RIAQ-prep

Impact of energy retrofits on indoor environmental quality and hygrothermal performance of the buildings in different climate scenarios

What we do

There is a continued need to engage SMEs and other stakeholders in the monitoring of retrofit techniques and their impact on indoor air quality (IAQ), and hygrothermal performance of building structures, to provide sustainable and healthy buildings. The RIAQ preparatory project aim is to prepare the ground for a main project that will inform and engage SMEs, building stakeholders, and occupants about common protocols for an IAQ assessment, and assess the potential for improving IAQ along with energy efficiency and improving the resistance of buildings in the changing climate. The project concluded with a main project application.

Collective approaches for retrofitting and building sustainability

We have studied retrofit approaches, delving into the intricacies of energy, thermal and hygrothermal performance and indoor air quality (IAQ), and design features within a pilot sample of homes in both Ireland and Finland. This exploration served as a foundation for our main project idea. The collaboration between Ireland and Finland in this preparatory phase has added significant value. By combining expertise and perspectives from diverse backgrounds, we have cultivated a rich pool of knowledge. The preparatory project provided an opportunity for the team to develop new knowledge and skills as in the examples below.

The setup for collecting Acrolein, a volatile organic chemical (VOC), is crucial for gathering further indoor exposure data. Its sources include smoking, wood combustion, burning incense, and building materials, particularly relevant with the potential increase in wood burning stoves in European homes for energy retrofits.

Acrolein exposure can lead to short-term eye and respiratory irritation, while its long-term carcinogenic effects remain uncertain. Collaboration with the Fraunhofer Institute in Germany was established to address the challenges in measuring Acrolein, with samples collected according to recommended protocols and sent for analysis.

The team also developed new knowledge and skills regarding how to collect indoor dust samples for microbial analysis, which was conducted in three pilot homes in Finland.

Due to time constraints, the analyses results were not obtained, but the necessary field protocols were discussed and harmonised in collaboration with the National Institute for Health and Welfare, Department of Environmental Health in Kuopio Finland, with whom we also established a continuing partnership.

A major milestone was the initiation of a pilot project, where we have undertaken the harmonisation of protocols for consistent evaluation of IAQ.

This standardised approach ensured a robust methodology for assessing the performance of buildings both before and after retrofit.

The data collected from a total of five houses, out of which four were pre-retrofit and one post-retrofit, provided valuable insights that informed our main project's strategic direction.

Project priority

Climate Change

Project period

Start

01.12.2022

End

30.11.2023

Lead Partner

University of Oulu

filip.fedorik@oulu.fi

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Partners

University of Galway

Project info

Objective

2.1 Promoting energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions

Total Budget

98.831,22 EUR

NPA Co-Financing

64.240,29 EUR

Interreg Northern Periphery and Arctic

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RIAQ-prep

What we do

Collective approaches for retrofitting and building sustainability

Project priority

Project period

Start

End

Lead Partner

University of Oulu

Partners

Project info

Objective

Total Budget

NPA Co-Financing

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RIAQ-prep

What we do

Collective approaches for retrofitting and building sustainability

Investigating indoor acrolein

Indoor dust sample collection

Harmonisation of protocols for a consistent evaluation of IAQ

Project priority

Project period

Start

End

Lead Partner

University of Oulu

Partners

Project info

Objective

Total Budget

NPA Co-Financing

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