Repository logo

Infoscience

  • English
  • French
Log In
Logo EPFL, École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne

Infoscience

  • English
  • French
Log In
  1. Home
  2. Academic and Research Output
  3. Journal articles
  4. Radon Investigation in 650 Energy Efficient Dwellings in Western Switzerland: Impact of Energy Renovation and Building Characteristics
 
research article

Radon Investigation in 650 Energy Efficient Dwellings in Western Switzerland: Impact of Energy Renovation and Building Characteristics

Yang, Shen  
•
Pernot, Joelle Goyette
•
Joerin, Corinne Hager
Show more
December 1, 2019
Atmosphere

As part of more stringent energy targets in Switzerland, we witness the appearance of new green-certified dwellings while many existing dwellings have undergone energy efficiency measures. These measures have led to reduced energy consumption, but rarely consider their impact on indoor air quality. Consequently, such energy renovation actions can lead to an accumulation of radon in dwellings located in radon-prone areas at doses that can affect human health. This study compared the radon levels over 650 energy-efficient dwellings in western Switzerland between green-certified (Minergie) and energy-renovated dwellings, and analyzed the building characteristics responsible of this accumulation. We found that the newly green-certified dwellings had significantly lower radon level than energy-renovated, which were green- and non-green-certified houses (geometric mean 52, 87, and 105 Bq/m(3), respectively). The new dwellings with integrated mechanical ventilation exhibited lower radon concentrations. Thermal retrofitting of windows, roofs, exterior walls, and floors were associated with a higher radon level. Compared to radon measurements prior to energy renovation, we found a 20% increase in radon levels. The results highlight the need to consider indoor air quality when addressing energy savings to avoid compromising occupants' health, and are useful for enhancing the ventilation design and energy renovation procedures in dwellings.

  • Files
  • Details
  • Metrics
Type
research article
DOI
10.3390/atmos10120777
Web of Science ID

WOS:000507369200050

Author(s)
Yang, Shen  
•
Pernot, Joelle Goyette
•
Joerin, Corinne Hager
•
Niculita-Hirzel, Helene
•
Perret, Vincent
•
Licina, Dusan  
Date Issued

2019-12-01

Published in
Atmosphere
Volume

10

Issue

12

Start page

777

Subjects

Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences

•

Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences

•

dwellings

•

indoor air quality

•

energy efficiency

•

building characteristics

•

thermal retrofitting

•

indoor air-quality

•

residential radon

•

lung-cancer

•

collaborative analysis

•

individual data

•

national-survey

•

soil

•

quantification

•

prediction

•

radiation

Note

This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License

Editorial or Peer reviewed

REVIEWED

Written at

EPFL

EPFL units
HOBEL  
Available on Infoscience
January 31, 2020
Use this identifier to reference this record
https://infoscience.epfl.ch/handle/20.500.14299/165041
Logo EPFL, École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne
  • Contact
  • infoscience@epfl.ch

  • Follow us on Facebook
  • Follow us on Instagram
  • Follow us on LinkedIn
  • Follow us on X
  • Follow us on Youtube
AccessibilityLegal noticePrivacy policyCookie settingsEnd User AgreementGet helpFeedback

Infoscience is a service managed and provided by the Library and IT Services of EPFL. © EPFL, tous droits réservés