Health and comfort changes among tenants after retrofitting of their housing
Authors:
ABSTRACT: The aim of this study has been to follow apartment residents’ evaluation of their health status and indoor climate perception related to the implementation of energy conservation measures in Danish housing. The study was designed as a prospective study including a study group and a control group. In the study group an intervention took place, as windows were replaced in the follow-up period. The control group did not have any changes carried out in their homes. The study has demonstrated the benefits of a less drafty dwelling, especially for the elderly who spend most of their time at home. The disadvantages of reduced natural ventilation on indoor air quality could not be demonstrated, because it is less pronounced in old buildings where off-gassing from materials are neglible. In addition the households were usually small and did not include overpopulated dwellings. The size of the population in the study was not large enough to include at random a sufficient number of subjects suffering from allergic diseases. Those individuals should be first to respond on changes in indoor allergens favoured by increased air humidity after sealing of the houses. It is therefore concluded that requirements to the ventilation rates after retrofitting of the dwellings should still be considered from a health point of view.