Effect of reduced ventilation on indoor air quality and energy use in schools

Conference · Fri Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1979

OSTI ID:6163282

Berk, J V; Hollowell, C D; Lin, C; Turiel, I

The indoor air quality in an air conditioned California high school has been measured over a variety of ventilation rates ranging from 13.3 ft/sup 3/ of outside air per minute for each classroom occupant to approximately 1.5 cfm per occupant. The purpose of this pilot study was to determine the effect of reduced ventilation on indoor air quality and energy use. Parameters measured include outside air supply rate, the occupants' subjective perception of indoor air quality, airborne microbes, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, and ozone in two classrooms, a hall, and outdoors. Carbon dioxide was the only parameter to show a substantial increase in indoor concentration when the ventilation rate was reduced; however, classroom levels still remained far below levels considered to be a health hazard. This study indicates that moderate energy savings are possible at Carondelet High School without significant deterioration of indoor air quality, and that substantial energy savings would be possible in a more severe climatic region.

• Research Organization: California Univ., Berkeley (USA). Lawrence Berkeley Lab.
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• OSTI ID: 6163282
• Report Number(s): LBL-9382; CONF-791009-4
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
320103* -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- School
Municipal
& Other Public Buildings-- (-1987)
AIR QUALITY
BUILDINGS
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON DIOXIDE
CARBON MONOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES
ENERGY CONSERVATION
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
OZONE
PERFORMANCE TESTING
SCHOOL BUILDINGS
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SULFUR DIOXIDE
SULFUR OXIDES
TESTING
VENTILATION SYSTEMS