilation heat loss in a typical unimproved UK dwelling is approximately equal to the conduction loss; therefore draught-proofing measures should form part of any energy refurbishment package. This will improve the building’s air permeability but risks incurring additional energy costs associated with the need to provide controlled ventilation to maintain indoor air quality. This paper aims to determine the point at which the air permeability of the building improves the energy performance by enough to justify the increase in energy associated with the installation of mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR). A 1930’s style semi-detached house; representative of a large proportion of solid wall dwellings in the UK; has been improved by a package of measures including MVHR. The building air tightness plays a critical role in reducing the building energy consumption and CO2 emissions.
[1] Energy Saving Trust; Energy-efficient refurbishment of existing housing (CE83); EST; 2003.
[2] www.calebre.org.uk (accessed 28/1/11).
[3] M. Sherman et al; Building airtightness: research and practice; Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory; LBNL-53356; 2003.
[4] R.K. Stephen; Airtightness in UK Dwellings: BRE’s Test Results and Their Significance; Report 359; Building Research Establishment; 1998.
[5] P. Carrer et al; Allergens in indoor air: environmental assessment and health effects; The Science of the Total Environment; 2001; 270(1-3): 33-42.
doi: 10.1016/S0048-9697(00)00791-9.
[6] H.B. Awbi; Ventilation of buildings; Spon; Second Edition; 2003; pp. 37- 45.
[7] www.2010ncm.bre.co.uk (accessed 28/1/11)
[8] Chartered Institute of Building Services Engineers; Testing buildings for air leakage; CIBSE; 2000.
[9] J. Kronvall; Testing of houses for air leakage using a pressure method; ASHRAE Transactions; 1978; 84(1): 72-9
[10] C. Dubrul; Inhabitants behavior with respect to ventilation; UK: Air Infiltration Centre; Technical Note 23; 1988.
[11] M. Sherman; Estimation of infiltration from leakage and climate indicators; Energy and Buildings; 1987; 10(1): 81-6.
doi: 10.1016/0378-7788(87)90008-9.
[12] J. Jokisalo et al; Building leakage; infiltration and energy performance analyses for Finnish detached houses; Building and Environment; 2009; 44(2): 377-387.
doi: 10.1016/j.buildenv.2008.03.014.
[13] Building Research Establishment; Continuous mechanical ventilation in dwellings; BRE; Digest 398; 1994.
[14] Department for Communities and Local Government; Approved Document F: Means of Ventilation; NBS; 2010.
[15] Department for Communities and Local Government; Domestic Building Services Compliance Guide; NBS; 2010.
[16] Energy Saving Trust; Energy efficient ventilation in dwellings – a guide for specifiers; EST; 2006.
