Lecture

Thermal Comfort - Air Quality - Acoustic Comfort

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In course

CIVIL-474: Civil engineering teaching unit: Sustainable construction

La conformité de la construction aux principes du développement durable requiert de l'ingénieur et de l'architecte la maîtrise de compétences multidisciplinaires. A l'issue du cours, les étudiants acquerront les bases théoriques et pratiques pour évaluer l ...

Description

This lecture covers the concepts of thermal comfort, air quality, and acoustic comfort in sustainable construction. It discusses the factors influencing well-being, such as optimal operative temperature, acceptable air velocity, and good design practices for comfortable and healthy buildings. It also explores the legal and planning aspects related to building comfort, as well as concrete measures for planning and optimizing buildings for energy efficiency and occupant comfort.

Instructors (3)

Edgard Gnansounou

1983 Ing. Civil EPFL
1991 Dr ès Sciences techniques, EPFL
Directeur du Laboratoire de systèmes énergétiques (LASEN) de 2003 à 2008
Dès 2008, Responsable du groupe de Recherche en Bioénergie et Planification énergétique
Co-fondateur du bureau d'étude ENERS Energy Concept
Président de la Fondation SUD (Solidarités Universitaires pour le Développement)

Je suis membre de différentes associations professionnelles parmi lesquelles figuent le Conseil Mondial de l'énergie (CME) et l'Association internationale pour l'économie de l'énergie (AIEE). Comme membre du groupe d'étude du CME sur les vulnérabilités, j'ai développé les métriques utilisées pour évaluer la vulnérabilité énergétique des pays industrialisés. Depuis janvier 2008 : membre du Comité d'édition du journal international Bioresource Technology. Depuis 2009: membre du Comité de la "European Biofuels Technology Platform"

Alain Nussbaumer

Expertise Metallic structuresStructural glassFatigue and fracture mechanicsAssessment of existing structuresUltra low cycle Teaching & PhD Past EPFL PhD Students Luís Costa Borges, Claire Acevedo, Nariman Maddah, Farshid Zamiri Akhlaghi, Manuel Santarsiero, Luca D'Angelo, Cláudio Alexandre Pereira Baptista, Albano António Sousa, Jagoda Cupac, Ardalan Hosseini, Martin Garcia, Hossein Heydarinouri, Jian Zhan Past EPFL PhD Students as codirector Marina Rocha Courses Design of steel structures CIVIL-2

Jan Wienold

Expertise DaylightingVisual ComfortBuilding Performance SimulationIntegrated DesignZero Energy Buildings Dr. Jan Wienold is a leading expert in daylight research, visual comfort, and building performance simulation. His work focuses on understanding how daylight affects human perception and well-being, and on translating this knowledge into tools, metrics, and standards that shape climate-responsive and user-centered building design. He is internationally recognized for developing the Daylight Glare Probabi

Official source

Ontological neighbourhood

Mechanical engineering

Thermal engineering: Ventilation

Related concepts (32)

Thermal comfort

Thermal comfort is the condition of mind that expresses satisfaction with the thermal environment and is assessed by subjective evaluation (ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 55). The human body can be viewed as a heat engine where food is the input energy. The human body will release excess heat into the environment, so the body can continue to operate. The heat transfer is proportional to temperature difference. In cold environments, the body loses more heat to the environment and in hot environments the body does not release enough heat.

Indoor air quality

Indoor air quality (IAQ) is the air quality within and around buildings and structures. IAQ is known to affect the health, comfort, and well-being of building occupants. Poor indoor air quality has been linked to sick building syndrome, reduced productivity, and impaired learning in schools. Common pollutants of indoor air include: secondhand tobacco smoke, air pollutants from indoor combustion, radon, molds and other allergens, carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds, legionella and other bacteria, asbestos fibers, carbon dioxide, ozone and particulates.

Thermal mass

In building design, thermal mass is a property of the mass of a building that enables it to store heat and provide inertia against temperature fluctuations. It is sometimes known as the thermal flywheel effect. The thermal mass of heavy structural elements can be designed to work alongside a construction's lighter thermal resistance components to create energy efficient buildings.

Green building

Green building (also known as green construction or sustainable building) refers to both a structure and the application of processes that are environmentally responsible and resource-efficient throughout a building's life-cycle: from planning to design, construction, operation, maintenance, renovation, and demolition. This requires close cooperation of the contractor, the architects, the engineers, and the client at all project stages. The Green Building practice expands and complements the classical building design concerns of economy, utility, durability, and comfort.

Air quality index

An air quality index (AQI) is an indicator developed by government agencies to communicate to the public how polluted the air currently is or how polluted it is forecast to become. As air pollution levels rise, so does the AQI, along with the associated public health risk. Children, the elderly, and individuals with respiratory or cardiovascular problems are typically the first groups affected by poor air quality. When the AQI is high, governmental bodies generally encourage people to reduce physical activity outdoors, or even avoid going out altogether.

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