Briefing Paper 002: Ventilation and the effect of residents behaviour within Passivhaus dwellings

In the UK, over 40% of energy consumption is building related. The energy used in homes alone is responsible for more than a quarter of CO2 emissions. CO2 is the main greenhouse gas and the most significant cause of climate change. Most of the energy used in homes is produced using processes that release CO2 into the air. Studies have found that a building’s energy use for space heating is significantly influenced by occupant’s behaviour such as the opening of windows and the selected thermostat setting. This influence is greater in energy efficient dwellings designed for low energy use. The aim of this paper is to facilitate a better understanding of how occupant behaviour may effect ventilation within Passivhaus buildings in particular.