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Top Story
"Code Would Making Building in Acton Greener, More Expensive"
HVI Fresh Ideas
HVI Fresh Ideas: Whole House Fans, Whole House Comfort Ventilators, Whole House Ventilation Systems? What’s the Difference?
Residential Building News
"1st Philadelphia-Area LEED Platinum Residential Community Under Way"
"Two Green Homes Go on the Market in Riverwest"
"IAQA and IESO Join Forces to Create Standards"
"DEQ Promotes Radon Awareness, Testing, and Mitigation"
"Heating Devices Need Ventilation"
Top Story
Code Would Making Building in Acton Greener, More Expensive
Wicked Local.com (02/02/10) Harrington-Davis, Becki
Acton, Mass., residents recently had the chance to question a panel of building experts on the effects of adopting increased energy-efficiency requirements for new residential and commercial construction prior to a Town Meeting vote on the matter later this spring. If adopted, this "stretch code" would require new construction and significant additions to existing homes and commercial buildings to comply with tighter restrictions in such areas as air sealing, insulation, lighting and heating and air conditioning units. Acton builder Paul Gaboury supports the effort but points out that raising the standards to the stretch code would cost an additional $6,000 to 8,000 per house. His only criticism of the program is the requirement to work with a Home Energy Rating System (HERS) rater, whose job somewhat overlaps with the town building inspector's existing role. Among the tests the HERS raters perform is the blower-door test, which entails putting a powerful fan at the front door of a residence and checking how much air leaks out. Acton resident Pam Harting-Barrat asked panelists about air quality in an air-sealed house, specifically radon. Mark Price, an HERS rater, said the air quality in an Energy Star house is superior to the air quality in a non-Energy Star house and uses mechanical ventilation systems such as bathroom fans to regulate the air flow. Panelist Ian Finlayson told Harting-Barrat, "The solution is very affordable, and you could do it as a retrofit."
It is clear that the home building industry is embracing better building techniques, which universally include high levels of insulation, a virtually airtight building envelope and mechanical ventilation. HVI certifies bathroom fans suitable for use in high performance houses that have excellent airflow, are almost silent and use very little energy.
HVI Fresh Ideas
HVI Fresh Ideas: Whole House Fans, Whole House Comfort Ventilators, Whole House Ventilation Systems? What’s the Difference?
These terms are thrown around somewhat interchangeably which has caused a great deal of confusion to consumers as well as industry professionals. To clarify, we are providing the following distinctions between the terms:
Whole house fan is the term properly used for the big fan that sits in the center of the top floor ceiling, between the house and the attic. It generally has louvers in the ceiling that are opened by the rush of air flow through the fan. The fan vents into the attic, pressurizing the attic, and hopefully pushing the air out through the attic vents properly sized for the particular whole house fan being installed. The purpose of the whole house fan is to accelerate the natural cooling effect of bringing cooler outside air into the house through open windows and venting it out at the top of the house or the top of the “stack.”
Whole house comfort ventilator is the term coined by the Home Ventilating Institute (HVI) to try to differentiate the whole house fan from a whole house ventilation system. A whole house comfort ventilator is HVI’s term for a whole house fan – they both essentially refer to the same product. The purpose of the whole house comfort ventilator term was to distinguish a whole house fan as a cooling product without implying that it is an air conditioning system. Whole house comfort ventilators and whole house fans have no mechanical cooling element but rely on a natural temperature difference (temperature differential).
Whole House Ventilation System is a relatively new term for a mechanical system to move air through a house continuously at a relatively low flow rate. The purpose of a whole house ventilation system is to provide a continuous air change for fresh air to maintain healthy living conditions for the occupants and the building itself, not to cool the temperature of the living space. So the purpose of a whole house ventilation system is very different from the purpose of a whole house fan or whole house comfort ventilator.
Residential Building News
1st Philadelphia-Area LEED Platinum Residential Community Under Way
GreenandSave.com News (01/18/10)
Sheldon Crossing is a new, carriage house development now being built that aims to be the Philadelphia metro area's first residential LEED project to earn the U.S. Green Building Council's highest designation. Developed by Denale Inc., the 16-unit community is designed with sustainability and lower costs in mind. Each 3,600 square foot unit is being built to use less energy and water as well as maintain improved indoor air through the incorporation of advanced construction materials, HVAC, solar panels, green roofs, insulation, plumbing, water purification and smart home automation. Sheldon Crossing is the vision of Denale founding principals Denise Lehmann and Alex Plessett. Incorporated into their ambition to unite green elements with modern comfort are a host of environmentally friendly attributes, including geothermal heat pumps, heat recovery ventilators, and air purification and exhaust systems to ensure air quality.
Sheldon Crossing is another excellent example of how much better our homes are becoming. This thoughtfully designed project includes a variety of mechanical ventilation systems including heat recovery ventilators, exhaust fans and range hoods. HVI-Certified ventilation performance assures builders and home owners that the ventilation products selected will perform as required to ensure excellent indoor air quality.
Two Green Homes Go on the Market in Riverwest
OnMilwaukee.com (01/14/10) Lawrence, Julie
Pragmatic Construction, a Milwaukee-based green construction company, has spearheaded the development of two single-family homes in the local Riverwest community. The side-by-side, sustainable residences are among the state's first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design-certified platinum homes. Among their many green features are passive solar heating, passive cooling, 96 percent energy-efficient forced-air backup HVAC, in-floor radiant heat, and energy recovery ventilators. Both of the two-bedroom homes are listed at $229,000. Potential owners should expect monthly utility bills of less than $30.
Pragmatic Construction's new LEED Platinum homes in Milwaukee demonstrate the future of sustainable housing. Built tightly with high levels of insulation, these homes are able to take advantage of the benefits of heat recovery ventilation to ensure optimum indoor air quality. HVI Certifies the performance of HRVs and ERVs allowing builders to select a product that matches the house and climate zone in which it is constructed.
IAQA and IESO Join Forces to Create Standards
Marketwire (01/20/10)
The Indoor Air Quality Association (IAQA) is teaming up with the Indoor Environmental Standards Organization (IESO) to facilitate the timely development of industry standards. Under an agreement approved in January by the boards of directors of both groups, the latter has become a wholly owned subsidiary of the former. The terms of this arrangement allow both to retain their non-profit 501(c)(6) status and independent boards. For the past four years, the IESO has assembled several standards project committees, each actively pursuing the development of an American National Standard. IAQA, meanwhile, is an association whose 4,000 members include an equal number of IAQ assessment consultants and IAQ remediation contractors. IAQA President Andrew Ask comments, "By expanding IAQA's scope into the standards development arena, it creates remarkable opportunities for members -- benefits ranging from standards themselves, to training opportunities, to recognition by the world of IAQA members' ability to set parameters for maintaining healthy indoor environments."
DEQ Promotes Radon Awareness, Testing, and Mitigation
Char-Koosta News (01/28/10)
Radon -- the naturally occurring, odorless, colorless gas -- might be the most potent carcinogen in a person's home after tobacco smoke. When a house's doors and windows are shut during the winter, the gas can build up by seeping in through the ground and potentially cause death. However, according to the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), radon can be easily detected by purchasing a radon detection kit from the American Lung Association or a local drug store. "Qualified contractors can usually address high radon levels through a simple ventilation system." said Paul Tschida of the DEQ. "New homes can easily incorporate radon-resistant features during construction." The EPA estimates that the average cost of installing a radon ventilation system to be about $1,500.
HVI stresses the importance of mechanical ventilation as a radon mitigation strategy and a number of HVI members offer fans suited for this application. The fans are certified by HVI as ‘inline fans’ and are listed in HVI Publication 911: Home Ventilating Products Directory, published monthly. The HVI Engineering Committee is currently considering the establishment of radon mitigation fans as a separate and distinct category for certification. HVI Certification assures consumers that the fans selected will meet the requirements of this unique ventilation solution.
Heating Devices Need Ventilation
Tulsa World (OK) (01/28/10) Mulkins, Phil
Unventilated natural gas heaters such as fireplaces, wall heaters and gas ovens can pose a potential health threat by depleting oxygen and increasing carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide levels. User's manuals typically recommend that the user open the window approximately an inch while operating such a heater to ventilate the room, but many users tend to ignore these instructions as it brings in cold air. The Tulsa Health Department Web site states: "Choose appliances that vent their fumes to the outside whenever possible. If you can't avoid using unvented gas or kerosene heaters, carefully follow the cautions listed in users' manuals. . . . Don't sleep in a room with such a heater." Because of these health risks, gas heaters are not recommended for extended use.
The Home Ventilating Institute recommends removing the pollutant source from the room when possible. Second, the use of mechanical ventilation is always recommended as the most effective way to ensure the removal of indoor air pollutants. It is recommended that all ventilation equipment be vented to the outside to make certain fresh air is replacing stale, polluted air.
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