PEOPLELinda Toledo

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Linda Toledo

Senior Researcher
Institute for Renewable Energy

T +39 0471 055 757

linda.toledo@eurac.edu

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6352-7913

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About

Linda Toledo is a Senior Researcher at the Institute of Renewable Energy at Eurac Research (Energy Efficient Buildings Research Group).

With an architectural background and a doctorate in Sustainable Buildings, her research benefits from experiences in different countries (Italy, UK, Brazil and Perú) and across different themes of the sustainable built environment (i.e. thermal comfort, low energy design, and climate change adaptation). Her main research interest is focused on the risk of overheating and poor indoor air quality in modern housing (new build and renovated) and the role of adaptive comfort and ventilation in this.

She also holds an academic role as a lecturer in the Department of Architecture at the University of Strathclyde (Glasgow-UK).

Scientific Publications

Journal article2025

Case study investigation of overheating in low-energy homes: insights from a post-occupancy evaluation in England

Toledo L, Wright A, Cropper P

Linda Toledo

Project: EU H2020 ADAPTIVE HOUSING: Solutions for Adaptive and Resilient Low-Energy Housing under Climate Change Scenarios

This paper presents evidence of overheating in present-day low-energy homes and explores the causes of this phenomenon. The study involved in-depth research on four low-energy homes in England. Three of these were newly built, while the other was retrofitted. Over a period of 11 months, the homes underwent environmental monitoring, and user perspectives were gathered. Additionally, a retrospective analysis was conducted based on the Building Regulations 2010 Overheating: Approved Document O. Overheating was primarily attributed to design factors related to ventilation (linked to both mechanical ventilation and natural ventilation), solar control (inadequate G-values), and the unique architectural elements (roof pod and sunspace). While most occupants employed adaptive behaviours whenever possible to cope with the high indoor temperatures, these strategies proved insufficient in preventing overheating in three out of four cases. The study also compared different methods for assessing overheating in low-energy homes. CIBSE-TM59 was found to be effective in identifying overheating issues and aligning with occupant perceptions. England Building Regulations Part O simplified method failed to account for potential overheating from deep energy retrofits, as well as possible exacerbations from roof pods and from transition spaces. Moreover, all assessments failed to encompass the elevated risk for (permanent or transitory) vulnerable occupants.

DOI Source

DOI: 10.1080/09613218.2024.2417274

Journal article2025

Impact of indoor environmental quality on health and wellbeing in a warming climate [editorial]

Al-Khatri H, Alonso González Lezcano R, Toledo L, Moreno-Rangel A

Linda Toledo

DOI Source

DOI: 10.1080/09613218.2025.2460001

Journal article2025

PANDORA: An open-access database of indoor pollutant emission rates for IAQ modeling

Abadie M, Eol G, Picard CF, Loomans M, Babich F, Monge-Barrio A, Licina D, McGill G,

Francesco Babich, Linda Toledo

Modeling indoor air quality requires reliable data on pollutant emission rates (ERs) from indoor sources. While many studies focus on measuring indoor pollutant concentrations, far fewer provide the source-specific ERs needed for predictive modeling, and those that do often report fragmented and non-standardized formats that limit their use. This paper addresses this gap by introducing PANDORA (a comPilAtioN of inDOor aiR pollutAnt emissions), an internet-based open-access database designed to improve consistency and transparency in indoor air quality assessments. PANDORA systematically compiles ERs data for gaseous and particulate pollutants from a wide range of indoor sources. It classifies 747 sources into comprehensive categories such as construction and decoration materials (354), furniture (38), cleaning products and air fresheners (123), occupants and occupant activities (134), heating and cooking appliances (48), electrical equipment (40), whole room or building (6) and others (4). In this paper, we summarize key experimental methods used to assess the pollutants. To aid in informed decision-making, statistical analyses are provided for selected indoor pollutants of interest, including PM_2.5, formaldehyde, benzene, and TVOC. Additionally, we compare the impact of using three different modeling approaches and assumptions through a case study that uses the PANDORA data to evaluate indoor pollutant ERs in a room. This application shows how PANDORA supports more transparent and consistent use of emission rate data. Our findings highlight that, despite compiling 9968 emission rate entries, expanding PANDORA with new measurements will further strengthen the accuracy and reliability of indoor air quality modeling and exposure assessments.

DOI Source

DOI: 10.1016/j.jobe.2025.114216

Conference proceedings article2024

Adaptive housing: solutions for adaptive and resilient low-energy housing under climate change scenarios

Toledo L

Linda Toledo

Project: EU H2020 ADAPTIVE HOUSING: Solutions for Adaptive and Resilient Low-Energy Housing under Climate Change Scenarios

DOI Source

DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.1059800

Journal article2022

Photovoltaic technologies in historic buildings and protected areas: Comprehensive legislative framework in Italy and Switzerland

Lucchi E, Dall'Orto I, Peluchetti A, Toledo L, Pelle M, Polo López C, Guazzi G

Linda Toledo, Martina Pelle

Project: EU ITA-CH BIPV meets history - Competitive value chain for viable BIPV in building renovation

The launch on the market of innovative highly customized products, with a low visual impact colour and aesthetically wise promoted the integration of photovoltaic (PV) systems in protected areas. Despite the aesthetic, economic and energy advances, their integration therein is hampered by several legislative, and procedural barriers. For this reason, the study aims at reconstructing a European, Italian, and Swiss legislative and authorization framework to highlight prospects, potential, limits, and points of contact among such territories. The working methodology is structured in four parts: (i) the reference context's legislative analysis; (ii) definition of authorization processes; (iii) discussion with stakeholders; (iv) critical summary of the results. Thanks also to the introduction of specific targets and economic incentives, policies implemented in all territorial contexts push the use of solar energy in new buildings and restructuring. Several focus groups have been organized to discuss the existing legislation with different professional target groups (Heritage and Public Authorities, Designers). The results show that in Italy, due to the complex and fragmented authorization process, PV implementation slowed down over the years. In Switzerland, however, clearer criteria and simpler procedures encouraged their diffusion. In both territories, stakeholders need more training and updating about PV technologies, integration criteria, and implementation processes.

DOI Source

DOI: 10.1016/j.enpol.2021.112772

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Journal article2025

PANDORA: An open-access database of indoor pollutant emission rates for IAQ modeling

Abadie M, Eol G, Picard CF, Loomans M, Babich F, Monge-Barrio A, Licina D, McGill G,

Francesco Babich, Linda Toledo

DOI Source

DOI: 10.1016/j.jobe.2025.114216

Linda Toledo

About

Scientific Publications

Case study investigation of overheating in low-energy homes: insights from a post-occupancy evaluation in England

Impact of indoor environmental quality on health and wellbeing in a warming climate [editorial]

PANDORA: An open-access database of indoor pollutant emission rates for IAQ modeling

Adaptive housing: solutions for adaptive and resilient low-energy housing under climate change scenarios

Photovoltaic technologies in historic buildings and protected areas: Comprehensive legislative framework in Italy and Switzerland

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Scientific Publications

Case study investigation of overheating in low-energy homes: insights from a post-occupancy evaluation in England

Impact of indoor environmental quality on health and wellbeing in a warming climate [editorial]

PANDORA: An open-access database of indoor pollutant emission rates for IAQ modeling

Adaptive housing: solutions for adaptive and resilient low-energy housing under climate change scenarios

Photovoltaic technologies in historic buildings and protected areas: Comprehensive legislative framework in Italy and Switzerland