Abstract

Previous studies based on simulation carried out in the context of temperate climates in Chile have shown that an insulated and sealed thermal envelope, solar control devices and ventilation strategies would allow to achieve good thermal conditions with no heating and cooling systems. This paper is based on a fieldwork that analysed two school buildings located in the temperate climate of Concepcion. One case is a typical school building in the area, with no passive design strategies and no heating or cooling system (Case R). The other case is a best practice school building, which includes several passive design strategies and energy efficient technologies (Case A). The fieldwork consisted of measurements carried out during a whole academic year – March to December 2015 - that included air temperature, relative humidity and CO2 levels. In each school, the measurements involved 3 classrooms with different orientations. The conclusions stress out that the balance between an adequate thermal environment and good air quality is still a difficult task. The efforts made in order to improve the thermal envelope and other passive strategies succeeds in achieving a better thermal environment but fails in achieving an adequate indoor air quality despite several strategies in this direction. Thermal Indoor Environment and Air Quality of School Classrooms in a Temperate Climate: Field Study in Chile. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/314343625_Thermal_Indoor_Environment_and_Air_Quality_of_School_Classrooms_in_a_Temperate_Climate_Field_Study_in_Chile [accessed May 3, 2017].