Appendix C 435
7
Influence of Energy Conservation
Measures on IEQ in
Specific Buildings
7.1 BACKGROUND
Many of the energy conservation measures in Table 2 have multiple
potential impacts on IEQ. When considering the application of these
measures in specific buildings, energy conservation professionals may
be faced with three important questions:
1 Which of the potential IEQ outcomes will occur in this building
and what is the expected magnitude of the changes in IEQ?
2 Will the change in IEQ significantly affect occupants health, com-
fort, or productivity?
3 Can the impacts on IEQ be assessed with measurements?
A working knowledge of IEQ and its effects on occupants is an
essential first step in addressing these questions. Section 4 summarizes
much of the critical background information. This section addresses the
first two questions. IEQ measurements are reviewed in Section 8.
7.2 IDENTIFYING THE PROBABLE IEQ
OUTCOMES AND PREDICTING THEIR MAGNITUDE
The impact of an energy conservation measure on IEQ may
depend on several factors including the climate, outdoor air quality,
characteristics of the building, and the details of implementation of the
energy conservation measure.
Warm humid climates ease certain IEQ risks associated with incr
high indoor humidity. In humid climates, energy conservation measures
that increase the rate of outside air supply, such as openable windows
or a poorly-controlled economizer system, are more likely to result in
unacceptable indoor humidities. Also, reducing the capacity of HVAC
equipment and increasing temperatures at cooling coils can result in in-