Understanding Ventilation Practices How residents’ actions are prefigured in the design and production of low energy housing Carrie Behar PhD Researcher UCL Energy Institute, Bartlett BEHAVE CONFERENCE 04/09/14

Whole house ventilation in low energy housing Fresh air only enters through controlled openings in living areas: Trickle vents (1) Wall inlets Ductwork (2) Stale air exits only through controlled openings in wet areas: Extract vents (3) Mechanical or passive Heat recovery (4) Airtight construction (1) (3) (2) (4) INTRODUCTION BEHAVE CONFERENCE 04/09/14

DATA COLLECTION BEHAVE CONFERENCE 04/09/14 Case A: PSVCase B: MEVCase C: MVHR Residents 4 residents 5 residents 6 residents Design team 1 architect 2 architects 1 contractor Housing association 1 technical director 1 sustainability officer 1 housing officer 1 business manager 1 sustainability manager 1 project manager Misc. 1 course leader from BPEC domestic ventilation installer training course Interviews with residents and professionals at three ‘low energy’ social housing developments

Homemaking Practices Homes modified by lifestyles, past experiences and homemaking practices Critical Events Raise awareness of otherwise ‘hidden’ systems Ventilation Practices Complex ‘bundles’ of activities carried by residents enacting daily routines Physical arrangements THESIS BEHAVE CONFERENCE 04/09/14 Design Practices Client’s requirements delivered through design and construction practices (1) (3) (2)

WINDOWS & FANS BEHAVE CONFERENCE 04/09/14 Windows Left open while heating is on Electric fans Used to keep cool during summer Wasted Energy as a result of certain ventilation activities

NIGHT VENTILATION BEHAVE CONFERENCE 04/09/14 Insects & Spiders Fear of bugs limits window opening Rooflights Hard to reach and let in rain Night Ventilation not being carried out as anticipated

WINDOWS BEHAVE CONFERENCE 04/09/14 Pets Windows left open to keep out smells Wall Inlets Obstructed by furniture Windows remain preferred ventilation choice despite more efficient options Boost Button Broken switch confuses residents

Residents accustomed to closing windows at night to stop bugs entering Critical Events Pole provided to reach rooflights. Several families adapt practices to use rooflight Window frame gets wet. 1 family makes decision to never open rooflights and use fans instead Ventilation Practices Windows opened during day and closed at night Electric fans and a/c used to cool down Dwelling overheats during hot weather DISCUSSION BEHAVE CONFERENCE 04/09/14 Architect anticipates night ventilation and designs rooflights for this purpose

Ventilation practices do not match those imagined by the designers CONCLUSION BEHAVE CONFERENCE 04/09/14

This research was made possible by EPSRC support for the London-Loughborough Centre for Doctoral Research in Energy Demand, grant number EP/H009612/1 Thank you for listening… Any questions? Carrie Behar, PhD Researcher “Follow me on Publications BEHAR, C. & CHIU, L., Ventilation in energy efficient UK homes; A user experience of innovative technologies. Proceedings of eceee summer study, Rethink, Renew, Restart., Belambra Les Criques, France 4-9 June, BEHAR, C. Utilising resident feedback to inform energy saving interventions at the Barbican. Local Environment: The International Journal of Justice and Sustainability 2013.