Eco-friendly homes are supposed to be as self-contained as possible. This means that they should not produce any waste, instead they recover any waste produced and use it in other ways. When it comes to heat recovery and ventilation, it may seem like eco-friendly homes need to be airtight. This is not true as there are ways to keep homes eco-friendly while allowing adequate ventilation using heat recovery ventilation systems.
The Ventilation System
The most noticeable part of a ventilation system is its system of ducts. These ducts reach all rooms in the house and connect each of them to the ventilation unit. The ventilation unit removes stale air from the house (exhaust) and replaces the removed air with fresh air from the outside (supply).
The ventilation system keeps the air fresh, humidity levels just right, and it can improve a home’s indoor environment.
A problem you might see here is that the outgoing air carries heat away from the house, thereby leading to higher energy and heating bills.
The Heat Exchanger
When you spend energy and money to heat the air inside a home, it might not make sense to keep removing that heated air to keep the home well ventilated. This is why homeowners choose ventilation systems that have a high-efficiency heat exchanger. The primary purpose of including the heat exchanger is for heat recovery.
As air is pushed outside the home, the exchanger removes heat from the air exhausting the home, and transfers it to the incoming air. A high-efficiency heat recovery ventilation system does all this without mixing the two streams of air together to ensure no cross-contamination.
If you are looking to recover as much heat from the outgoing air as possible, you need a system that has an exchanger with very high efficiency. For newer homes, the heat recovery efficiency should be at least 90%, meaning that at least 90% of the heat in outgoing air should be transferred to incoming air. To find a heat recovery system that has high efficiency, you could check out the selection of heat recovery systems at BPCventilation.ie. There is a wide range of heat recovery systems and units, with their efficiencies provided on individual listings.
Filters
With the level of control, a heat recovery system gives you over air supply and exchange in your home, it becomes easier to incorporate some level of filtration. Filtered air improves air quality by ensuring there are fewer dust particles and allergens in the air. Filters also help keep your ducts clean, which helps keep maintenance costs and requirements low. Filters also help prevent condensation as well as the growth of mould due to damp.
Ensuring high air quality in your home while ensuring your home remains eco-friendly can seem challenging. However, heat exchange ventilation systems make both of these things possible. The important thing to keep in mind is to purchase a unity with high efficiency, one that is the right size for your home and one that is easy to maintain.
