Blog

Advantages of Installing an ERV in an Older Home

7/30/2015

Older homes often have several problems affecting energy efficiency and comfort. Air leaks around seals, windows, and doors are common and allow heated or cooled air to escape while allowing outside contaminants and humidity in. Insulation is often missing or inadequate, further increasing the difficulties with controlling the temperature. Installing an ERV, or Energy Recovery Ventilator, in an older home can help to mitigate these issues and improve both comfort and energy efficiency. What Does an ERV Do? An ERV removes stale air from

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Exploring the Active House Concept

7/28/2015

Active House is a vision that plays off of the concept of Passive House or PassivHaus, as it is known in countries besides the U.S. Passive House standards are geared towards using insulation and “passive” design elements to promote natural energy savings, ventilation, and comfort. Active House standards, on the other hand, are geared towards adding features such as skylights and windows in addition to specific design elements to actively save energy, decrease the impact on the environment, and increase comfort. Who is

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How Does Ventilation Help Keep Your Home Cool?

7/27/2015

Ventilation is very important when it comes to keeping homes cool. While air conditioning units can help to introduce cooler air and fans can help to circulate air, ventilation is needed to remove the warm, stale air from the home. Without this critical step, the air quality in the home will never be ideal and a constant battle must be fought against the warm air in the home that has nowhere to go. Natural Ventilation Natural ventilation occurs when air moves into or

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What Are VOCs and How Do They Get Into Your Home?

7/21/2015

VOCs are volatile organic compounds, which are chemicals that enter the air as gases and come from solids or liquids. VOCs can be found in most settings but may become concentrated when trapped in buildings. There are many different types of VOCs, which can be brought into homes in many ways. VOCs may impact the health of home occupants, especially if high concentrations of extremely toxic chemicals are brought into a home or are allowed to build up due to poor

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4 Tips to Energy Efficient Home Design

6/25/2015

Energy efficient homes can save homeowners money and help mitigate risks to the environment. Energy efficient homes are often more comfortable by nature, as the design elements and appliances used to reduce energy usage contribute to better air quality and more controlled levels of humidity and temperature. It is easiest to integrate energy efficient elements into the home design when a building is being constructed, but it is also possible to make changes after a home is built to improve

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Improving Moisture Control in Buildings

6/25/2015

Proper moisture control in buildings is imperative to maintaining the building structure and protecting the health of occupants. Whether moisture levels are too low or too high, the levels can cause building occupants to suffer from adverse health effects and may even cause chronic conditions. High moisture levels can also cause mold and mildew to develop, which can begin to deteriorate the building materials and cause allergic reactions in occupants. Identifying Signs of Poor Moisture Control One of the most common signs

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Indoor Air Quality Considerations for Remodeling

6/3/2015

When remodeling a home, it is important to consider indoor air quality and take steps to mitigate factors that may negatively impact the quality of the air. Contaminants, uncontrolled moisture levels, poor ventilation, and air leaks can all contribute to poor air quality. Poor air quality can cause harm to occupants’ health and cause the home materials to deteriorate. Unfortunately, some of these factors may be introduced or worsened during the remodeling process if not considered. Energy Efficiency and Air Quality With recent societal

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Breathe Easy: Keeping Indoor Air Fresh and Clean

6/1/2015

Originally posted here. Counterintuitive to most people, indoor air quality is commonly two to five times more contaminated than outdoor air, meanwhile, the average American spends 90% of their time indoors. Although we typically think of cars, factories, and power plants contaminating outdoor air, there are also numerous sources of indoor contaminants that are less obvious. As building envelopes get tighter, less air infiltration increases the concentrations of these pollutants, creating human health concerns. The primary approaches to protecting indoor air quality include diluting

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New Clip System for Easier Zehnder HRV/ERV Installation

5/26/2015

Zehnder America is proud to introduce a new bayonet clip system for the ComfoAir-series heat and energy recovery ventilators. This Twist and Click system was introduced to streamline the installation process in single and multi-family homes with the ComfoTube and ComfoFlex ventilation tubing. Improved Indoor Air Quality Made Easier Zehnder heat and energy recovery ventilators promote healthy indoor air quality by exhausting stale, contaminated air and supplying fresh, filtered air throughout living spaces. The new bayonet clip system allows both the Zehnder ComfoTube and

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Zehnder Interview Series: HRV and ERV FAQs

5/20/2015

Interviewer: Could you please introduce yourself, Micky?    Micky Dunegan:  My name is Micky Dunegan. I am the Technical Sales Representative for the Southwest region, which includes California, Arizona, Utah, and Nevada. Interviewer: What factors go into considering an HRV vs ERV? Micky Dunegan: There is not a definitive answer regarding this question. There are important factors to consider that are based on geographic location as well as occupant density and the humidity level in the home.  In situations where either can be used,

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