Ventilative cooling (IEA ECBCS Annex 62)

A major new challenge in the current development in building energy efficiency towards nearly zero energy buildings is an increased need for cooling. In most post-occupancy studies of high performance buildings elevated temperature levels are the most frequently reported problem.

Ventilative cooling is an energy efficient solution to avoid overheating. Ventilation is already present through mechanical and/or natural systems and as cooling is a need not only in the summer period possibilities of utilizing free cooling potential of low temperature outdoor air increases considerably.

A new IEA EBC Annex is initiated to develop design methods and compliance tools to predict and evaluate cooling

need and overheating risk in buildings and to develop new energy efficient ventilative cooling solutions.

The outcome will be guidelines for reduction of overheating risk and for design and operation of ventilative cooling in both residential and commercial buildings. It will also include recommendation for the integration of ventilative cooling in legislation and standards as well as in energy performance calculation and verification methods.

The main products will include instructions for improvement of ventilative cooling capacity of existing systems and for development of new solutions.

The present project supports Danish participation in this international cooperation.