ABSTRACT
This chapter provides an assessment of the natural ventilation potential for indoor air quality, while taking into consideration the other objectives. Natural ventilation potential may be defined as the possibility of ensuring an acceptable indoor air quality through natural ventilation only. Passive cooling potential can also be defined as the possibility of ensuring an acceptable indoor thermal comfort in summer by solely using natural ventilation. One problem in the assessment of natural ventilation potential is the weather data. Measurements are available only at met stations and at airports. An alternative is to use data obtained from weather models that are used for forecasting. The first assumption is that the building is built or will be built in a way that gets the most out of the potential for natural ventilation. The same applies in the case of refurbishment. The second assumption is that the building’s occupants are aware of natural ventilation and open the windows or ad hoc openings accordingly.
