Microclimate
Breathing fresh air in comfortable conditions.
Each of us has slightly different preferences for the environment we live in. In an apartment we should be able to adjust the room climate to our needs throughout the year. It's about the interior not being stuffy in winter, not overheating in summer and not negatively affecting the occupants' well-being. In practice this means an efficient ventilation system, the possibility of effective cross-ventilation, protection against excessive overheating and a location with the best possible air quality. It is important for the apartment to have a layout and window openings allowing natural airflow, reducing overheating risk through appropriate glazing orientation, while not being exposed to pollution from busy streets, industry or other sources of smog.
What exactly do we analyse?
Ventilation
whether the apartment layout allows through or at least corner ventilation
Overheating
south-westerly window orientation, taking into account the ratio of glazing area to room area
Air pollution
local air quality, PM2.5 fine and PM10 medium particulate pollution
Impact on our well-being
An apartment's microclimate directly affects the functioning of the residents' nervous and immune systems. Proper ventilation provides a supply of fresh air and removes pollutants, which improves concentration and sleep quality. Excessively high CO2 levels cause drowsiness, headaches, and reduced cognitive performance. Air humidity affects the respiratory tract, skin, and mucous membranes, and disturbances in it increase susceptibility to infections. Air that is too dry encourages irritation and worsens the body's ability to recover. Overheating in summer leads to irritability, fatigue, and sleep disturbances. Constant temperature fluctuations increase the body's physiological burden. Thermal comfort supports a sense of safety and stability in the home environment. A poorly designed microclimate forces residents to adapt constantly and raises stress levels. A well-controlled microclimate is a quiet but crucial foundation of long-term well-being in an apartment.
What to watch out for
A single-aspect apartment with no cross-ventilation and south-eastern exposure can be unbearably hot in summer
Although air quality in our cities is improving, there are still places where we breathe smog that can threaten our health with serious illness