Energy savings in child care centres by choice of optimal ventilation techniques tailored for the purpose

 

The aim of this project is to determine the energy-saving potential in child care institutions by the choice of an optimal ventilation technique which is tailored for the purpose. The building regulations require that day-care institutions should be ventilated by mechanical ventilation plants with injection and exhaust of air. However, some institutions have natural ventilation where these requirements have not been fulfilled and where there is no systematic documentation of neither energy savings or achievement of a satisfactory indoor climate.

Natural ventilation can save energy, for example, for the electricity operating ventilators. However, natural ventilation should also be an overall energy saver and it should not worsen the indoor climate for children and adults in the institutions. A "free" choice of ventilation technique should be optimized according to its performance and should be adapted to local requirements. Therefore, the project focuses on 1) comparative measurements of indoor climate and energy consumption in institutions with mechanical and natural ventilation, respectively, and interviews with the staff of these institutions as well as registration of the exposure pattern of the children, and 2) make simulations of chosen indoor climate parameters and energy consumption in model institutions.