Abstract
The paper presents the results of monitoring a Passivhaus care home regarding the effect of design intentions, occupancy practices and user preferences, on building energy and indoor environmental quality performance through a mixed methods approach.
The results of the thermal comfort assessment showed that the staff is uncomfortable, while the residents are comfortable. Warm temperatures are preferred by the residents. The staff understands the needs of the residents and acknowledge the fact that their discomfort assures the comfort of the residents.
Energy usage is higher than expected. None of the daily routines required in a care home were considered in the energy calculations. The calculations were made by a team of designers, who did not know well the activities carried out in the care home. As a result, the expected performance of the building was unrealistic in terms of energy use.
The results point at the importance of taking into account the user during the design process: even though the actual needs and preferences of the occupants were not considered in the energy calculations, they were considered in the design of the building's installations. This allowed the staff to air the rooms daily without compromising the comfort of the residents.
The results of the thermal comfort assessment showed that the staff is uncomfortable, while the residents are comfortable. Warm temperatures are preferred by the residents. The staff understands the needs of the residents and acknowledge the fact that their discomfort assures the comfort of the residents.
Energy usage is higher than expected. None of the daily routines required in a care home were considered in the energy calculations. The calculations were made by a team of designers, who did not know well the activities carried out in the care home. As a result, the expected performance of the building was unrealistic in terms of energy use.
The results point at the importance of taking into account the user during the design process: even though the actual needs and preferences of the occupants were not considered in the energy calculations, they were considered in the design of the building's installations. This allowed the staff to air the rooms daily without compromising the comfort of the residents.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 102565 |
| Number of pages | 14 |
| Journal | Journal of Building Engineering |
| Volume | 43 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Nov 2021 |
Funding
This research was carried out within the LCRI Convergence Energy Programme, launched in September 2009 and finalised in 2015, with funding from the Welsh European Funding Office (WEFO), Welsh universities and industry .
Keywords
- Building monitoring
- Building performance
- Dementia care
- Energy efficiency
- Indoor environmental quality
- User-centric design and evaluation
