Maximise energy efficiency and indoor air quality using residential ventilation with heat recovery

The ideal home environment must have air renewed at least one time every two hours. It must also maintain comfortable temperatures of around 22°C and a climate not too dry or too moist, with a relative humidity between 40-60% RH.

To achieve these results, residents often rely on natural ventilation. While this method can direct fresh air inside, open windows cannot effectively control temperature or humidity.

Natural ventilation is not just an ineffective way of regulating ideal conditions inside, it is also a great source of heat loss. When warm air is able to quickly escape a property, this noticeably reduces the energy efficiency of a building.

Addressing these problems, residential ventilation offers an efficient and effective way of keeping indoor atmospheres comfortable year-round in both new and existing builds.

By ducting fresh outdoor air into homes, and recovering heat from extract air, these solutions effectively rid properties of indoor air pollution and regulate humidity with minimal power consumption.

During warmer months when inside spaces become uncomfortably warm, these ventilation systems can also deliver economical free cooling, ensuring total climate control for buildings and homes.

Why is energy efficiency important?

At a time when the cost of energy continues to soar globally, solutions that can keep electricity usage to a minimum are critical in helping homeowners, landlords, tenants and more minimise expenses while keeping spaces comfortable and healthy.

Although cost-effectiveness is a prominent concern for owners today, taking steps to limit a building’s energy efficiency is also crucial in meeting sustainability targets and EU regulations:

• Current EU policies state that residential ventilation units must have a specific energy consumption ≤ 20 kWh/ (m².a)

• The proposed revision to the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive outlines a desire for Europe’s building stock to reach zero emissions by 2050

Maximising energy efficiency also limits the environmental impact of a building and gives it a more prestigious DGNB certification – a globally recognised benchmark for sustainability – making it more appealing for prospective buyers and renters.

How to minimise energy usage with residential ventilation

While residential ventilation systems are effective at keeping electricity usage down, the efficiency and sustainability of these systems can be further enhanced to realise the best results.

Opt for a decentralised system

Instead of relying on a single unit to service the climate needs of a block of flats or multiple apartments, decentralised residential ventilation systems are installed on a per-home basis.

By meeting the specific demands of a single household, instead of the general requirements of a group of people, these types of residential ventilation systems achieve the greatest energy efficiency as they can respond to minuscule changes in air temperature or indoor humidity.

Put simply, decentralised mechanical ventilation limits energy consumption as heat recovery is more efficient, able to recycle more warmth that would have otherwise been lost.

Configure ventilation units to environments

While residential ventilation units can save homes thousands of kilowatt hours every year on their own, taking time to configure devices to suit the specific needs of their environment can increase these already impressive power savings.

For example, in a dry climate, mechanical systems can be fitted with enthalpy heat exchangers that recover humidity as well as heat – creating ideal conditions without the need to run a separate humidifier.

Read more about the advantages of enthalpy heat exchangers in residential ventilation units.

Educate residents

Lastly, residential ventilation with heat recovery can only improve indoor air quality and heat or cool a space if residents know what it is, and how to use it.

If residents switch off the device or continue to rely on open windows, this will jeopardise energy efficiency and send costs spiralling – across an entire portfolio of property, this small oversight can be very costly.

To maximise energy efficiency, it is vital to ensure occupants understand the basic principles at work, and the dos and don’ts of residential ventilation. With sufficient education and information, residents can minimise wasted electricity while achieving optimal comfort for themselves.

Learn why there is a growing need for home ventilation systems, how this technology works and the benefits it can bring in our article.

What impact can an efficient residential ventilation system have?

By efficiently operating residential ventilation, and recovering heat with minimal power consumption, energy bills can be significantly reduced, saving properties between 4,000 and 6,000kWh on average every year.

Even though the economical savings will vary on a per-property basis, the impact of an efficiently-operated residential ventilator is significant when tracked over several years across an entire portfolio of properties:

Achieving these savings does not just benefit business owners – efficiently operating this technology creates indoor spaces that address elements of both the visible and invisible climate, creating a comfortable and safe atmosphere for residents year-round.

How to select the ideal residential ventilation system?

As well as configuring devices to specific environments and educating residents, it is also vital to select the right residential ventilation unit to meet the specific needs of a building and its residents.

When selecting a residential unit:

Keep comfort up and energy usage down

As energy prices soar, and decarbonisation becomes a greater focus for governments, the need for building managers to keep electricity usage to a minimum has never been greater.

While utilising the advice we have discussed above is an important element of an efficient climate control strategy, it is also crucial to select mechanical ventilators from a trusted manufacturer – one that strives for efficiency and sustainability.

Based on more than 60 years of climate control expertise, Dantherm is the go-to provider of economical, sustainable and durable residential ventilation units.

It is not just our vast experience and our wide range of residential ventilation systems that set Dantherm apart – we also have a proven track record of delivering results, such as when we supplied sustainable residential ventilation for the UN17 Village.

All of our systems are backed by a 2-year warranty, and a vast support network of advice, spares and technicians. Should you ever need assistance with your ventilation system, immediate help is just a phone call away.

To learn more about Dantherm residential ventilation, get in touch with our team through the form below.