Smart technology helps make commercial buildings less leaky
Buildings account for almost one third of final energy consumption globally and are an important source of CO2 emissions. According to a report released by the International Energy Agency, both space heating and cooling are estimated to account for roughly half of that consumption. With all the energy spent on heating and cooling buildings, as much as 25 % is wasted on air leakage. This equals an annual waste of EUR 426 billion or EUR 63.9 per person on Earth. “Restricting the air passage through the building envelope is crucial to increasing the energy efficiency of buildings. Airtightness should be carefully considered not only in the design and construction phases of a building but over the course of its whole life,” notes Erlend Bolle, Chief Product Officer at Norway-based company Airthings.
The importance of measuring air pressure
Air leakage is driven by differential pressure – the difference between the air pressure inside and outside a building – across the building envelope. Through the EU-funded LTT project, Airthings offers the technology to measure and balance the differential pressure using the existing infrastructure. The solution helps predict the airflow and prevent air leakage from buildings with a floor area above 1 000 m2. “Our technology comprises a complete measurement solution to monitor, measure and analyse air quality in buildings. Sensors provide real-time data on four key metrics: temperature, humidity, air pressure and differential pressure. These sensors allow for automation of core building systems such as heating, ventilation and air conditioning. For example, when these sensors are integrated directly into the ventilation system, they can dynamically adjust airflow to minimise the differential pressure,” explains Bolle. What’s more, special algorithms convert differential pressure together with a known air leakage figure to air volume, energy loss and CO2 emission values. A central dashboard allows building managers to view, compare and export data, as well as receive alerts, advanced analytics and reports.
Retaining temperature stability and comfort
Equalising pressure helps prevent uncontrolled airflow and stop uncomfortable drafts. This helps maintain constant thermal conditions that are crucial for the comfort of the occupants. It feels cold when you sit in a cold draft, but once the draft is reduced or removed you can lower the temperature, and it will still feel warm and comfortable. “Retaining a stable temperature is especially difficult in areas just like local malls that have many doors or windows that often open and close. But the advantages are overwhelming. Lowering, for example, the thermostat by just one degree Celsius could help reduce annual electricity use by 16 TWh and cut energy consumption by around 5 %,” notes Bolle. These simple actions can make a big difference. But according to Bolle, “people are often concerned that energy efficiency improvements make the indoor environment less habitable. However, thermal comfort is more about the perceived temperature rather than the actual air temperature itself.”
Promoting health and longevity
The differential pressure that causes air to move in and out of a building could bring with it outdoor air pollutants, harmful airborne chemicals or dangerous elements, such as radon. Beyond the immediate issues caused by poor airtightness, there are also long-term consequences. For example, as more water accumulates over time, the damp interior creates an ideal environment for mould growth. Air quality has a much bigger impact on our health and wellbeing than we realise. “Our mission is to ensure that people take control of indoor air quality through simple, sustainable and accessible technological solutions that can be embedded in every building,” Bolle concludes.
Keywords
LTT, buildings, differential pressure, Airthings, airtightness, energy consumption, air quality, Balance for Business
