Measuring OA Intake Rates PDF

Approximately 1 quad (1 EJ) of energy, costing $7.2 billion, is used annually for conditioning the OA ventilation air supplied to U.S. commercial, institutional, and government, buildings. The rate of OA ventilation also affects occupant health. In cross-sectional studies of buildings with various rates of OA ventilation, lower ventilation rates have been associated with increased respiratory illnesses (e.g., common colds), increased sick building syndrome symptoms, and diminished satisfaction with IAQ.2 Recent data indicate that lower OA ventilation rates also are associated with small decrements in work performance. Clearly, a need exists to strike a balance between the benefits of increased OA ventilation and the beneficial energy savings from reduced OA ventilation.