The purpose of this study was to evaluate house owners’ experience and satisfaction with the first Danish detached low-energy single-family houses, built according to energy class 2015 before these supplementary requirements became standard for all new dwellings. A questionnaire survey was carried out among owners of newly built energy class 2015 houses. The paper presents the house owners answers to questions on their overall satisfaction, their heat consumption, and their satisfaction with the indoor environment (temperature, draught, air quality, noise and daylight). There is a focus on issues related to having a mechanical ventilation system, i.e. satisfaction with the air quality, does the air feel dry in winter, and does the ventilation system make noise and how the airing behaviour is in winter. As many as 370 out of 869 house owners, corresponding to a response rate of 43%, answered the questionnaire. There was an overall satisfaction with the new low-energy houses. More than 90% of the house owners perceived the indoor environment as satisfactory. The energy consumption was as low as expected by 59%, while only 7% answered that it was higher than expected. Compared with previous similar studies, problems with technical installations have decreased. However, there is a need for continued focus on the commissioning of new and not necessarily thoroughly tested, high-performance installations and new designs. Based on the survey a series of recommendations are given that might help to achieve both a low energy consumption and satisfied occupants of new low-energy dwellings.
House owners’ experience and satisfaction with Danish low-energy houses - focus on ventilation
