Blog

 

Why Ventilation Is So Important to Consider When Making Energy Efficiency Improvements?

3/30/2015

Traditionally when deciding to make energy efficiency improvements in the home, the first thing that often comes to mind is better insulation, air sealing sources of air leakage and possibly upgrading heating/cooling equipment.  Sometimes ventilation is overlooked but it plays a very important role in maximizing energy efficiency, health, and comfort.  As air sealing and insulation improvements are made for the home, you need a mechanical ventilation strategy to ensure a constant supply of fresh air for the home. Regular Efficiency

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How to Improve Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)

3/27/2015

It is estimated that people spend about 90 percent of their time indoors. When all of this time is spent in a building with poor air quality, it can begin to have a detrimental effect on the overall comfort and health of its occupants. Unfortunately, most people do not know that issues with the home structure, as well as regular household products and habits can be the cause of indoor air quality issues. Whether you have lived in your home

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Exhaust-Only vs Balanced Ventilation Strategies for New Home Construction

3/19/2015

When we think of air pollution, most of us think of smokestacks or trucks spewing exhaust. Although these sources are certainly a threat to human health, indoor levels of air pollution are typically two to five times greater than outdoor levels, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Many of our daily activities and possessions can degrade air quality in our home. Cooking produces particles, while paint, carpets, furniture, and cleaning products can off-gas toxins. With people spending 90% of their

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Energy Advice for Owners of Older and Historic Homes

3/17/2015

Older and historic homes present special challenges for homeowners that wish to make their homes more energy-efficient. Common recommendations for making homes more energy-efficient may be inappropriate for older homes. In some cases, the materials and techniques that can be helpful in improving the energy efficiency of newer homes can cause damage to older homes, which can compromise home values. It is possible to make older homes more energy-efficient, but it is important to make changes with consideration to preserving

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Zehnder Interview Series: HRV System Planning

2/28/2015

Interviewer: John, could you introduce yourself? John Rockwell: My name is John Rockwell. I’m a Technical Sales Engineer with Zehnder America. I’m trained as an architect, and I design Zehnder Comfosystems for residential and small commercial applications. Interviewer: Why is it important to have matched HRV and air distribution components? Zehnder Comfosystems include every needed component for a balanced ventilation system: HRV, ductwork, silencers, controls, registers, diffusers, grills, etc. They are designed to work together, so customers do not have to cobble a system

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The History of Passive House: How the Passive House Standard Was Born

2/26/2015

In 1988 two men had a vision: to create a house which provided comfort, affordability, excellent air quality/ventilation, and reliable performance, without compromising on design.  They embarked on a journey, which was to change the face of low energy developments and architecture, and deliver enormous benefits to both people and the planet.  Their vision became the Passive House standard (Passivhaus). The collaborators and originators of the Passive House concept, Professor Bo Adamson of Lund University, Sweden, and Dr Wolfgang Feist of

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Energy-Efficient Vs Traditional Homes: 4 Key Strategy Differences in Building an Energy-Efficient Home

2/20/2015

I’m visiting Ecuador at the moment and I’ve been struck by the fact that most of the homes on the coast and in Quito have no heating or air conditioning system. Straddling the equator, much of the country has a relatively mild climate, with a wet and dry season. This allows many people to have a small energy footprint. Relying on ventilation from windows and doors alone, homes are relatively comfortable throughout the year.  This is not the case in

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Benefits of Heat Recovery Ventilation in an Energy-Efficient Building

2/12/2015

Today’s homes and buildings are being constructed with increasing attention to a tight building envelope. These techniques can have a number of benefits, such as better indoor air quality control and increased longevity of the building itself. These homes also require special attention to the ventilation. A heat recovery ventilation (HRV) system provides optimal benefits by ensuring a continuous flow of fresh, conditioned air. How a Heat Recovery Ventilator (HRV) Works A heat recovery ventilator is a whole-house system that uses a combination of

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Q&A: A Glimpse Inside a Super Energy-Efficient Home

2/6/2015

Just over a year ago, my family moved to a high-performance house in Belfast Cohousing & Ecovillage in Midcoast Maine. It has triple-pane windows and door, lots of insulation, large south-facing windows, and a metal roof. It’s heated largely by appliances and occupants but has a heating system when needed. Our heating bills are 90 percent lower than a code-built home in the same climate. It’s rare to have a home that uses so many energy-efficient design elements under the same

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Overcoming Shortfalls of Natural Ventilation by Using Mechanical Ventilation

1/31/2015

A well-ventilated home or building is important for the health and comfort of those who live in them, as well as longevity of the structure itself. While natural ventilation is an option, it presents some challenges that mechanical ventilation systems are able to avoid. When considering your home or building’s ventilation system and possibilities for improvement, be sure to take into account the shortfalls of natural ventilation. Issues with Airflow A notable shortfall of natural ventilation is the difficulty in controlling the building’s airflow.

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