INDOOR AIR QUALITY: INSIGHTS FOR DESIGNING ENERGY EFFICIENT BUILDINGS

Abstract Indoor air quality has become an issue of increasing concern. The causes were mainly associated with some energy conservation measures, particularly reductions in ventilation levels, originated by the oil crisis of the 70's meanwhile, the real causes for indoor air pollution have been identified and great scientific and technical progress towards a better knowledge of the scientific basis of indoor air quality has been accomplished in recent years. At the European Community level, among others, the activities developed since 1986 under the Community Concerted Action “Indoor Air Quality and its impact on Man” and, more recently, also in the JOULE project “European Audit Project to Optimise Indoor Air Quality and Energy Consumption in Office Buildings” have given a major contribution for the enhancement and transfer of that knowledge towards the practitioners. At the CEN level, the work carried out by TCI56 while preparing the European Standard "Ventilation for Buildings: Design Criteria for the In...