More than ever in the past, climate change and the transition to carbon neutrality are at the center of many countries´ policies and research programmes. The building sector plays a crucial role in achieving these goals, considering the carbon emissions attributed to buildings’ construction and operation, and its potential for better energy performance. At the same time the COVID-19 crisis has emphasized the need to improve indoor air quality (IAQ) and ventilation in our buildings to reduce the risks of airborne virus transmission. All these challenges require a transformation of the existing building stock that at the same time achieves better IAQ and lowers environmental impact.

In 2022 the Air Inflitration and Ventilation Centre organizes its first international conference since the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis. Therefore the conference organizers want to pay specific attention to the role of ventilation and infiltration in building decarbonization, and improvement of indoor air quality including epidemic preparedness. How can design, construction and renovation practices, innovative and digital technologies help in today’s challenges?

This is the context defining the core theme of the joint 42nd AIVC, 10th TightVent and 8th venticool Conference: “Ventilation Challenges in a Changing World”.