ERV

The Arctic environment is challenging for housing ventilation and heating systems. Energy consumption and demand for space heating for northern remote community residential buildings are very high. Airtight built northern homes require energy efficient and effective ventilation systems to maintain acceptable indoor air quality and comfort, and to protect the building envelope from moisture damage.

This paper presents results from a project on the assessment of the indoor air quality (IAQ) benefits that might accrue from the use of a balanced energy recovery ventilation system. The study compared the whole-building pressure, IAQ and ventilation performance of a balanced energy recovery ventilation (ERV) system with that of an exhaust-only ventilation system (continuous exhaust from master bathroom).

The extremes of arctic climate pose severe challenges on housing ventilation systems, energy consumption and demand for space heating for northern remote community residential buildings. As a part of the overall effort to reduce space heating requirements, dwellings are built air tight to reduce heat losses. However, airtight homes require energy efficient and effective ventilation systems to maintain acceptable indoor air quality and comfort, and to protect the building envelope from moisture damage.

Maintaining an IAQ with fresh in school building is very important because the good IAQ can keep the student in health and improve the academic performance. Since school buildings are very dense and require a lot of fresh air, the need for ventilation has become obvious. While opening a window does provide fresh air, which is undesirable for the indoor climate and for energy efficiency under severe outdoor condition. ERV (Energy Recovery Ventilation) technology offers an optimal solution: fresh air, better climate control and energy efficiency.

Reinforcement of air-tightness and thermalinsulation in the indoors leads to the declinein air-change rate. Moreover, due toincreased chemical substances on furniture,the indoor air-quality becomes worse andmay induce various health problenls, namelythe condition known as the Sick BuildingSyndrome(SB S).Many tools and methods are being developedto improve indoor air-quality.