When the cold weather is here, we often forget about the indoor air quality. Yet, it is important to ensure sufficient air exchange during the heating season as well.

The key indicators of the indoor microclimate are air temperature, air humidity and air velocity. In order for a person to feel comfortable, these indicators should be optimal. For example, in accordance with the normative standards, the relative humidity must be in the range from 30% to 70%. Meanwhile, the air temperature of the premises must be even: it should not fluctuate and vary substantially in different points of the room. We often forget about another important indoor air quality indicator – carbon dioxide or CO₂ concentration in the room, which increases when people exhale. This is particularly important in smaller rooms with a large number of people. For example, an elevated level of CO₂ can often be observed in schools, resulting in a reduced concentration ability and increased fatigue in children. It should be noted that the acceptable indoor CO₂ concentration level is up to 1000 ppm.

If the building is not equipped with a ventilation system, it is important to provide air exchange by opening the window. But how can it be done most effectively?

During the heating season, it is recommended to air the premises periodically, for example, for a few minutes once an hour, completely opening the window so that the air in the room is exchanged as quickly as possible, but the surface of the furniture and the floor does not have time to cool down. If the heater is equipped with a temperature regulator, it must be switched to the symbol “T” before opening the window. If it is not, the regulator must be switched to the minimum mode. To avoid catching a cold, it is advisable to leave the room during airing. When closing the window, the temperature regulator must be returned to the previous mode.

It should be remembered that by keeping the window open in the so-called ventilation mode for a long time, the window frame and the wall get cooled down excessively, which defeats the purpose of the thermal insulation of the building. Besides, when the window is closed after being open for a long time, the indoor temperature will have dropped and extra heat will be consumed to warm both the air and the cooled wall.

Energy efficiency is the targeted use of energy resources. With our actions and daily habits, we can have an impact on the financial resources of our family and the reasonable use and protection of the environmental resources we all share.