Understanding Ventilation Practices How residents’ actions are prefigured in the design and production of low energy housing Carrie Behar PhD Researcher.

Understanding Ventilation PracticesHow residents’ actions are prefigured in the design and

production of low energy housing

Carrie BeharPhD Researcher

UCL Energy Institute, Bartlett

BEHAVE CONFERENCE 04/09/14

Whole house ventilation in low energy housing

Fresh air only enters through controlled openings in living areas:• Trickle vents (1)• Wall inlets• Ductwork (2)

Stale air exits only through controlled openings in wet areas:• Extract vents (3)• Mechanical or passive• Heat recovery (4)

Airtight constructio

n

(1)

(3)

(2)

(4)

INTRODUCTION

BEHAVE CONFERENCE 04/09/14

DATA COLLECTION

BEHAVE CONFERENCE 04/09/14

Case A: PSV Case B: MEV Case C: MVHR Residents 4 residents 5 residents 6 residents

Design team 1 architect 1 architect 2 architects 1 contractor 1 contractor

Housing association

1 technical director 1 sustainability officer 1 housing officer 1 business manager 1 sustainability manager 1 project manager

Misc.1 course leader from BPEC domestic ventilation installer training course

Interviews with residents and professionals at three ‘low energy’ social housing developments

Homemaking Practices Homes modified by lifestyles, past experiences and homemaking practices

Critical EventsRaise awareness of otherwise ‘hidden’ systems

Ventilation Practices Complex ‘bundles’ of activities carried by residents enacting daily routines

Physical arrangements

THESIS

BEHAVE CONFERENCE 04/09/14

Design Practices Client’s requirements delivered through design and construction practices

(1)

(3)(2)

WINDOWS & FANS

BEHAVE CONFERENCE 04/09/14

WindowsLeft open while heating is on

Electric fansUsed to keep cool during summer

Wasted Energy as a result of certain ventilation activities

NIGHT VENTILATION

BEHAVE CONFERENCE 04/09/14

Insects & SpidersFear of bugs limits window opening

RooflightsHard to reach and let in rain

Night Ventilation not being carried out as anticipated

WINDOWS

BEHAVE CONFERENCE 04/09/14

PetsWindows left open to keep out smells

Wall InletsObstructed by furniture

Windows remain preferred ventilation choice despite more efficient options

Boost ButtonBroken switch confuses residents

Residents accustomed to closing windows at night to stop bugs entering

Critical Events• Pole provided to reach rooflights.

Several families adapt practices to use rooflight

• Window frame gets wet. 1 family makes decision to never open rooflights and use fans instead

Ventilation Practices • Windows opened during day

and closed at night• Electric fans and a/c used to

cool down

Dwelling overheats during hot weather

DISCUSSION

BEHAVE CONFERENCE 04/09/14

Architect anticipates night ventilation and designs rooflights for this purpose

Ventilation practices do not match those imagined by the designers

CONCLUSION

BEHAVE CONFERENCE 04/09/14

This research was made possible by EPSRC support for the London-Loughborough Centre for Doctoral Research in Energy Demand, grant number EP/H009612/1

Thank you for listening…Any questions?

Carrie Behar, PhD Researcher [[email protected]]

“Follow me on twitter @lolostudent”

PublicationsBEHAR, C. & CHIU, L., Ventilation in energy efficient UK homes; A user experience of innovative technologies. Proceedings of eceee summer study, Rethink, Renew, Restart., Belambra Les Criques, France 4-9 June, 2013.BEHAR, C. Utilising resident feedback to inform energy saving interventions at the Barbican. Local Environment: The International Journal of Justice and Sustainability 2013.