Comparison of natural and hybrid ventilation strategies used in classrooms in terms of indoor environmental quality,comfort and energy savings

Abstract

Numerous studies have shown that ventilation in classrooms is often insufficient or inadequate, leading to health risks, discomfort and a decrease in student learning performances. The aim of this study was to compare the performances of four ventilation modes used in identical and adjacent classrooms at the University of La Rochelle in terms of indoor environmental quality, overall comfort perception by the occupants and energy consumption. The different ventilation strategies included the use of balanced mechanical ventilation and natural ventilation by manual or automated window opening. Parameters related to air quality as well as thermal, visual and acoustic comfort were measured, and questionnaires were filled out by the occupants during the courses. The monitoring approach was conducted during summer and winter 2010 in order to classify the tested strategies during both seasons with reference to the requirements of standards and French regulations. The results showed that the automated window opening system controlled by air temperature and lighting level was really efficient in summer. In winter, none of the ventilation modes was clearly more adaptable for classrooms than the other. Thus, a good use of natural ventilation, controlled by well chosen parameters can provide a satisfactory solution for the academic environment.

Keywords

Indoor environmental quality Indoor air quality Comfort perception Energy consumptions Natural ventilation Classrooms

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

d’Ambrosio Alfano FR, Bellia L, Boerstra A, van Dijken F, Ianniello E, lopardo G, Minichiello F, Romagnoni P, Gameiro da Silva MC. Indoor Environment and Energy Efficiency in Schools - Part I Principles. Guidebook REHVA 2010; 13, pp.4–39.

Olesen B, Bluyssen P, Roulet CA. Ventilation and indoor environmental quality: in Awbi HB (ed.) Ventilation Systems - Design and Performance, Ch. 2, London: Taylor & Francis, 2008, pp.62–105.

ADEME. Améliorez le confort de votre maison. L’isolation thermique – l’habitat individuel. Agence de l’Environnement et de la Maîtrise de l’Energie. Paris: Francis Macard, 2012.

Dijken

Bronswijk

Sundell

. Indoor environment in Dutch primary schools and health of pupils. Build Res Inform 2006; 34: 437–446.

Clements-Croome

Awbi

Bako-Biro Zs Kochhar

Wiliams

. Ventilation rates in schools. Build Environ 2008; 43: 362–367.

Daisey

Angell

Apte

. Indoor air quality, ventilation and health symptoms in schools:. an analysis of existing information. Indoor Air 2003; 13: 53–64.

Kirchner S, Ramalho O, Riberon J: Energetic and health impact of air exchange rate in two elementary schools - Final report. Centre Scientifique et Technique du Bâtiment, CSTB, 2004.

Wargocki

Wyon

Baik

Clausen

Fanger

. Perceived air quality, Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) symptoms and productivity in an office with two different pollution loads. Indoor Air 1999; 9: 165–179.

Faustman

Silbernagel

Fenske

Burbacher

Ponce

. Mechanisms underlying children’s susceptibility to environmental toxicants. Environ Health Perspect 2008; 108: 13–21.

10.

Holcomb

Pedelty

. Comparison of employee upper respiratory absenteeism costs with costs associated with improved ventilation. ASHRAE Trans 1994; 100: 914–920.

11.

Santamouris

Synnefa

Assimakopoulos

Livada

Pavlou

Papaglastra

Gaitani

Kolokotsa

Assimakopoulos

. Experimental investigation of the air flow and indoor carbon dioxide concentration in classrooms with intermittent natural ventilation. Energy Build 2008; 40: 1833–1843.

12.

Mumovic

Palmer

Davies

. Winter indoor air quality, thermal comfort and acoustic performance of newly built secondary school in England. Build Environ 2009; 44: 1466–1477.

13.

Wachenfeldt

Mysen

Schild

. Air flow rates and energy saving potential in schools with demand-controlled displacement ventilation. Energy Build 2007; 39: 1073–1079.

14.

Di Perna

Mengaroni

Fuselli

Stazi

. Ventilation strategies in school buildings for optimization of air quality, energy consumption and environmental comfort in mediterranean climates. Int J Ventil 2011; 10: 61–78.

15.

EN 15251. Indoor Environment Input Parameters for Design and Assessment of Energy Performance of Buildings Addressing Indoor Air Quality, Thermal Environment, Lighting and Acoustics. Brussels, European Committee for Standardization, 2007.

16.

Fanger

. Thermal Comfort, New York: McGraw-Hill, 1972.

17.

Roulet

. Santé et qualité de l’environnement intérieur dans les bâtiments, 20082nd ed. Lausanne, Presses Polytechniques et Universitaires Romandes.

18.

RSDT. Règlement Sanitaire Départemental Type - Circulaire du 9 Août 1978 : JO 13/09/1978.

19.

NOR. DEVP0320066A: Arrêté du 25 Avril 2003 relatif à la limitation du bruit dans les établissements d’enseignement. Legifrance.gouv.fr, 2003.

20.

AFE. Recommandations relatives à l’éclairage des locaux scolaires. Association Française de l’Eclairage, LUX, Paris, 1998.

21.

RT. 2005 Arrêté du 24 mai 2006 relatif aux caractéristiques thermiques des bâtiments nouveaux et des parties nouvelles de bâtiments (RT 2005) : JO 25/05/2006; p 7747.

22.

EN ISO 7726. Ergonomics of the Thermal Environment - Instruments of Measuring Physical Quantities. Brussels, European Committee for Standardization, 2002.

23.

Persily

. Evaluating building IAQ and ventilation with indoor carbon dioxide. ASHRAE Trans 1997; 103: 1–12.

24.

Turner W, Bearg D. Determining delivered quantities of outside air: CO₂ tracer gas or both? in Proceedings of the ASHRAE/SOEH Conference IAQ 1989: The Human Equation: Health and Comfort, San Diego, California, 17–20 April 1989.

25.

EN ISO 10551. Ergonomics of the Thermal Environment – Assessment of the Influence of the Thermal Environment Using Subjective Judgment Scales. Brussels, European Committee for Standardization, 2001.

26.

Blondeau

Iordache

Poupard

Genin

Allard

. Relationship between outdoor and indoor air quality in eight French schools. Indoor Air 2005; 15: 2–12.

27.

WHO. Air Quality Guidelines for Particulate Matter, Ozone, Nitrogen Dioxide and Sulfur Dioxide - Global Update 2005 - Summary of Risk Assessment. Geneva: WHO Press, 2006.

28.

Frontczak

Wargocki

. Literature survey on how different factors influence human comfort in indoor environments. Build Environ 2010; 46: 922–937.

29.

EN ISO 7730:2005. Ergonomics of the Thermal Environment – Analytical Determination and Interpretation of Thermal Comfort Using Calculation of the PMV and PPD Indices and Local Thermal Comfort Criteria. Brussels, European Committee for Standardization, 2006.