Living in a cold home can significantly impact both thermal comfort and overall health. Cold indoor environments are linked to respiratory and cardiovascular issues, exacerbated by moisture and poor ventilation, leading to mould and damp that can trigger or worsen asthma and allergies. Additionally, prolonged exposure to cold can weaken immune responses, increasing susceptibility to illnesses. The discomfort of a cold home also affects well-being, productivity, and even sleep quality, making thermal comfort a critical component of a healthy, comfortable living space.
The Health Risks of Cold Homes
Studies have shown that living in a consistently cold environment can lead to a variety of health problems, particularly for vulnerable populations like young children, the elderly, and those with pre-existing health conditions. Cardiovascular diseases, such as high blood pressure and increased risk of heart attacks, are more prevalent in people living in unheated or inadequately heated homes. Cold homes can also worsen respiratory conditions like asthma, as chilly air irritates airways and makes breathing harder. Living in a damp environment, common in homes without adequate insulation, adds to these risks by encouraging the growth of mould and dust mites, which aggravate allergies and asthma.
Improving Thermal Comfort
Good insulation to walls, floors, and roofs will significantly improve heat retention. Another effective way to improving the thermal comfort of a home is by investing in high-performance windows and doors, such as timber-aluminium or uPVC-aluminium products from Internorm. Proper insulation – as well as ventilation – work together to prevent damp, reduce condensation, and improve air quality, making the home both warmer and healthier.
Buildings need to have high levels of thermal insulation and achieve exceptional airtightness performance. This considerably reduces the reliance on, and costs of, heating required in comparison to conventional buildings. Most importantly, these buildings optimise the thermal comfort that occupants experience, even during cold spells in winter.
Apart from clothing and our metabolic rate, which are solely within the control of a home owner, there are four other parameters that greatly affect how thermally comfortable we feel:
- Air speed: We should aim to keep it as low as possible in winter, avoiding unpleasant draughts. Thermal comfort criterion stipulates to be below 100 mm/s.
- Surface temperature: Aim for high surface temperature for all the components enclosing the building’s envelope. Thermal comfort criterion requires the surface temperature difference to be below 4.2 degrees Celsius.
- Air temperature: We should aim to limit the air temperature difference within the building. Thermal comfort criterion requires the air temperature difference between the head level and ankles, when seated to be less than 2 degrees Celsius.
All the criteria above are inherent design principles to the way Internorm designs and manufactures its product range.
The Benefits of a Passive House
Building or retrofitting a home to Passive House standards can greatly enhance thermal comfort and health. A Passive House is designed to be airtight and highly insulated, maintaining comfortable temperatures year-round with minimal heating or cooling. This approach focuses on creating a nearly self-regulating indoor climate where heat generated from appliances, occupants, and the sun is retained and distributed throughout the home.
By using Internorm triple-glazed windows, airtight construction, and continuous insulation, Passive Houses drastically cut down on energy costs and reduce CO2 emissions. The consistent warmth and high indoor air quality foster a healthier living environment. While the upfront cost may be slightly higher, the long-term benefits in terms of health, comfort, and energy savings make Passive House standards a worthwhile investment. Read more about the benefits of retrofitting a home to EnerPHit standard in this case study video.
Final Thoughts
Living in a warm, thermally comfortable home is essential for physical health, mental well-being, and quality of life. By investing in high-quality, energy-efficient solutions like Internorm windows and doors and considering Passive House principles, homeowners can create healthier, warmer spaces that offer lasting comfort and energy savings.
If you would like to discuss your selfbuild, renovation or Passivhaus project, please either contact your local Internorm distribution partner, or email office@internorm.com.