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Calama-González, C.M., León-Rodríguez, A.L., Suárez Medina, R. (2021). Indoor environmental assessment: Comparing ventilation scenarios in pre-and post-retrofitted dwellings through test cells.

REVISTA: Journal of Building Engineering, 43 (103148), 1-11
IMPACTO: JCR (2020): 5.318. Civil Engineering, Q1 (13/137)
DOI: 10.1016/j.jobe.2021.103148

ABSTRACT:

In the next few years, outdoor temperature is expected to increase significantly as a result of climate change, a noticeable phenomenon, especially in the Mediterranean. In this future scenario, ventilation is a low-cost and useful strategy for tackling indoor overheating, mainly in energy-poor housing buildings. This research assesses the influence of different ventilation systems, air rates and schedules on the thermal comfort and indoor air quality of a residential retrofitted space when compared to an un-retrofitted environment, through test cell measurements. To do so, the methodology combines on-site monitoring with numerical models, simultaneously analysing both spaces under the same climate conditions. Results obtained show barely perceptible differences between the implementation of a mechanical ventilation system and a natural one, when it comes to thermal comfort in spaces with low thermal inertia, highlighting the clear advantage of energy and economic savings of the passive system.

Highlights:
The differences between IAQ in pre-/post-retrofitted ventilated spaces are minimal.
Inadequate ventilation periods negatively affect both IAQ and thermal comfort.
Short-term ventilation periods are useful for occasionally reducing high CO2.
Long-term ventilation periods are required to maintain IAQ with high occupancy.
Night ventilation is effective if applied under specific thermal conditions.