When you are trying to live in a more sustainable way, you often face trade-offs.The washing machine that consumes the least water consumes more power; your old car burns fossil fuels, but electric cars use toxic batteries; large refrigerators run more efficiently, but they waste food.It is difficult to find a balance between the two options.Fortunately, the heat exchanger maintains a balance between energy efficiency and indoor air quality (IAQ).
When you can open the windows, using a machine to bring fresh air into your house seems counterintuitive.But when the temperature is low (or very high), keeping the house sealed is important to maintain a comfortable temperature.Old houses let air seep through walls, attics, chimneys, and windows, but the air that replaces it must be heated.Even in modern homes, heating and cooling account for nearly one-fifth of Americans’ carbon footprint.However, insulation and other strategies that make your home energy efficient can also trap air and moisture in the home.
Some insulating materials directly cause indoor air pollution, but in most cases, insulating materials just prevent pollutants from escaping.The most effective way to improve indoor air quality is to reduce or eliminate individual pollution sources.But for indoor pollutants that you cannot control, it is necessary to bring fresh air into the house.The American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) sets the residential ventilation standard to at least 0.35 air changes per person per hour and no less than 15 cubic feet per minute (cfm).Under certain conditions, even a well-ventilated house may be below the ventilation standard.
Unlike furnace heat exchangers, an air-to-air heat exchanger is a simple device that keeps heat in your home while expelling stale air, allowing you to maintain energy efficiency and indoor air quality.The air-to-air heat exchanger is connected to your existing HVAC system, so that two air streams of different temperatures are in thermal contact, so that heat is transferred from the outflowing internal air to the incoming external air, which serves as a part of your existing mechanical ventilation system. Part.The heat exchanger can recover up to 85% of the heat in the exhaust air and filter the particulates that enter the air.
Most air-to-air exchangers installed in northern climates are heat recovery ventilators (HRV).When indoor air is flushed out of the building, these devices recover heat from the indoor air.Energy recovery ventilator (ERV) is a heat exchanger and also transfers moisture.Historically, they worked best in climates with higher temperatures and higher humidity.Recent technological advancements make them suitable for a wider range of climates.
The heat exchanger just improves ventilation.An air source heat pump can actually heat and cool your home.They can replace your home’s heating and cooling systems; they can heat specific areas of your home, or they can work in conjunction with your existing heating system.Homeowners usually add them to existing HVAC systems, using fuel burners as a backup in more extreme weather.
The air source heat pump uses two heat exchangers (one outside the unit and one inside) to transfer heat instead of burning fuel.The BTU provided by the heat pump is three times its consumption, and the most efficient gas boiler cannot generate as much heat energy as it consumes.There were some problems with earlier versions of this technology.However, recent developments have improved their reliability and expanded their use climate range.Although it is difficult to imagine absorbing heat from outdoor air in winter, even in the northeastern United States, new heat pumps can heat houses more efficiently than oil
You may already know whether your home needs insulation.Your heating bill will be high, and your house will feel very cold.A home energy audit will help you determine the priority of your upgrade.Once your house is fully sealed, the heat exchanger will help maintain indoor air quality.
If your house is poorly ventilated, it is not always obvious.Most indoor air pollutants do not produce odor.But in cramped houses, window condensation and other moisture problems (such as mold) are usually the most obvious signs of poor ventilation.If your house was built after 2000, it may be sealed tight enough that you need a heat exchanger to ensure adequate ventilation.
Unless you have an efficient new home heating system, consider replacing your furnace with a heat pump instead of adding a heat exchanger for ventilation.If you live in a hot climate, a heat pump is always a good idea, because any way to keep you cool is more environmentally friendly than using an air conditioner.
Gemma Alexander has a master’s degree in urban horticulture and a backyard full of native plants.After working in genetics laboratories and landfills, she now writes articles about the environment, art, and family.Check out more of her work here.
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