Indoor Environment

We conduct research on the development of design criteria and technical solutions to ensure the best possible indoor environment for people at a low energy consumption level.

Fire personer iført åndedrætsmasker, mens de betragter en lille tabletenhed i et forseglet kammer. — Test subjects in one of the climate chambers in DTU's Indoor Environment Lab (photo: Mikal Schlosser).

We spend most of our lives indoors, and the indoor environment has a significant impact on our health and well-being. Poor quality of air, light, and sound indoors can cause poor well-being and illness and have major economic consequences in form of lost productivity in workplaces and educational institutions.

Our research focuses on people and their health, comfort, and performance when exposed to the indoor environment in our homes, at work, in schools, during transportation, etc. We need more knowledge on, how different indoor environment conditions – including heat, air, light, and sound – affect people’s well-being overall.

We perform extensive studies, both under well-controlled conditions in the laboratory and in the field, to characterize different indoor environments and their impact on humans. Based on these insights, we develop heating, ventilation, and cooling systems to condition indoor environments optimal for occupants in new and sustainable ways.

The section for indoor environment has during the last decades held a strong international position as one of the leading research groups within the field of indoor environment, and our section often serves as a hub for international researchers.

We have a strong collaboration with industry, both for the exchange of knowledge and for the development of new technologies.

We have a unique and internationally known research infrastructure comprised of climate chambers, field laboratories, and equipment for accurately measuring the parameters of the indoor climate.

Head of section

Jørn Toftum Professor, Head of Section Phone: +45 45254028 Mobile: +45 93511543 jtof@dtu.dk

Research Topics

Research topic

Advanced systems for heating and cooling

Heating, cooling, and ventilation systems (HVAC systems) and their proper design and operation are critical for Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) in buildings and for the sustainable development of the construction sector.

Research topic

Daylighting and lighting

Daylight and connection to the outdoor climate in the context of a resource-efficient world are of great importance for energy efficiency and human comfort, health, and performance.

Research topic

Air quality - Exposure and effects

Indoor climate is increasingly acknowledged as an important factor for people's health, wellbeing, and productivity in their household, at work, in school, and doing transport.

Facilities