Ventilation and Insulation

Ventilation

As homes become better insulated and with better air sealing which includes vapour barrier detailing, good ventilation systems become critical to your comfort, your health, the health of the structure and your energy savings. Ventilation supplies fresh air to your home, removes stale air and unwanted moisture.

Heat Recovery Ventilator (HRV)

A heat recovery ventilation system consists of two separate streams of duct work – one exhausts stale air to the outside; the other draws outdoor air into the house. Inside the HRV (ventilation equipment), it transfers the heat from the out going air to the incoming air and then delivers this fresh air throughout the home. Benefits of installing this type of ventilation system include:

Benefits

• » Exhausts unwanted stale, moisture laden air to the exterior
• » Reduces indoor stuffiness, odours and condensation problems
• » Provides a healthier indoor environment by exhausting pollutants which reduces mould and mildew growth
• » Improves air quality by drawing in fresh outside air and delivers it where needed.
• » Able to recover 70 to 80% of the heat from the exhaust air and transfer it to the incoming air, dramatically reducing the energy needed to heat incoming outdoor air to a comfortable temperature
• » Equilibrium: the system is balanced to take the pressure off of the envelope which is different than bathroom fans. Measurements are taken to ensure that there is an equal amount of air coming in as there is going out

Bathroom Fans

Bathroom fans need to be understood as a ventilation system. Not all bathroom fans would qualify. Fans need to be quiet, installed properly and capable of operating continuously. ENERGY STAR® bathroom fans are an important part of a home’s ventilation system. In the past, ventilation fans have been mostly recognized for their indoor air quality and health benefits. These ventilation fans remove odours from the house and improve indoor air quality and circulation. A fan will also remove moisture, which decreases the level of humidity in the house. High humidity can damage building materials and can cause mold growth. In addition to indoor air quality and health, there are numerous energy-saving benefits to improving the ventilation system including:

Benefits

• » Exhausts unwanted stale, moisture laden air to the exterior
• » Reduces indoor stuffiness, odours and condensation problems
• » Provides a healthier indoor environment by exhausting pollutants which reduces mould and mildew growth
• » Improves air quality by drawing in fresh outside air
• » Annual savings of up to 6 to 7% of heating costs can be achieved by using economical ventilation fans rather than opening windows
• » Operating the ventilation fan continuously can cost less than $20 a year and will save hundreds in heating costs.

Insulation & Draft Proofing: Attic, Wall, and Crawlspace

Half of heat loss in a typical home is through the building envelope exterior, insulating and draft proofing your home is a simple solution to save on energy costs. A well-insulated sealed home increases the overall comfort of the home and adds to its resale value. Whether your home is new or old, it always pays to conserve heat. The benefits of installing insulation (attic, wall and crawlspace) and draft proofing are:

Benefits

• » Savings on energy bills
• » Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• » Helps regulate a more even temperature inside your home
• » Makes your home more soundproof
• » Keeps you cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter

Wall insulation

Draft Proofing: weather stripping

Spray Foam Insulation: used to seal air leaks

 

Did you know? If your home was built in the 1970's, an energy efficient home renovation could reduce your energy use by 30% or 55 GJ per year. - Natural Resources Canada