2009

Tuomaala, Pekka; Piippo, Jouko; Piira, Kalevi; Airaksinen, Miimu

Quite wide global consensus seems to be achieved in a desire to improve energy-efficiency of both new and existing buildings when fulfilling international commitments and agreements in urgent environmental issues. However, this desire puts more pressure on both design and construction processes. This is because successful energy-efficient building concepts require verified guidelines for structural design and building service system dimensioning. This paper describes new possibilities to evaluate true thermal behaviour and interactions between indoor environment and occupants. The key-issue is to integrate sophisticated buildings energy simulation and detailed human thermal modelling. Such approach allows physically solid estimation of true impacts of alternative technical solutions on human thermal sensation and comfort.