Methods for assessing indoor air quality, occupant comfort and energy consumption in energy-efficient dwellings

Methods for assessing indoor air quality, occupant comfort and energy consumption in energy-efficient dwellings A methodological tool for assessing indoor air quality, occupant comfort and energy consumption was developed and tested on seven highly airtight low-energy houses in France. The field studies were performed in three successive week-long phases (during vacancy, summer occupancy and winter occupancy). Testing for two buildings is ongoing. This research tool has proven to be quite relevant despite some constraints and technical difficulties associated with its implementation. The tool provides support for public policies aimed at improving the energy performance of future energy-efficient buildings by helping to anticipate potential problems of indoor air quality and occupant comfort in these buildings. A more operational tool is being finalized to facilitate its nationwide use and deployment at a reasonable cost. Finally, information collected by this tool will be centralized in a database, to be used regularly to support the construction of such buildings and identify items requiring adjustment to optimize the building stock now being metamorphosed.