Concept and in situ performance of a zero energy office in Flanders

Abstract

The last decade, efforts have been undertaken to develop concepts for energy efficient buildings up to passive and even zero energy standard. However, apart from a low energy consumption these buildings should also have a good indoor climate in order to be accepted by the main public. In this context, the real performance of a zero energy office in Flanders, Belgium has been analyzed through monitoring of the indoor climate during winter/spring and summer and occupant surveys. The building was also assessed by means of 2 sustainability assessment tools. In general, the measurements showed a good indoor air quality, except for a very low relative humidity in cold periods. Weakest points were a musty smell in the morning and heat accumulation in the office during a longer hot period. The sustainability assessment showed the clear need for the personnel to be better informed on the concept of the building.