ANNUAL CHARACTERISTICS OF INDOOR LIVING ENVIRONMENT IN FACILITIES FOR THE ELDERLY IN COLD REGIONS

Indoor environments in facilities for the elderly were investigated through long-term measurements in Espoo, Finland and in Sapporo, Japan. The results clarified the followings. Indoor temperatures were well controlled in the winter. However, humidity was very low especially in Finnish facilities where humidifiers were not used. Because the ventilation rate are kept higher in Finish facilities, the risk of influenza infection is lower in Finish facilities than in Hokkaido’s facilities. Because heat recovery systems are used in Finish facilities, the energy load of humidification and ventilation is kept lower in Finish facilities.