Overview and details of the sessions of this conference. Please select a date or location to show only sessions at that day or location. Please select a single session for detailed view (with abstracts and downloads if available).
This is a preliminary schedule. Workshops, keynotes, and additional conference papers and extended abstracts will be added to the agenda in the future.
Non-Energy Impacts: Exploring the Nexus of IEQ and Decarbonization in Residential Buildings
Time:
Wednesday, 24/Sept/2025:
2:00pm - 3:30pm
Session Chair: James McGrath
Location:Opus Ballroom
Presentations
Non-Energy Impacts: Exploring the Nexus of IEQ and Decarbonization in Residential Buildings
Chair(s): James McGrath (Maynooth University, Ireland), Iain Macdonald (National Research Council Canada)
This workshop will explore the non-energy impacts of building decarbonization, specifically examining how indoor environmental quality (IEQ) and decarbonization intersect in residential buildings. With a focus on a holistic approach, participants will engage with the challenges and opportunities involved in integrating IEQ improvements with decarbonization strategies, especially when retrofitting existing buildings. The workshop will offer insights into how these strategies can enhance occupant health, comfort, and well-being while reducing carbon emissions. Participants will explore current hurdles and potential breakthroughs, fostering dynamic discussions. Attendees will examine key regulatory and policy frameworks that support this integration, discover emerging technologies that enhance both IEQ and energy performance, and explore the social and behavioral dimensions of sustainable building practices. Through interactive discussions and collaborative sessions, the workshop will encourage interdisciplinary exchange on innovative solutions and global best practices. This workshop aims to inspire transformative approaches to decarbonization that prioritize both environmental and occupant-centered outcomes in residential buildings, driving sustainable change on a global scale.
Presentations of the Workshop
Retrofitting and Ventilation: Challenges, Benefits and Lessons Learnt
James McGrath Maynooth University
A significant challenge lies in decarbonising existing residential stock to meet higher energy performance standards, necessitating increased energy retrofit activity. Despite the importance of energy retrofits, challenges arise in maintaining indoor environmental quality. While positive air quality and health benefits have been reported through targeted energy-retrofit activities, there are also numerous cases where indoor pollutant concentrations increase post-retrofit. Ventilation is often directly or indirectly impacted by changes in airtightness and/or ventilation systems, and the introduction of new building materials/products. Addressing these challenges ensures energy retrofits contribute to reduced environmental impact while maintaining a healthy indoor environment. Highlighting several examples of case studies is anticipated to promote discussion on informing priorities regarding retrofit strategies.
Beyond Energy Savings: Making the Link to Health and Decarbonization
Iain Macdonald National Research Council Canada
Achieving widespread and lasting decarbonization of the residential sector will require deep energy retrofits of the existing building stock. In the Canadian context these are being promoted by various incentive schemes and regulated via the new ‘alterations to existing building’ code requirements. Challenges related to the severity of the Canadian climate, design temperatures below -30degC in winter and above 30degC in summer, coupled with increased frequency of extreme events/warming climate pose additional strains on ventilation systems. Mapping energy savings to reduced GHG emissions is regionally and temporally variable, making impacts difficult to quantify. Likewise, estimating associated health impacts can be equally challenging because the indoor environmental exposures depend on the residents’ operation of the ventilation and filtration systems incorporated in the retrofit design. The importance of resident education was indicated by results showing both increased and decreased residential radon concentration in a recent field study of IAQ in occupied townhouses pre- and post-deep energy retrofit.
