Improving Energy Efficiency of Housing Stock: Demonstration of Impacts on Indoor Environmental Quality and Public Health in Northern Europe ✓ Most Recent

National policies and programmes are developed in order to fulfill the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) aiming to minimum energy performance for new and renovated buildings. In Finland and Lithuania (representing the region of Northern Europe), the refurbishment programs for multifamily apartment buildings are gaining their momentum. INSULAtE project (www.insulateproject.eu) focuses on assessment of national policies and programs targeting to improve energy efficiency (EE) of the European housing stock. The project aims to develop a comprehensive protocol for assessment of the impacts of EE on indoor environmental quality (IEQ) and health; and to demonstrate the effects of EE on IEQ and public health in the two countries.

Field studies have started in fall of 2011 and pre-intervention measurements are planned to be completed by the middle of 2013. 20 multifamily buildings per country in which a representative sample of apartments (five apartments per building) are selected for indoor environmental monitoring and assessment. In a sample of 28 homes (per both countries), the assessment of exposure to environmental pollutants was carried out by measuring concentrations of the following parameters: particulate matter concentration (PM2.5, PM10), combustion by-products (CO, NO2), selected organic chemicals (VOC, formaldehyde), mineral fibers and radon. The protocol also includes assessments of changes in ventilation/air exchange rate, indoor thermal conditions (T, RH, draught), risk for dampness and mould growth. Data from the occupants have been collected using structured interviews/questionnaires, in which the occupants were asked to self-evaluate their health status. In addition, the occupants were asked to complete health symptom/activity diaries during the period that the passive sampling is underway. The paper present s results from the first two years of IAQ measurements in the buildings participating in the refurbishment programs.