https://www.ft.com/content/86e0a684-54bc-4426-bc50-b09517481604
"It is 17 years since house sellers and landlords in the UK were required by
law to provide Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) to potential buyers and
tenants. Based on an independent inspection of insulation levels, heating
systems and windows, the scheme has undoubtedly improved energy efficiency,
raised the value of the best performing properties and allowed the public to
make better informed decisions.
Yet EPCs largely miss the importance of our indoor climate. We spend more than
60 per cent of our time indoors at home, and there is strong evidence that good
ventilation, plentiful daylight and temperature regulation not only alleviate
the symptoms of asthma and other respiratory conditions, but help us all to
sleep, perform and feel better during the day.
For decades the UK has been in a race to the bottom when it comes to air
quality in the home, developing smaller houses with smaller rooms and windows.
Crudely speaking, we are “encaving” ourselves, contrary to our instinct to
spend time outdoors enjoying daylight and fresh air.
In my experience, we can do better. I have been part of a team behind a project
in Denmark called Living Places, which sought to create low-carbon, healthy
homes using readily available building materials and with a price tag no
greater than that of a comparably sized traditional home.
The project has confirmed my view that we can create the indoor climate
equivalents of EPCs. Putting a number on what matters most to our health and
wellbeing means that we can ask for it, manage it, track it and, not least,
order it when we buy or build a home.
The case is compelling. First, the necessary data already exists through the
Active House Radar tool, which shows the balance between “people” aspects
(levels of daylight, thermal environment, indoor air quality, acoustics) and
“planet” parameters (carbon footprint and impact as well as water and energy
usage). The key is that these are connected, allowing us to make truly informed
decisions about what is often our biggest lifetime investment — buying a home.
Second are the potential financial gains. Data from the Living Places project
shows that improving indoor climates in Denmark could bring economic benefits
of up to DKr78.4bn (£8.8bn) by 2050, through health savings and better
productivity. Just imagine what would be possible in the UK, where the
population is more than 11 times that of Denmark."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
