Page 23 - European Energy Innovation - winter 2018 publication

Winter 2018 European Energy Innovation 23

INDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY

It is important to remember that a
good IEQ, consisting of optimized acoustics,
lighting, air quality and thermal comfort does
not lead to short term effects: it is instead a
long term lifestyle change leading to better
health and comfort in our buildings – and
therefore in our lives.

areas where IEQ could be given the 4. Finally, adequate compliance and leading to better health and comfort
deserved importance. quality control mechanisms must in our buildings – and therefore in our
be in place to ensure enforcement lives. l
1. Long-term renovation strategies, and implementation of IEQ
where Member States should requirements.
highlight IEQ, and the significant
benefits renovation can bring, both Good IEQ is a cornerstone of
in terms of health and societal ensuring health, comfort, wellbeing
gains. and productivity in buildings, but
this should take into accounts the
2. Energy Performance Certificates different needs of building occupants
(EPCs) and building renovation (energy savings, comfortable
passports, including evidence- temperature, sufficient daylight and
based IEQ aspects originating from good indoor air quality) and find a
measurements, building occupant balance between what is measured
questionnaire survey outcomes and what is perceived.
and/or computer simulations.
New initiatives at EU level are getting
3. Smart readiness indicator, close to the perfect balance but
capturing and promoting the strong action and implementation
benefits of smart buildings, that at EU and Member State levels
beyond being energy efficient and are still needed. It is important to
healthy, should recognise and remember that a good IEQ, consisting
react to users’ and occupants’ of optimized acoustics, lighting, air
needs for optimised comfort, quality and thermal comfort does
indoor air quality, wellbeing and not lead to short term effects: it is
operational requirements. instead a long term lifestyle change

[1] http://www.exceedproject.eu/evaluation-tool/ Contact information
[2] http://comfortmeter.eu/en/home-eng/
[3] BPIE, 2018, The inner value of a building – Linking indoor environmental quality and energy For more information on BPIE’s
performance in building regulation, http://bpie.eu/publication/the-inner-value-of-a-building-linking- work visit www.bpie.eu
indoor-environmental-quality-and-energy-performance-in-building-regulation/

www.europeanenergyinnovation.eu