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Build your knowledge in building management. On our blog, you will find content on building management suitable for newcomers and tech-savvy partners. Find blog posts, use cases and videos on everything from technical systems integration, HMI and SCADA solutions, alarm monitoring, zone control, lighting, heating, ventilation and air quality. Just as relevant for commercial buildings, public works and industrial buildings as for housing cooperatives or multi-residential properties.

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3D visualization of buildings included in Silver and Gold packages

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Edge

Edge Silver

Want to stay on top of your air quality? Check our solutions for multi-residential properties.

<p>Living in an apartment or building with a poor indoor climate can be an uncomfortable and unhealthy experience. A <a href="https://www.evia.eu/indoor-air-quality/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">healthy indoor climate</a> is simply a necessary luxury. Without it, numerous health problems can arise, from headaches and fatigue to annoying allergies.</p>



<p>In the old days, there was hardly a home free from draughts. You'd better have a pair of really good socks to keep warm. Nowadays, if you live in a newer apartment or building, we have tight moldings and windows and do what we can to save energy.</p>



<p>And if you're cold, you can just turn up the radiator. Or?</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-understanding-the-heating-system">Understanding the heating system</h2>





<p>Most apartments are equipped with radiators that heat the rooms. When it is cold outside, and the elements are on, they are warm at the top and cool at the bottom. This is because they cool down when heat is released into the room. The warm air rises from the radiator and warms the cold air from the windows, thus preventing cold drafts.</p>



<p>To maintain a constant temperature, radiators are usually equipped with thermostats, which sense the temperature and automatically regulate whether more or less heat is needed. Usually, the thermostats are set to maintain a temperature of around 20-22°C in living rooms, which most people find pleasing. If it gets warmer, the heat supply is cut off; if it gets colder, more heat is released.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hot-summer-day-or-freezing-cold-winter-weather">Hot summer day or freezing cold winter weather?</h2>



<p>The heating system in your apartment or building also depends on outdoor temperature variations. When there is a rapid change in the outdoor temperature, the indoor climate may be unable to keep up. This means that maintaining an even indoor temperature can be challenging during spring and autumn.</p>



<p>With <a href="https://kiona.com/products/edge">Edge</a> installed at your building association, the system automatically considers the variations of the external impact – and controls proactively. This way, the indoor climate is adapted in advance, creating a more even indoor climate across apartments.</p>





<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tips-for-a-better-indoor-environment">Tips for a better indoor environment</h2>



<p>If you're looking to improve the air in your living space, here are a few tips:</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-1-are-the-elements-on">1. Are the elements on?</h3>



<p>Check that the thermostats on the elements are not turned off to avoid spending unnecessary energy on extreme heating. A lower temperature baseline is better to keep the temperature more balanced over time.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-2-keep-ventilation-hatches-and-outdoor-air-vents-open">2. Keep ventilation hatches and outdoor air vents open</h3>



<p>Houses are built to have a continuous circulation of air. Therefore, many apartments have fresh air vents in the walls or windows. Closed vents mean that air enters the apartment in the wrong way. This, in turn, can cause unwanted smells from a neighboring apartment or a cold draft. In the worst case, you may have problems with moisture and mold.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-3-furnish-correctly">3. Furnish correctly</h3>



<p>The heat from the radiator needs free space to work. If a sofa or other large furniture is placed in front of your radiators, the heat will not reach the room. The same goes for large, long curtains.</p>



<p>If a table is placed next to the window, the cold draft is led into the room, and the radiator only heats the air under the table. If you want to furnish against a radiator, create some space.</p>



<p>The rule of thumb is that what you can see from a radiator can also warm you from where you are standing.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-4-want-to-let-in-fresh-air-do-it-quickly">4. Want to let in fresh air? Do it quickly.</h3>



<p>Ventilate quickly and remember to keep windows and doors closed; otherwise, you risk cold floors that take a long time to warm up again. If you want to bring in fresh air, it is better to ventilate with a cross draft for five minutes than to leave the windows open for a longer period.</p>



<p>This way, you get fresh air into the apartment without cooling it down completely, and you also get the temperature up faster afterward.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://kiona.com/app/uploads/2023/06/Woman-opening-window-dangrytsky-GettyImages-1400x800-1.jpg" alt="Woman opening windows for quick ventilation." class="wp-image-39384"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Get the fresh air in by opening the windows wide for a couple of minutes. Photo by Dangrystky / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-5-clean-valves-regularly">5. Clean valves regularly</h3>



<p>Without changing the setting, make sure to clean the valves on your radiators regularly. The same goes for the grease filter in the cooker hood. Check that the cooker hood is turned off or set at a lower setting when not used, as it will draw in more cold air.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-if-it-still-doesn-t-help">If it still doesn't help</h2>



<p>Sometimes air or dirt gets into the heating system, and the elements don't work correctly. In some cases, the elements may need to be aired to work properly. If you have followed our tips but still feel too hot or too cold, we recommend checking your apartment's temperature first.</p>



<p>Measure the temperature one meter from the outer wall and about one meter from the floor. Contact the responsible person in your board or a manager for further action if you still experience an abnormal temperature.</p>

Indoor climate: too humid, dry or stuffy?

Pinpoint the problematic areas

<p>Indoor temperatures in apartment buildings can vary widely. Behavior, age, the number of residents in the apartment, and personal preferences for indoor temperature are factors affecting heat distribution. Technical factors such as old thermostats, imbalances in heating or ventilation systems, deficiencies such as the quality of windows and insulation also have an impact. Even if the buildings are built in the same way and area, they will have different conditions in terms of external influences.</p>



<p>The wind can affect one side of the building while creating a negative pressure on the opposite side, resulting in a natural increase in ventilation. One side of a building is probably more exposed to sunlight, and depending on whether or not there is any sun-shading, the impact on the building will be different. These factors will affect the indoor comfort of the apartments and require measures to adjust the temperature in the building.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-pinpoint-the-problematic-areas">Pinpoint the problematic areas</h2>



<p>Edge has a function that can display indoor temperature and humidity at the apartment level in a 3D model. The 3D view makes it easier to see the heat distribution throughout the building. You can quickly see which staircase, floor, or wall has deviations in temperature or humidity. This knowledge helps to detect any faults in the building envelope or ventilation system, ensure the indoor temperature of the building, and identify any imbalances in the heating system.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Color-coded indications</h3>



<p>The 3D model shows the sensor temperature compared to the desired indoor temperature in colored dots. Green indicates the temperature is within the desired range, and red or blue means the temperature is above or below the desired range. The indoor climate changes over time, so by using the playback function, you can see how the temperature has changed over time. You can also rotate and view the 3D model from different angles, which is demonstrated in the video below.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-video"><video autoplay controls src="https://marketing.kiona.com/hubfs/Video/Edge%203D%20building%20.mp4"></video></figure>





<h2 class="wp-block-heading">High humidity makes for colder apartments</h2>



<p>Of course, a building's humidity is linked to outdoor humidity, reflecting the feeling in the apartment. In high humidity, indoor temperature appears colder and more sensitive to,e.g., drafts. Humidity can also be measured and visualized in our 3D model, reflecting how well ventilation works in the apartments. You can quickly identify anomalous readings in individual apartments. Absolute humidity: Orange indicates the driest sensor, while blue indicates an absolute humidity higher than +2 g/m³ relative to the driest sensor.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Log problem apartments with indoor sensors</h3>



<p>We also offer mobile collection units with ten indoor sensors for temporarily logging temperature and humidity. Use the sensors to log apartments with problems or control indoor temperature and humidity. All measurements are presented and reported in Edge and the mobile app. Edge can import the most common indoor sensors on the market with open data and several external brands to monitor the temperature and humidity distribution in the house's apartments.</p>

Heat distribution in 3D and better building knowledge with Edge