The article analyzes the impact of measured concentrations of Total Volatile Organic Compounds (TVOC) emissions determined for four BREEAM certified buildings on the Indoor Air Quality Index (IAQ_index) and the overall Indoor Environment Quality index (IEQ_index). The IEQ_index indicates the percentage of building users who are satisfied from the indoor environment. In existing IEQ models, currently the concentration of CO₂ is mostly used to evaluate the IAQ_index sub-component. Authors point out that it is recommended to use TVOC instead CO₂ at pre-occupant stage where building is mainly polluted by emission from finishing products. The research provides the approach where the component related to the emission of TVOCs is implemented to IEQ model. The first stage of assessment was a test of the volatile organic compounds concentrations in case study buildings. Secondly, the analysis results were assigned into the number of dissatisfied users (PD(_IAQ)) from the theoretical function given by Jokl-Fanger resulting from the Weber-Fechner equation. Finally, the overall IEQ_index was calculated. The IEQ approach proposed in this paper is mainly based on a consideration of EN 15251 and scientifically accepted models.

The main objective of this article is to propose possible requirements for cost-optimal plus energy building in a cold, heating dominated climate. The open question is what is more cost-effective: reduction of energy demand or increase of production from renewable energy sources. The target of the research was to check which solution has the lowest investment and maintenance costs. The analysis was made for a single-family house located in central Poland, including three different energy standards: WT2021 with energy need for heating ≤100 kWh/(m² year), NF40 with energy need for heating ≤40 kWh/(m² year) and NF15 with energy need for heating ≤15 kWh/(m² year)). Air and ground source heat pumps were used as a heat source and a photovoltaic system for the production of the electrical energy. For each case the investment and running costs were calculated very precisely, taking into account heating, ventilation, domestic hot water and auxiliary systems. Global cost for a 30-year period showed that house variants with air source heat pumps are more cost effective. The investment, replacement and maintenance cost related with energy systems have the biggest share in the global cost. Reaching the plus energy standard was possible only in the case of low-energy standard NF40 and NF15. Based on this research the proposed requirements for plus energy single-family residential buildings in central Poland are the following: the final (delivered) electrical energy demand (including heating, ventilation, domestic hot water and auxiliary systems) 45 kWh/(m² year).

The main objective of this article is to propose possible requirements for NZEB (nearly zero-energy buildings) renovation definition in heating dominated climate. A survey was carried out on potential approaches and indicators that could be used for the NZEB definition of existing single-family houses in Poland. The process of determining requirements for the NZEB renovation definition was divided into two stages. The cost-optimal U-values of the building’s envelope were initially calculated and, based on them, the energy demand for heating (Q_H) and the reduction of non-renewable primary energy demand (Q_P) were estimated. The calculations were made for different energy prices, locations, and two building models. Based on them the requirements for cost-optimal renovation (Q_H ≤ 60 kWh/(m² year), Q_P reduction ≥ 75%) and NZEB renovation (Q_H ≤ 40 kWh/(m² year), Q_P reduction ≥ 80%) were proposed. In contrast to definitions using only a maximum level of Q_P, two indicators were used. Such a solution is appropriate for existing buildings because it prevents the situation in which only renewable energy sources (RES) (with a low primary energy factor) will be applied in order to decrease the primary, non-renewable energy demand.

The aim of the study was to determine air pollution over the sea surface (North Sea and Baltic Sea) compared to the situation in ports, as well as to examine the impact of ships on the level of particulate matter (PM) concentration. The measurements, made during the two-week cruise of the tall ship Fryderyk Chopin, demonstrated that the principal source of PM emission over the sea surface are passing ships equipped with internal combustion engines, including quite numerous units powered by marine oil. The highest pollution levels were observed in locations distant from the coast, with increasing concentrations when other ships were approaching. During the cruise, at least two places were identified with increased PM concentration (18–28 μg/m³ for PM₁₀ and 15–25 μg/m³ for PM_2.5) caused by passing ships. The share of PM_2.5 fraction in the general PM concentration in these places increased from 70–72% to 82–85%, which means that combustion emission dominated. In turn, measurements made in ports (Copenhagen and Kołobrzeg) showed lower levels of air pollution and indicated a typical variability of the PM concentrations characteristic for land areas. The results confirm the need for determining suitable solutions for sustainable sea transport.