During the first outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 pandemic population, focusing primarily on risk infection, was generally inattentive to quality indoor air. Spain, and city Madrid in particular, were among world's coronavirus hotspots. The country's entire population subject a 24/7 lockdown for 45 days. This paper describes comparative longitudinal survey air four types housing before during lockdown. analysed temperatures variations CO2, 2.5 μm particulate matter (PM2.5) total volatile organic...

Air leakage and its impact on the energy performance of dwellings has been broadly studied in countries with cold climates Europe, US, Canada. However, there is a lack knowledge this field Mediterranean countries. Current Spanish building regulations establish ventilation rates based ideal airtight envelopes, causing problems over-ventilation substantial losses. The aim paper to develop methodology that allows characterization envelope housing stock Spain order adjust taking into...

Daylight metrics act as a useful tool to quantify the potential of natural light in an architectural space well energy savings promoted by suitable design windows, atriums, and skylights. Accordingly, new indoor lighting metric is proposed, minimum daylight autonomy, defined percentage occupied time when illuminance threshold can be met alone under continuous overcast sky conditions. This novel concept determine approximation maximum use electric quantification without need for advanced...

A large part of the school building stock in Andalusia lacks ventilation facilities, so that air renewal classrooms is achieved through envelope (air infiltration) or opening windows. This research analyses airtightness and evolution CO2 concentration during hours situ monitoring. Pressurization depressurization tests were performed 42 was measured two different periods, winter midseason, to study impact levels aperture About 917 students (11–17 years age) surveyed on symptoms effects their...

In southern Europe, the present stock of social housing is ventilated naturally, with practice varying in different seasons year. winter, windows are kept closed most day exception short periods for ventilation, whereas rest year almost permanently open. cold weather, air changes depend primarily on infiltrating across envelope and when temperature warm, flowing through open windows. CO2, PM2.5, TVOC concentration patterns were gathered over a year’s time three developments Europe...

A comprehensive assessment of indoor environmental conditions is performed on a representative sample classrooms in schools across southern Spain (Mediterranean climate) to evaluate the thermal comfort level, perception and preference, relationship with HVAC systems, comparison seasons personal clothing. Almost fifty were studied around one thousand pool-surveys distributed among their occupants, aged 12 17. These measurements during spring, autumn, winter, considered most periods use for...

The intensified indoor living during the spring 2020 lockdown, with enhanced user awareness of prevailing conditions in their homes, constituted a natural stress test for housing design place today. Surveys conducted this period have yielded lessons designing better intervention strategies residential sector, taking into account systematic morphological and economic limitations buildings concerned. These considerations should inform development policies improving environmental quality...

The airtightness of building envelopes is one the factors which most affects hygrothermal conditions and air quality indoor environment, as well energy consumption building. In multi-dwelling units this contributes significantly to overall load for heating or conditioning, making it possible calculate repercussion infiltrations on demand a dwelling between 20 50% total amount, depending climate zone construction characteristics envelope. Hence importance knowing parameters that characterise...

The development of policies to improve energy efficiency and the retrofitting existing housing stock requires adequate knowledge operation in practice user needs. This becomes crucial when intervening social housing, where household practices are likely be confounded by affordability leading outcomes that distinct sub-optimal compared those conventionally assumed. A field survey analyses applied more than 700 homes from collective buildings south Spain is reported here. results show a clear...

The indoor environment in non-university classrooms is one of the most analyzed problems thermal comfort and air quality (IAQ) areas. Traditional schools southern Europe are usually equipped with heating-only systems naturally ventilated, but climate change processes both progressively increasing average temperatures lengthening warm periods. In addition, renewal relayed these buildings to uncontrolled infiltration windows’ operation, urban environmental pollution exacerbating allergies...

Although energy analysis techniques can contribute to substantial savings in housing stock retrofitting operations, the outcomes often deviate significantly from predicted results, which tend overestimate potential by overestimating starting baselines, particularly southern Europe. This deviation be largely attributed occupant practice relating use of air conditioning facilities and temperatures at occupants feel comfortable. The patterns observed differed widely standard values. In this...

Climate change is raising the length and intensity of warm season in academic year, with a very significant impact on indoor classroom conditions. Increasingly frequent episodes extreme heat are having an adverse effect school activities, whose duration may have to be shortened or pace slackened. Fitting facilities air conditioning does not always solve problem even contribute discomfort worsen health conditions, often as result insufficient ventilation. Users traditionally adopted measures...

Spain’s high winter weather-associated death count, the second largest in Europe, can be attributed primarily to low construction standards of its social housing, particularly stock built prior entry into effect earliest statutory provisions on envelope quality. Hence, improving building envelopes both reduce energy consumption and raise occupant comfort levels is important. Air leakage one factors with greatest impact indoor domestic consumption. This study explores sensitivity that...

Much of the residential sector in Spain is obsolete, with inadequate conditions comfort and high energy consumption. For this reason most potential for improving efficiency lies existing sector, which requires upgrading to meet quantitative qualitative changes required at present. This study specific cases aimed establishing general criteria action has been prompted by difficulty proposing intervention strategies. paper presents a case retrofit 68 social housing units Cordoba (Spain)...

The research conducted under HABITA-RES explored the advisability of integrative refurbishment urban neighbourhoods on outskirts Madrid built between end Civil War in 1939 and enactment country’s first building code indoor environment 1979. Characterised by highly inefficient buildings, many such are listed as vulnerable areas. study described hereunder analysed feasibility their conversion to energy self-sufficiency improve residents’ environment, social circumstances health. European...

Este trabajo forma parte de una investigación mayor que los autores están llevando a cabo y tiene como objetivo evaluar la eficiencia energética diferentes estrategias rehabilitación edificios viviendas, con el fin establecer criterios preferenciales intervención acuerdo zona climáticas donde se ubica, morfología edificios, sus características constructivas valores patrimoniales. En centro histórico Oporto, las principales acciones consistiría en reducción significativa demanda calefacción...

Light is the main variable which affects to circadian rhythm, promoting up 70% of melatonin suppression.In comparison with visual system, system requires more light be activated and sensitive blue light.As can deduced, daylighting represents an ideal source for entrainment.Architectural design features, such as window size room reflectance, impact amount stimulus that occupants will receive.This study aims quantify promoted in classrooms, according reflectance surfaces.A first trial carried...