UCL IEDE at the 38th AIVC conference in Nottingham

Representatives from more than 60 global institutions attended the conference to critically discuss the latest development in ventilative cooling, airtightness and the interrelationship between ventilation, Indoor air quality (IAQ) and health. The event took place during the 13 and 14^th of September. A PhD student, a postdoctoral researcher and a researcher associate, all representing UCL IEDE, published their work as part of the proceedings for the 38^th AIVC Conference: ‘Ventilating low-energy healthy buildings’.

Sani Dimitroulopoulou, a senior IEDE lecturer and keynote speaker, focused on indoor air quality which now includes thermal indoor quality – or thermal comfort as it is better known. She also referred to studies showing that MVHR might lead to IAQ problems due to poor design, commissioning and operation. Doctoral researcher Dzhordzhio Naldzhiev highlighted the importance of developing a robust analytical method for measuring the chemical emissions from insulation materials. His work will contribute to the further understanding of emissions from building materials and their influence on IAQ, human health and ventilation strategies.

Vivian Dorizas presented the findings of an experimental study on the in-situ performance of a natural ventilation system with heat recovery installed in a school building of London. Her project was funded by Innovate UK and Ventive Ltd and she acted as Lead KTP associate in low energy ventilation systems at the UCL IEDE. Esfandiar Burman, a research associate and lecturer at UCL IEDE, presented international collaborative research on design and operation of ventilation in low energy residences. Esfandiar’s work was part of Annex 68 and included a survey on code requirements for ventilation and building reality from six European countries and China.

UCL were leading the discussions at the conference with three of the seven invited speakers being part of the Bartlett School of Environment, Energy and Resources (BSEER). Professor Tadj Oreszczyn (keynote speaker as a representative of CIBSE) linked ventilation with health impacts, some due to overheating, and presented links to cost and climate changes issues. He highlighted the need for academia to engage with policy debates. Professor Paul Ruyssevelt (keynote speaker on behalf of the IEA) outlined IEA EBC annexes some including and/or focussing on cooling.