MJC Heat Recovery Systems
According to Kirk Shanks, a research engineer with the Energy Research Group, who is actively researching developments in ventilation, “between a third and half of an Irish building’s heat loss typically occurs through cold air exchange”. However, ventilation plays a key role in the health of occupants and the structure of a building, and there are consequently minimum requirements set out in part F1 of the Building Regulations. An apparent dilemma exists here, as buildings are required to both retain heat, and circulate air. How can modern buildings fulfil their energy requirements and provide adequate air circulation at the same time when each function seems to undermine the other?
Heat Recovery Ventilation is a technology that, whilst having been in existence for some time, is now rapidly gaining recognition in Ireland as an extremely efficient, health-beneficial, cost effective solution to saving energy. Scandinavian in origin, the Heat Recovery Ventilation System (HRV), follows the unique approach to environmentally harmonised living the Scandinavians are renowned for. The basic function of a Heat Recovery Ventilation System is to provide a continuous supply of clean, fresh air throughout the building while at the same time dispensing heat for cold periods. Technically, a HRV operates as follows:
Firstly, a single set of ducts accumulates moist, stale air from the wet areas of the building such as the kitchen, laundry and bathrooms. This stale contaminated air travels through the HRV unit and is released outdoors; another ducting system then takes in fresh clean air from outside. As the two air-streams bypass within the centre of a non-energy consuming heat transfer exchanger, heat is displaced (without the air-streams intersecting) from the emitted stale air to warm the fresh incoming air. As the two air-streams remain separate, no contamination occurs. Finally, the HRV unit succeeds in retaining up to 95% of the energy from the exhausted warm, stale air. This allows clean, filtered air to be distributed throughout the building – where and when needed. The majority of Heat Recovery Ventilation systems are also supplied with automatic humidity sensors that are able to augment the rate of ventilation when required, such as when a shower or bath is in use.
As well as entire building systems, Heat Recovery Ventilation systems also come as room units. Such units provide similar rates of air exchange to conventional fans, making them an attractive alternative as a result of their ability to provide extract and supply. The systems are most suitably installed in areas of high humidity, such as kitchens or bathrooms.
In contrast to conventional ventilation systems, a HRV is well advanced to offer year round comfort in the building, as while also drawing fresh air in it serves the dual purpose of keeping the living areas at a warm, constant temperature. More than 35% of heat loss in today’s homes can be attributed to ventilation, as where high-quality conventional systems are well equipped to handle the procedure of air exchange they tend to create an uncomfortably cold living environment in the process. This ultimately means that energy that might have been wasted in re-heating a naturally ventilated building can be saved with a HRV.
An advanced Heat Recovery Ventilation System may be in constant operation for as long as six months of the year (or more) and run at a lower annual cost than a natural ventilation system. It will also be capable of converting all the air in an average sized building over a three-hour period. Present Building Research Establishment (BRE) standards in the UK advocate an ideal ventilation rate of between 0.5 and 1.5 air changes per hour.
Let MJC Construction install an HRV system for you and cut your energy bills
Call MJC Construction on 087 9714 924 or click here to complete our short enquiry form.
