Energy saving in child-care centres obtained by selecting optimal technical solutions for ventilation adjusted for the actual situation

The project will have many   innovative features including that it describes the indoor climate from a child's perspective with regard to both health and comfort and not only from the customary perspective of occupational health.

The project focuses on 

• comparative measurements of the indoor climate and energy consumptions in institutions with mechanical or natural ventilation respectively and interviews with the staff of these institutions as well as registration of the children's exposure pattern, and
• performing simulations of selected indoor climate parameters and energy consumption in model institutions.

First eight child-care centres are selected, including four with mechanical ventilation and four with natural ventilation. In these eight centres measurements are made of the indoor climate, energy consumption and the children's exposure pattern are registered (2006-2007). Next two child-care centres are selected with mechanical and natural ventilation respectively for a theoretical investigation of alternative ventilation solutions. In these two centres a more detailed series of measurements will be carried out as well as registration of the energy consumption on different systems, the distribution of consumption over time, matching values of consumption and the indoor climate, the use of the centre, control of its technical systems etc. (2007-2008) Relevant acoustical measurements are made to assess how the ventilation solutions affect the overall acoustic properties of the building. To a limited extent small children's reaction to the indoor climate will be observed. Finally the staff is interviewed about how they perceive the ventilations systems and the indoor climate including their perception of the children's reactions.

For further information contact senior researcher Alireza Afshari at the Department of Health and Comfort (+45) 45 74 23 93, e-mail: ala@sbi.dk or Head of Department Claus Reinhold at (+45) 45 23 92, e-mail: clr@sbi.dk.