Using a Ventilation Controller to Optimize Residential Passive Ventilation For Energy and Indoor Air Quality

Technical Report · Fri Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 2014

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/1220534· OSTI ID:1220534

Turner, William ^[1]; Walker, Iain ^[1]

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1. Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)

One way to reduce the energy impact of providing residential ventilation is to use passive and hybrid systems. However, these passive and hybrid (sometimes called mixed-mode) systems must still meet chronic and acute health standards for ventilation. This study uses a computer simulation approach to examine the energy and indoor air quality (IAQ) implications of passive and hybrid ventilation systems, in 16 California climate zones. Both uncontrolled and flow controlled passive stacks are assessed. A new hybrid ventilation system is outlined that uses an intelligent ventilation controller to minimise energy use, while ensuring chronic and acute IAQ standards are met. ASHRAE Standard 62.2-2010 – the United States standard for residential ventilation - is used as the chronic standard, and exposure limits for PM_2.5, formaldehyde and NO₂ are used as the acute standards.The results show that controlled passive ventilation and hybrid ventilation can be used in homes to provide equivalent IAQ to continuous mechanical ventilation, for less use of energy.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Energy Efficiency Office. Building Technologies Office
• OSTI ID: 1220534
• Report Number(s): LBNL-180877; 7154
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

lbnl
ventilation controller
passive ventilation
hybrid ventilation
indoor air quality
energy