Page 22 - European Energy Innovation - winter 2018 publication
P. 22
22 Winter 2018 European Energy Innovation
INDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
Photo by Nastuh Abootalebi on Unsplash
collects primary information coming THE COMFORTMETER potential for comfort improvements.
from the building occupants and The Comfortmeter2 is instead a The innovation lies in connecting
consists of an Indoor Environmental measuring instrument offering indoor air quality to benefits and
Quality assessment, in which users information on the level of comfort costs for the building owner, a crucial
are asked to evaluate all elements inside the building and can further step to boost knowledge and interest
of IEQ, and an additional section estimate the impact of the building to renovate.
covering building-related health scores on employee productivity
effects, such as headache, fatigue, (€/year). Based on scientific research IEQ IN THE EU LEGISLATION
nose or throat irritation. performed by 6 European Universities Even if the recently revised Energy
and Factor4 and supported by the Performance of Buildings Directive
The innovation lies in the European Commission, the tool (EPBD 2018/844) includes elements
combination of the Post-Occupancy focuses on 6 subjects: lighting, of health, comfort, indoor air quality
Evaluation survey results with data acoustics, thermal comfort, office and indoor climate conditions, it still
collected onsite from the Building environment, quality of air and falls short on how a satisfactory IEQ
Management System (BMS). This individual control. should be achieved.
information will benefit a range of
stakeholders, from the design of the It documents the performance of IEQ requirements also vary
buildings of the future to the drafting the building(s) in respect of the most substantially at national level,
of upcoming policies, and can also important technological criterion but, according to the recently
help building managers improve the of success through the eyes (and launched BPIE report3, it is where
IEQ for the occupants by focusing on answers) of the daily users. The real opportunities lie. National
what was graded “badly”. Comfortmeter can also determine the policy frameworks have indeed four
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