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TECHNICAL DATA -TEST RESULTS
Free heating is defined as the amount of energy in a house emitted by the standard utilities installed in the house and the persons living in the house. An average family consumes about 5 to 7 000 kWh per year, excluding the said additions. The energy consumption for hot utility water normally amounts to about 2 200 kWh.
Bygge og Miljøteknik A/S (The Danish Centre for Structural and Environmental Technology) measured the outdoor temperatures in February 1994 and compared these with the temperature of the steel plates. The results are shown in the diagram below. The temperature of the steel plates is superior to the outdoor temperature (distance between blue line and red points) due to the capacity of the steel to conduct heat energy. Diagram
1: Temperature sequence in C
Note: Steel plate temperature is always above 0 C. A report from the Laboratory of Thermal Insulation (Denmark's Technical University) states as follows: "The
calculations proved that the steel plates in the outer walls maintain
a higher temperature during winter (compared to outer walls without
steel plates), which thus reduces the energy loss through the outer
walls. In December 1996 and January 1997 the middle flat (110 m2) in the building in Ballerup was left empty. Radiators were placed in each room and set at 23 C. An average of 165 W over this period was all required to keep the temperature. Three bulbs of 60 W each could have kept the same temperature. Figure
1: Plan of a story with two flats, Ballerup
Heat Reservoir During the first years after the erection of the house, part of the energy transmitted into the ground during the summer is accumulated so as to create an increasingly effective heat reservoir. The large accumulation of heat affects the floor temperature and the result is that the indoor temperature difference between the floor and the ceiling normally is less than 1 C.
The high temperature of the reservoir is also affected by the fact that the heat of the reservoir is not drained during winter, as the frost cannot penetrate, as is the case with concrete foundations.
The thick insulation reduces the heat loss from the heating to such a degree that the difference between the temperature of the steel plates and the desired heating temperature is covered. 400 mm insulation is a heavy insulation in comparison with customary insulation. The supporting structure (the steel plates), on the contrary, is thin so the walls do not appear unreasonably thick.
The Laboratory of Acoustics - Denmark's Technical University - measured the sound insulation and the periods of reverberation in October 1992. ad. Sound insulation. Simultaneous registration of the sound intensity in a position in the kitchen/dining room and a position outside - between the house and the road, south of the house. The nearby passing train was used for the purpose of the analysis. The noise from the background was 10 dB below the measured values. The difference between the weighted sound intensities inside and outside the house is somewhat less than that for a traditionally built Danish house. This is due to the relative small window area and partly to the facade structure, which is expected to have a very high sound insulation. ad. period of reverberation. To be able to describe the acoustics in the living room three sources and microphone position spots were chosen. There was very little difference between the positions, and the average value of the periods of reverberation T(20). Between 80 Hz and 5 kHz, the periods of reverberation are 0,5 s ± 0,1 s, which means a rather constant rate of frequencies. Both the magnitude and the rate of frequencies can be considered favourable. Measurements of the Incidence of Dust Mites In January 1993, the Diagnosis Laboratory ALK investigated the incidence of dust mites in the ThermoLogica - house. The contents of the allergy inducing substances are identified as immuno chemically with monoclonal antibodies, and registered as nanogram major allergy inducing substances per gram of dust. On the basis of 6,000 dust test analyses, the following degree of contamination was established: Degree of Contamination: 0
0 - 500 none/low Values were measured all over the house corresponding to a degree of contamination equal to zero, namely: Living
room 114 NG/G The results actually prove that there are no dust mites in the house as the small values found result from the methods used. The tests measure the dust mites excrements, which means, that fabrics brought in, carpets, etc. with dust mites for a short period will continue to indicate the presence of dust mites even though the mites are dead. The
incidence of micro fungi in the house was measured at the same time
as the above- Values corresponding to one third of equivalent values in traditional houses were found and only in the bathroom. All other rooms were free of fungi!
Since 1992, 24 persons suffering from allergy and/or asthma have lived in the house. The following is a typical sequence amongst many. The patient was under optimal medical treatment. HH had been hospitalised on several occasions due to invalidating symptoms such as nose bleeding, blocked nose, sneezing and difficulty in breathing, which caused the patient often to spend the night sitting in a chair. Daily medicine ration due to asthma and dust mite allergy before moving into the ThermoLogica - house included: -
2 x 2 blows of 0.4 mg Becotide Medication for asthmatic fits included: -
7.5 mg Bricanyl Already after 2 weeks' residence in the ThermoLogica-house, a considerable improvement was registered. After staying in the house for 3½ months, the symptoms were: - No nocturnal awakening, no asthmatic fits, and no other symptoms. HH was declared symptom-free by the supervisor at the Copenhagen University Hospital in Gentofte after staying in the house for a period of 5 months. Peak
flow-measure of a healthy woman:
Besides the allergy and asthma symptoms, the patient LE also suffered from arthritis. Medicine consumption just before moving in: Bricanyl,
Spirocort small doses - not regularly - only when needed, 1 blow at
a time Conclusion after the stay: rather quickly became almost cough free (after app. 10 days) and after 1 month: first day without coughing in 3 years, no need for medicine and after 5 weeks: for the first time in 2½ years: jogging. Her daughter Belinda needed no medicine, and her psyche was more stable - her sleep more sound. LE had tests made before and after the stay and the results are presented hereafter. These
graphs show maximum inhalation followed by expiration FEVI before and
after the stay in the ThermoLogica house.
LILIANNA AND BELINDA (AGE OF 5) ELMBORG's DIARY
Belinda: She had allergic reactions that made her cough in certain situations, like after heavy physical activities or emotional excitement, humidity, cold feet, ex. when bathing. From about the age of 3½ to 5 years she was given SPIROCORT every day; this stopped in April this year. Subsequently she was given BRICANYL.
08.08.93 Arrived late. Stayed overnight. 09.08 Coughed up phlegm during the first hour. Coughed less during the day. 10.08 The cough - no change. My arthritis is a bit worse. 11.08 Less phlegm. The arthritis better. 12.08 The period of coughing in the morning is shortening and the cough itself is less. 13.08 We did not stay overnight. 14.08 No changes. 15.08 The air in the house seems cleaner and more pleasant. We sleep well in the house. Belinda seems to sleep better. Previously she used to have periods with bad dreams and nightmares. She would fall asleep but after an hour or two have a nightmare. It would be impossible to wake her up. She cries and screams and can't be comforted. The nightmares can return during the same night although seldom. We have never experienced these nightmares in the house. (her smaller sister sleeps well, but then she always does). 16.08 In the morning I feel that I "get started" quicker. Belinda does not need BRICANYL until now and her breathing has been very good, even when physically excited. 17.08 No changes. 18.08 I was home in Glostrup during the day, and Belinda went to nursery school. Medicine was necessary (probably over-exertion). 19.08 We are doing well. 20.08 It seems as if the phlegm is becoming less in the morning, and now there is no occurrence of phlegm during the day. Up until now, no PAMOL for the arthritis. 21.08 My husband stays with us in the house during the weekends, and he judges that the air is cleaner, as his nose does not block in the morning. He used to have sinus irritation in the morning. He is allergic to grass pollen. 22.08 We are all doing well. 23.08 I was home in Glostrup all-day and taught. I coughed also during the day. Belinda went to nursery school. She is taking medicine. We came back to the house in the evening and stayed overnight. 24.08 Still coughing in the morning. I feel that the atmosphere in the house is extremely "relaxing". The air is clean, clean - cleaner than in our own flat. 25.08 Back in Glostrup - Belinda is in the nursery. She gets her medicine during the day. 26.08 Belinda has still not needed medicine while staying in the house, not even when playing with her sister. 27.08 Belinda has had slight problems breathing during the day, but she did not want her medicine and the difficulties stopped on its own. 28.08 Belinda is still sleeping well. She does not wake up and she says that she is fine. 29.08
I notice more and more improvement of my health. The cough lasts maybe
½ an hour in the morning and the effort is less. 30.08 Violent coughing and lots of phlegm. The cheese! No more cheese. 31.08 My coughing has diminished again. My arthritis is worse. Normal reaction after consuming wrong food (couple of days reaction). 01.09 I am in Glostrup. I can feel the mistake I made by eating cheese and must take PAMOL. Belinda is at nursery school and isn't taking medicine. 02.09 Less phlegm, the coughing and the arthritis are improving. I feel my condition improving faster when staying at the house. 03.09 My parents in law are invited for dinner. My father in law smokes a pipe. Both notice that the smoke disappears quicker from the living room: no smoke and no smell. The interior is fine. No noise from the outside. My father in law admires the good craftsmanship. 04.09 Stable and in good health. Still feeling less stressed. 05.09 No changes. 06.09 No news. 07.09 I am staying alone in the house - the children are with their father in Glostrup. 08.09 I am well. Belinda did not sleep well in Glostrup. Very troubled and cried. 09.09 We are all-together in the house and have had a good night's sleep. 10.09 Less coughing - maybe 15 minutes and it's over. The arthritis does not bother me. 11.09 My first day in 3 years without coughing. The arthritis is better. I have slowly started to be able to stand on my toes (this has not been possible for the last 2½ years).
13.09 My girlfriend visited me in the morning. She was very excited about the house, the interior, the lack of noise, the clean air etc. She felt relaxed. A bit chilly! We opened the oven to heat up the house (red. the house was still using summer exchange on the heat exchanger, which means the ingoing air is not heated by the outgoing air). 14.09 Coughed a little and my arthritis feels good. I can run! (although slowly) - but I have not been able to run for the past 2½ years. 15.09 I have noticed that my condition has improved faster and faster - I feel more at ease, have more stable emotional without, for instance violent reactions from the children. I am now quite good at standing on my toes. For a long period this has not been possible. Very little phlegm.
Belinda: She has not used any medicine lately, and it seems as if she is stronger. She always slept well in the house and the children felt good there. There
is no dust in the house!
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