Analysing natural ventilation to reduce the cooling energy consumption and the fuel poverty of social dwellings in coastal zones

Abstract

In southern European countries, summer temperatures could contribute to a high cooling energy consumption. Family units with fewer economic resources living in social dwellings could suffer from fuel poverty if they want to use air conditioning systems. Otherwise, they could face discomfort hours because of a natural ventilation without clear control criteria. This study analyses quantitatively and qualitatively the possibilities of natural ventilation through mixed-mode and the possibility of reducing fuel poverty for family units living in social dwellings. For this purpose, the application of a natural ventilation approach was analysed through an adaptive behaviour based on EN 16798-1: 2019. A case study of 51 social dwellings was analysed by using various operation hypothesis between 2015 and 2019. The results showed the potential of using mixed-mode approaches based on the categories from EN 16798-1:2019 to achieve savings in the energy consumption and to remove cases of fuel poverty in low-income families. Likewise, surveys in which families living in these cities participated reflected the great awareness of the natural ventilation use, although there is not a clear criterion of the need of this ventilation for thermal comfort, as well as the need of a supportive use of air conditioning systems. Finally, the similarity of the climate conditions of the city analysed and the coastal cities from various countries in the south of Europe shows the possibility of using ventilation strategies as energy saving measures in other regions.