The Power of Control

Our planet has just experienced its warmest June-July-August (JJA) season on record (Source: Copernicus, C3S). How, in this context, can we ensure summer thermal comfort in residential buildings while limiting our reliance on active cooling systems and their associated environmental impacts?

Passive environmental controls, such as solar shading and ventilative cooling, can be part of the answer in heating-dominated temperate climates. However, while they are encouraged through regulations like the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD), there is a need for a more thorough examination of the opportunities and conditions for summer thermal comfort, particularly in low-energy residential buildings.

In our paper recently published in Building Research & Information, we delve into the effectiveness of common passive environmental controls in mitigating overheating risks in dwellings. Based on qualitative and quantitative data collected through surveys and monitoring, the study calls for a better understanding of the barriers that hinder the successful integration and operation of environmental controls in residential buildings.

The paper is?accessible?at the following link:

?https://doi.org/10.1080/09613218.2023.2238852

50 free downloads are available here: https://www.tandfonline.com/eprint/QCESDI7VV4JSZCTNGIHI/full?target=10.1080/09613218.2023.2238852

Paper Title: On the effectiveness of passive controls for summer thermal comfort in highly insulated dwellings

Authors: Olivier Dartevelle, Geoffrey van Moeseke, Gabrielle Masy, Erwin Mlecnik, Sergio Altomonte

Abstract:? Among environmental controls, solar shading and ventilative cooling are widely considered as key passive strategies for limiting the overheating risks in buildings. While their application is encouraged through Energy Performance of Buildings Directive regulations, several studies have shown that summer thermal comfort in heating-dominate temperate climates still requires deeper investigation, particularly in low-energy residential buildings. Based on qualitative and quantitative data collected through surveys and monitoring in 147 highly insulated houses in Wallonia (Belgium), this paper gives an overview of the implemented passive strategies and discusses their effectiveness. Statistical tests are conducted to evaluate their impact on both perceived and measured indoor conditions. In general, the results highlight a limited impact of the implemented strategies, questioning their proper operation. Operational modes for environmental controls thus appear crucial, and should better respond to occupants’ needs, preferences and control opportunities. At a more general level, the study calls for a better understanding of the barriers inhibiting successful integration and operation of environmental controls, in order to effectively reduce overheating risks in residential buildings and limit future diffusion of active cooling systems with their induced environmental impacts.

Keywords: solar shading; ventilative cooling; passive strategies; summer thermal comfort; overheating; highly insulated buildings.

Citation: Olivier Dartevelle, Geoffrey van Moeseke, Gabrielle Masy, Erwin Mlecnik, Sergio Altomonte (2023). On the effectiveness of passive controls for summer thermal comfort in highly insulated dwellings, Building Research & Information, DOI: 10.1080/09613218.2023.2238852