Ventilation and utility program incentives in the Northwest US.

Residential ventilation has at least two energy penalties that must be considered when addressing the ventilation levels recommended in ASHRAE Standard 62. Energy is required to heat the fresh outside air used for ventilation. In cold climates with high heating costs, an air-to-air heat exchanger can lessen the operating expense. Energy is needed for the fan motor used to introduce fresh outside air andlor to exhaust stale indoor air. This paper will explore the residential ventilation experience in the Pacific Northwest states of the United States regarding the use of heat recovery versus nonheat recovery ventilation systems. It will also discuss the experience of one large private electric utility (1.6 million customers in seven states) in determining utility ventilation program design and incentive programs based on Demand Side Management. It will trace the analysis by the authors of the energy penalties of several ventilation strategies and the level of incentive for low-energy fans that is supportable by the utility in the rate-making process. (Private utilities in the United States are regulated monopolies that must seek approval of state utility regulatory boards for rates, energy conservation programs, and program incentives.)