Balancing Air Quality and Energy Efficiency: The Key to Airtight Homes
Over the past 10 years, we’ve made significant strides in improving the energy efficiency of the homes we build, focusing on making them “airtight.” While every house will inevitably leak some air, the real question is, how much air does it leak?
A leaky home requires more energy to maintain a comfortable temperature because the air from outside must be conditioned—warmed in the winter or cooled in the summer—by the HVAC system. This not only drives up energy costs but also places unnecessary strain on your heating and cooling systems.
However, there’s a fine line to walk when it comes to sealing a home too tightly. A home that doesn’t allow air to leak can become stale and unhealthy. Without proper ventilation, the air inside can become contaminated with dust, allergens, and moisture, leading to indoor air quality problems.
That’s where controlled ventilation comes in. To solve this issue, we recently installed a Panasonic Intelli-Balance ERV 100 FV-10VEC1 in one of our homes. This Energy Recovery Ventilator (ERV) system works to maintain a balanced flow of fresh air while ensuring that energy is not wasted in the process. It draws in fresh outdoor air and exhausts stale indoor air, keeping the home properly ventilated without sacrificing energy efficiency.
By using ERVs like the Panasonic Intelli-Balance, we can keep homes airtight without the drawbacks of stale, contaminated air. It’s a simple but effective solution for maintaining a comfortable, healthy, and energy-efficient living environment.
About the Author:
Marie Hanson, proudly represents the fourth generation of builders at Hanson Carlen, where she wears many hats. After studying accounting at both EWU and WSU, she took charge of all marketing and media for the company while also assisting with accounting tasks.