A Literature Review of Socio-Cultural Research Relating to Fresh Air and Ventilation in Domestic Homes

This report summarises a literature review carried out over the period December 2010 to May 2011. The scope for this review is a summary of research that incorporates data on attitudes and behaviours relating to 'fresh air' and ventilation. It is assumed that there are many possible reasons for an occupant to open/close the windows and/or to adjust the mechanical ventilation system (e.g. perception of draught in summer and winter; to experience or to be connected to the outside; to shut out noise/listen to sound from outside; to decrease noise from the technical installation; to increase/decrease the air flow; to incorporate outside smells/shut off outside smells or pollens; caring for the family; looking after the building and so on). It is VELUX's wish to establish how much research is available, which includes empirical data on these attitudes and motivations. The emphasis is on finding research which includes socio-cultural data: that is data which incorporates findings which explore the social and cultural attitudes and understandings that influence a person's thinking and behaviours. This review also includes a small amount of socio-historical literature relating to ventilation. The geographical focus of this literature review is primarily on studies from Europe, with some inclusion of literature from the United States and Australasia. Literature from some other countries has been included, where there something of relevance and interest in the research.