9 key learning points on comfort and indoor climate from years of monitoring of five residential demonstration buildings

1. 9 key points from a full year of measurements of
daylight and thermal comfort in five single-family
houses
Peter Foldbjerg, T F Asmussen, L Feifer, J Christoffersen
VELUX A/S, Department of Daylight, Energy and Indoor Climate
Peter.foldbjerg@velux.com
Paper 361

2. The Model Home 2020 programme
Denmark
Home for Life
2009
2010-12
Fam: Simonsen
Austria
Sunlighthouse
2010
2011-12
Fam: Dorfstetter
Germany
LichtAktiv
Haus
2010
2012-14
Fam: Oldendorf
France
Maison Air
et Lumiere
2011
2011-12
Fam: Pastour
UK
Carbonlight
Homes
2011
2013-14
Glazebrook & Carse

3. Nine key points summarises the main conclusions
3

4. From data to knowledge
Continuous hourly measurements in each room:
Temperatures
lux
Humidity
CO2-level
Energy production and consumption
Position of windows and solar shading
Post Occupancy Evaluation
Data analyses
4
Dorfstetter family in Sunlighthouse
Oldendorf family in LichtAktiv Haus

5. 1: Plenty of daylight eliminates your need for artificial
lighting during the day
Electric light turned on when dark outside
.. and not used during hours with daylight
5
Example
LichtAktiv Haus
Grey squares: Hours with electrical light switched
off
Blue squares: Hours with electrical light switched
on
Month
Hour

6. 2: Having many large windows doesn’t necessarily lead to
overheating
Daylight factor in all main rooms: 5% average
Almost all main rooms achieve EN 15251 category 1 for
summer comfort
6
Example
Maison Aire et Lumiere, Paris, France
Each hour is categorised according to the measured
temperature, following the Active House Specification
(corresponds to EN 15251)

7. 3: Moderate bedroom temperatures ensure a good night’s
sleep
7
Approximate sleep time
Approximate bedtime
Month
Hour
Bedroom room LichtAktiv Haus
Green squares: Hours in
category 1
Yellow - > red squares:
Hours above category 1
Grey - > blue squares:
Hours below category 1

8. 4: Good ventilation lowers the temperature during the
night
8
00:00
21:00
18:00 Active systems
Windows
15:00 Comfort, not active
Comfort, active
Discomfort, not active
12:00 Discomfort, active
09:00
06:00
03:00
Temporal map of thermal comfort (cat. 2) in Kitchen-Livingroom - Year 1, 2012
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Category refers to Active House / EN 15251 category
“Open window” if one or more windows are open in the room
Kitchen/dining room LichtAktiv Haus
Cat 1 or 2, windows closed
Cat 1 or 2, windows open
Cat 3 or 4, windows closed
Cat 3 or 4, windows open
Month
Hour

9. 5: Solar screening protects your home from overheating
9
Month
Hour
Kitchen/dining room LichtAktiv Haus
Cat 1 or 2, Awnings inactive
Cat 1 or 2, Awnings on
Cat 3 or 4, Awnings inactive
Cat 3 or 4, Awnings on

10. 6: Natural ventilation provides good indoor air quality during
large parts of the year
Best IAQ in summer; CO2 levels in category I or II almost all hours (side-effect of ventilative cooling)
In winter, 20-30% of hours in category III – acceptable annual result
Both NV and MV delivers acceptable IAQ
10
Kitchen-dining room
LichtAktiv Haus in
Germany
(naturally ventilated)
Absolute, measured
values
Criteria according to EN
15251

11. 9: Use automation to get the full effect
Automated solar shading and window openings were used frequently during
work-hours on weekdays, and during the night
.. e.g. at times when the families cannot be expected to be able to operate
the products themselves
The same use of products could not have been achieved with only manual
products.
11

12. Nine key points summarises the main conclusions
12

13. 9 key points from a full year of measurements of
daylight and thermal comfort in five single-family
houses
Peter Foldbjerg, T F Asmussen, L Feifer, J Christoffersen
VELUX A/S, Department of Daylight, Energy and Indoor Climate
Peter.foldbjerg@velux.com
Paper 361
Thank you!