The research concerns renovation variants for modernist housing estates built in Szczecin, Poland during 1918–1925 and in Bialystok, Poland during 1950–1990. These buildings are now substandard in many ways; functionally, aesthetically, technically, and ecologically they do not fulfil the current energy efficiency standards. Some of them have architectural heritage, so not all energy-saving technologies can be applied. Renovations must include energy-saving improvements and the use of renewable energy sources. Equally important is the well-being of residents, meaning the quality of the apartments should be increased. The aim of this research was to analyze the renovation options in terms of energy efficiency and well-being criteria, as well as in relation to the cultural value of the buildings. The simplified energy calculation method was used to check the present buildings’ energy demands to compare them with retrofitting results. Three retrofitting possibilities were considered: low-cost, current standards, and near-zero energy. The results show that without EU financial aid, which will soon be introduced under the “Renovation Wave” program, such modernization projects will be difficult, making the target of 55% CO2 emission reductions compared to 1990 levels by 2030 impossible.

The differences between what in the winter 2017 was presented by the government measurement station of air quality, belonging to the Chief Inspectorate of Environmental Protection (CIEP) in Bialystok in Poland, and what the citizens could see and smell, were the reason for installing the monitoring system of PM10 and PM2.5 particulate matter, in the "Laboratory of Energy-efficient Architecture and Renewable Energies" (LEARE) at the Faculty of Architecture of Bialystok University of Technology. The measurements were compared with done by CIEP and the information of “The World Air Quality Index” (WAQI). This project started in 2007. It is proving a transparent Air Quality information for more than 70 countries, covering more than 9000 stations in 600 major cities. Since 16 Nov 2017, data was also downloaded from the new European Air Quality Index (EAQI) website, created by the European Environment Agency (EEA). From the beginning of 2018, data from the public-private service AIRLY was added to the study. They installed four online dust meters in Bialystok. The density of the dust measurement network was still insufficient, so the mobile measurements were started. Recently, the use of a drone equipped with a dust meter for tests at various heights has begun. Measurements denies EAQI presentation of so good air quality in Bialystok. The levels of PM2.5 and PM10 are often much higher than those presented by EAQI and CIEP. Government measuring station, located in the center of Bialystok, poorly reflect air pollution in peripheral districts.

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