Take care of what you don't see: ventilation and temperature control

Homes and buildings are being constructed to be increasingly airtight. It is therefore important that issues such as insulation and the necessary systems – such as heat pumps, heating, cooling and ventilation – are considered at the design stage. Fresh air can be supplied and polluted indoor air can be removed in various ways: through natural ventilation or (partly) mechanically. In practice, an installation-based solution is almost always chosen.

For the parties involved, this means that attention must be paid – preferably as early as possible – to:

• the right choice of system (natural, mechanical or hybrid);

• ventilation capacity, air distribution and duct alignment;

• airtightness and gap sealing;

• professional adjustment and commissioning.

Ventilation is therefore not a minor issue, but a determining factor for comfort, health, energy performance and compliance with legislation and regulations within every project.

It is probably clear that a ventilation system is not intended for heating or cooling. Heating systems heat the air, air conditioning cools the air, and ventilation systems remove polluted air and supply fresh air.

Nevertheless, there are ways in which ventilation can contribute to creating a pleasant indoor temperature – albeit passively. A heat recovery system is an excellent example of this. The heat or coolness of the extracted air is used to slightly warm or cool the fresh outside air. The greater the temperature difference between inside and outside, the more noticeable this effect is. Want to improve comfort even further? Then an additional cooling or heating element can be added.

Each system therefore serves a different purpose, and comfort is not created by a single system, but by the right combination of air exchange and temperature control. When both are well coordinated, they reinforce each other and together ensure a sustainable, healthy and comfortable indoor climate.

Ventilation without any heat loss is impossible. After all, you are always replacing indoor air with outdoor air. With mechanical ventilation without heat recovery, up to 100% of the heat can be lost, depending on how the system is set up. Here's what you can do to minimise heat loss:

• Opt for ventilation with heat recovery (thermal efficiency: 80-90%)

• Combine the heat recovery unit with the ComfoClime or ComfoPost

• Have the system adjusted by a ventilation specialist

• Ensure that filters are replaced in good time

• Schedule at least one service per year

Want to be sure that the ventilation system in your building is functioning optimally and working efficiently with any other systems? Or would you like advice on a new installation? Feel free to contact us.