Ventilation, energy and environment
Ventilation is necessary for providing indoor air quality and thermal comfort in buildings, yet it significantly impacts energy and the environment. Efficient ventilation systems are essential for minimising energy usage and reducing carbon emissions.
WHO guidelines for air quality — Improving health by reducing air pollution
The human right to breathe clean air in all environments, like schools, homes, offices, etc. Yet it is alarming that 99% of the world's population breathes air exceeding World Health Organisation (WHO) air quality limits. We are all different, so there is a great need for a list of global limit values to reduce the population's exposure to air pollution. Addressing air pollution through policy actions can bring health benefits for people, climate mitigation and sustainable economic development.
Read our Update&Insight 'WHO guidelines for air quality — Improving health by reducing air pollution'
Smart-ready functionalities help improve occupants' comfort and buildings' energy consumption
Smart buildings are about connection — interlinking and reacting to signals — thus satisfying building occupants' demands and achieving buildings' good energy performance. Smart buildings are responsive and can adapt operations. Here are a few examples of smart-ready functionalities.
- Occupancy detection sensors help improve air quality and save energy.
- Providing information to occupants about the energy consumption of each technical building system can stimulate responsible behaviours.
- Fault detection systems can support the effective maintenance of building systems.
- Heating, cooling, and domestic hot water systems can be operated based on signals from the grid to provide flexible services without decreasing occupant comfort.
The role of the EPBD and the SRI: How smart-ready buildings address people's needs and meet tomorrow's challenges
The smartness of a building refers to its ability to sense, interpret, communicate, and actively respond efficiently to changing conditions concerning the operation of technical building systems, the external environment, and building occupants' demands. The EPBD Recast, supported by the Smart Readiness Indicator (SRI), envisions smart buildings as integrated energy systems — capable of producing, using, and storing energy while providing a healthy and comfortable indoor environment for people through effective HVAC systems and other advanced building services.
Read our Update&Insight 'The role of the EPBD and the SRI: How smart-ready buildings address people's needs and meet tomorrow's challenges'
"Using the EPBD and SRI to make indoor climate visible and valued by everyone is a step in the right direction. Today, defined methodologies exist to monetise energy savings and flexibility services in buildings and for people.
However, there is still a clear challenge in standardising the translation of improving indoor environmental quality (IEQ) into economic value. SRI makes the indoor climate more visible by prioritising user needs, with its scoring system rewarding buildings that enhance health, wellbeing, accessibility, comfort and convenience for people.
The missing link lies in translating these features into financial terms. While the SRI emphasises responsiveness to user needs and includes indoor climate as one of its three key functionalities, connecting these benefits to economic metrics is still critical. Doing so would ensure that IEQ improvements are not only visible but also demanded and valued by all stakeholders in the building sector."
— Statement from Pablo Carnero Melero, Technical and EU Project Officer at REHVA
Watch: Short video summary of making indoor climate visible using EPBD & SRI
Pablo Carnero Melero & Mikael Börjesson
Experts on making indoor climate visible and demanded by everybody using EPBD & SRI.
Short video from Swegon Air Academy, 2024.
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More about standards
If you are interested in more knowledge related to standards, building directives and certifications, here are some interesting reading for you: