Innovations in ventilation products have increased steadily as our understanding of building science has accelerated in the last three decades. To save on energy costs, homes today are built much more tightly with better windows, more insulation and careful sealing of air leaks throughout the building envelope. This has created the opportunity for the ventilation industry to develop new, innovative products and systems to provide the enhanced indoor air quality possible in an advanced, green home.
Precise Control Technology
Programmable Controls
Microprocessor-based controls can balance ventilation with energy conservation since they can be programmed to operate the ventilation system as required. A multi-speed exhaust fan can be operated at a continuous low speed to provide general ventilation and then boosted to high speed for a preselected time when local exhaust is desired, after a shower, as an example.
Recently introduced digital controls designed for heat and energy recovery ventilators enhance operation. Up to five speeds and four operating modes, including variable-timed operation, provide the homeowner with options to meet changing needs. A humidity sensor adjusts the ventilation rates in relation to outdoor temperature as well as indoor needs, providing year-round control without manual adjustment. Whether the home is unoccupied, normally occupied, or fi lled with guests, the system can be adjusted to suit the occasion.
Integrated Ventilation Controls
Ventilation fans that once worked independently now can work together using integrated ventilation controls. Sensors are connected to ventilation devices normally located throughout the house, such as range hoods and bathroom exhaust fans. Th ese fans are then able to communicate wirelessly with a central control, which monitors their independent operation and determines if the overall ventilation needs of the home are being met. If not, the central control will operate fans to meet the total ventilation requirements. Because these fans ventilate from di fferent locations, fresh air is more evenly distributed throughout the home.
The system is programmed based on the size of the home and the number of bedrooms. Integrated controls allow once-independent ventilation appliances to provide many of the bene fits of a whole-house ventilation system.
Occupant-Sensing Ventilation
Occupant-sensing systems utilize humidity and motion sensors to control ventilation rates based on the homeowner’s activities. When a room is occupied or the humidity levels increase, airfl ow rates are increased to clear the air. In one system, carbon dioxide is monitored to ensure the proper amount of fresh air is introduced to the living space to regulate indoor air quality.
More Effi cient Ventilation
ENERGY STAR Range Hoods
Recently, the first HVI-Certifi ed range hoods meeting the energy efficiency guidelines of the ENERGY STAR program have been introduced. Utilizing highly energy-efficient motors and compact fluorescent lighting, these range hoods meet all requirements of the three major green-building programs: ENERGY STAR for Homes, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) for Homes, and the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Model Green Home Building Guidelines.
Fan Motor E fficiency
New and improved fan motors are also providing opportunities for energy savings. Electrically commuted (EC) motors with integrated controls have been shown to be signifi cantly more e fficient than the permanent split capacitor motors presently used in most residential applications. The effi ciency improvement is most signifi cant for continuous fan operation at lower air flow rates.
EC motors have been shown to reduce electricity consumption up to 75 percent for continuously operating ventilation systems providing savings in operating cost and greenhouse gas emissions. These high-e fficiency motors can now be found on a wide range of ventilation products from bathroom fans to heat and energy recovery ventilators.
New Designs for Small Spaces
Apartment-Sized Energy Recovery Ventilator
A recently introduced energy recovery ventilator (ERV) installs in the ceiling of a room, providing balanced exhaust and supply ventilation to ensure indoor air quality is optimized. This new spot ERV has two ducts to connect the exhaust and supply air to the outside, while the inside air is managed through a grille that separates exhaust and supply air streams. The patented energy recovery core transfers heat and moisture to ensure that indoor comfort is maintained all year-round.
Continuously rising energy costs and increasing concerns for the environment are creating consumer demand for more effi cient homes providing greater comfort, health, and security for the future. HVI members, makers of innovative home ventilation products, continue to lead the residential ventilation industry to meet the needs of the growing sustainable building industry.
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