The Importance of

THE IMPORTANCE OF VENTILATION

Submitted by Sean Welsh, Energy Resource Educator In a home or apartment that has been built with energy effiecncy in mind or had energy effiecncy measures added over time, ventilation is very important for a number of different reasons. Every household is different as far as occupancy goes including the total number of both human and pets in the home, contributing to the quality of the air in the home. The schedules and activities in the household and the health concerns of the occupants will also contribute to what type and how much ventilation is needed. Ventilation also helps control moisture in the home which can lead to mold, structural damage over time, and health problems for the homes occupants. The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) specifies how a home’s living area should be ventilated in ASHRAE standard 62.2.

Types of Ventilation

Natural Ventilation, is defined as uncontrolled air flow which comes in and out of homes through cracks and gaps which can form over time or where homes have imbalances in insulation levels in older buildings. As we enact energy effiecncy measures and air sealing techniques in homes to seal up these types of gaps and cracks and slow natural ventilation it becomes important to assess ventilation levels so the building is able to remain safe and as healthy and comfortable as possible. Spot Ventilation is when mechanical ventilation is installed at the source of moisture or indoor air pollutants. The classic examples of this are kitchen and bathroom exhaust fans. Whole House Ventilation provides controlled, uniform ventilation systems throughout the building. These systems use fans and ducts to remove stale air and provide a new supply of fresh air. Whole house ventilation is often used when natural ventilation has been sealed off, or in a newer energy efficient home. There are four main ways to provide whole house ventilation; Exhaust Ventilation systems, work by depressurizing buildings and are an easier install as well as less expensive. Supply Ventilation systems, work by pressurizing buildings, also an easy install and inexpensive Balanced Ventilation systems, require a proper design and planned installation. Introduces and removes equal amounts of fresh outside air and polluted inside air. Energy Recovery Ventilation systems, provide controlled ventilation while striving to be energy efficient. They reduce the cost of heating and cooling. They can heat and cool the ventilated air by using cold or warm air supply depending on the season which reduce operating costs for ventilation and heating and cooling systems. Building owners and renters who are concerned with ventilation and air movement in homes can reach out to Sean Welsh at 845 292 6180 ext. 127 or email at sw288@cornell.edu to begin the process to get a home energy audit which is the starting point to improve a buildings ventilation.

Source: “ASHRAE Standard 62.2. Ventilation and Acceptable Indoor Air Quality in LowRise Residential Buildings - Building America Top Innovation.” Energy.gov. Accessed August 23, 2022. https://www. energy.gov/eere/buildings/downloads/ ashrae-standard-622-ventilation-andacceptable-indoor-air-quality-low-rise.

“Ventilation.” Energy.gov. Accessed August 23, 2022. https://www.energy. gov/energysaver/ventilation.