Insulate protocol and results
- The content on this page is taken from the Insulate webpage.
Assessment protocol
The main project objective is to develop a common protocol for assessment of the impacts of building energy efficiency (EE) on indoor environmental quality (IEQ) and health. The protocol consists of three parts: 1) building assessment, 2) environmental monitoring/exposure assessment, and 3) health assessment. These occur simultaneously, collecting information from a sample of buildings/apartments and their occupants.
The protocol includes the following measurements:
- Indoor thermal conditions (temperature, relative humidity, draught, lowest surface temperature). The long-term trends in the temporal variation of T/RH in the apartments are measured by loggers (CEM DT-172, China). Two loggers are set per apartment for two months (in some cases up to 2-3 years).
- Wall-surface temperatures are assessed either by thermo-imaging or by surface thermometer.
- Short-term real-time measurements of indoor CO2 and CO concentrations are performed using IAQ monitors (HD21AB, Delta OHM, Italy). In each apartment, indoor measurements are performed for a 24-hour period.
- Indoor/outdoor PM concentrations: short-term real-time measurements of particulate matter aerosol are conducted using 6-channel Optical Particle Counters (OPCs) (3016IAQ, Lighthouse Inc., USA). In each apartment, indoor and outdoor measurements are performed for a 24-hour period.
- Indoor Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), Formaldehyde, and NO2 concentrations: passive samplers (Radiello, Gradko) are used, with 7-day expose time. The samplers are analyzed by GC-FID technique in the laboratory or shipped to the supplier for analysis.
- Mineral fiber concentrations in settled dust are sampled using standardized surfaces for one week and, then, analyzed by optical phase-contrast microscopy.
- Microbial organisms in settled dust are sampled by Settled Dust Boxes (SDBs) for two months, concentrated on a smaller filter, and shipped for the analysis by quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR).
- Radon gas is sampled for
- one month using passive samplers (E-PERM electrets, Rad Elec Inc., USA) in Lithuania and
- two months using passive samplers (alpha track method) in Finland.
- Occupant behavior, satisfaction, and self-reported health and well-being are recorded using questionnaires and diaries.
IEQ assessment reports for building owners and occupants
The results of the monitoring and measurements are reported to the building owners and occupants using a standard format. Currently the reporting format consists of a summary report for building owners, where results from each measured apartment are anonymously presented by graphs and compared to national guideline values. In addition, a summary report that would represent the IEQ status of the whole building in terms of the percentage of apartments fulfilling the guideline values is under development.
For building occupants, a letter consists of the results from their individual apartments, together with interpretation as compared to the national guideline values.
Results
The project will provide knowledgebase, quantitative measures, and a tested protocol responding to the following aspects of environment and health policies:
- Integrated assessment of environment and health information
- Demonstration of the use of relevant environmental and health indicators
- Developing networks, dissemination of information, raising general levels of awareness of the nature of the work undertaken, and the risks / benefits likely to occur
- Benchmarking of policy assessment, developing new guidelines built upon project results
- Recommendations related to improvement needs for EE measures and the EPBD requirements (including energy certificate production and content)
- Transnational project ultimately leading to more effective policies on the European level