Mixed-Mode Ventilation—a Sustainable Approach to Create Healthy and Comfortable Indoor Spaces

Dear Colleagues,

The concept of mixed-mode (hybrid) ventilation has been attracting more attention in recent years as a sustainable alternative to conditioning indoor spaces. It combines the best features of both mechanical (air-conditioning) and natural ventilation systems, controlled either automatically or manually according to outdoor conditions and building occupant needs. In the pre-COVID period, research on the topic revolved around the problem of the foreseen increase in global cooling demand, therefore tending to primarily focus on the energy-saving potential of mixed-mode buildings in comparison to full HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning) buildings. Today, with COVID-19 in the spotlight, more emphasis on the potential health benefits of the mixed-mode strategy can be expected as natural ventilation is an effective way to minimize the risk of infectious disease transmission by providing fresh outdoor air directly to indoor spaces. Post-COVID, mixed-mode buildings need to be designed and operated with the current challenges in mind, namely, energy consumption and health/comfort of occupants, which are often in conflict.

The purpose of this Special Issue is to collect a set of contributions on the mixed-mode design and operation strategy in response to the recent challenges added by the COVID-19 pandemic. We invite studies performed in the context of mixed-mode ventilation settings (including commercial and residential buildings), covering wide focus areas such as human comfort and health, indoor environmental quality, post-occupancy evaluation, energy efficiency, sustainable design, occupant behavior, control strategies, and facility management. Research on heated buildings that use natural ventilation through operable windows also falls within the scope of this Special Issue. Studies based on laboratory/climate chambers, field monitoring, simulation, and large global surveys are invited.  Position papers are also welcome.

Dr. Ricardo Forgiarini Rupp
Dr. Jungsoo Kim
Guest Editors

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• indoor environmental quality
• indoor climate
• thermal comfort
• occupant behavior
• mixed-mode buildings
• hybrid ventilation
• healthy buildings
• infection control
• energy efficiency