The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Department of Energy (DOE) agree that geothermal cooling and heating is the most cost effective, environmentally friendly way to keep your home comfortable. Continue reading “5 Compelling Reasons to Give Geothermal Cooling and Heating Serious Thought”
Tag: environmental protection agency
Geothermal Cooling and Heating: What’s Good for You Is Good for the Planet, Too
Is Your Home a Candidate for an Energy Efficient Geothermal System?
If you’ve researched your HVAC options, you may know that geothermal cooling and heating systems are some of the most efficient systems on the market. But you might not be aware that they’re some of the most environmentally friendly, as well. Continue reading “Geothermal Cooling and Heating: What’s Good for You Is Good for the Planet, Too”
Is Refrigerant Huffing A Problem In Your Area? Addressing Issues With Safety, Efficiency
Simple Precautions Can Keep People from Abusing Freon
Recent news stories about refrigerant huffing are raising the awareness of homeowners about its dangers to people and their air conditioners. Continue reading “Is Refrigerant Huffing A Problem In Your Area? Addressing Issues With Safety, Efficiency”
Energy Star: The Label Can Help You Select Better Home-Comfort Equipment
Learn What That Blue Tag Means For Your Energy Bill
Even if you’ve downright scurried through a home-improvement store, the Energy Star label has probably caught your eye. And now that you’re searching for an appliance, you’ll probably slow down long enough to see just how valuable this label really is. Continue reading “Energy Star: The Label Can Help You Select Better Home-Comfort Equipment”
Is Mold A Problem After This Year’s Wet Weather Conditions? When To Call The Pros
Learn About Mold Abatement to Remove Spores From Your Home
When a region receives an unusually high amount of rain and when relative humidity is high the resulting moisture can lead to mold problems. Left unchecked, mold growth can become rampant, lower the value of your home, cause health problems and generally be inconvenient to repair. Continue reading “Is Mold A Problem After This Year’s Wet Weather Conditions? When To Call The Pros”
What is a Heat Recovery Ventilator?
Ventilators Move Fresh Air in and Stale Air Out of Your Home
Heat recovery ventilators (HRVs) are among the most energy-efficient ventilation systems available. They pull fresh air inside, filtering it while expelling stale air. They also essentially “recapture” the energy of the outgoing, stale air and “give” it to the incoming air. Typical heat recovery ventilators can recycle about 85 percent of this warm or cool energy, taking strain off your HVAC system. There are a plenty of HRV models that attach to pre-existing ductwork.
Heat recovery ventilators accomplish the heat exchange inside the heat exchanger core, where the currents of incoming fresh air and outgoing stale air both pass. This is where the energy is collected and saved. The two different air flows, however, do not cross.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the American Lung Association recommend HRVs as some of the best ventilation systems on the market to improve indoor air quality and health. If you achieve energy savings with a tightly sealed home, your indoor air is probably not well circulated, leading to indoor pollution.
Heat recovery ventilators reduce indoor pollution from common factors including:
- Off-gassing and fumes from building materials and carpets.
- Fumes from household cleaners.
- Excess humidity.
- Mold, allergens, dust, and airborne bacteria and viruses.
- Carbon dioxide exhaled by residents (each person exhales about 1 kg per day).
Fresh, filtered air can lead to vast improvements for many individuals plagued by recurring issues such as respiratory problems, headaches, allergies, lethargy and more.
Pre-installed ventilation systems in houses such as bathroom fans and stovetop fans can only go so far. These expel some heat, humidity and fumes, but also pull in pollutants from outside, dust particles from the attic, humidity, and radon, the second cause of lung cancer in the US after cigarettes. Opening windows won’t filter the air or maintain your indoor temperature, but will strain your HVAC system
In the ongoing quest for energy efficiency, heat recovery ventilators are good investments, and can extend the life span of your HVAC system. If you’re thinking about improving your indoor air quality and want expert advice, feel free to call the professionals at T. F. O’Brien. We’re happy to help.
Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about heat recovery ventilators and other HVAC topics, click here to download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.