Multifamily Individual Heating and Ventilation Systems, Lawrence, Massachusetts (Fact Sheet)
The conversion of an older Massachusetts building into condominiums illustrates a safe, durable, and cost-effective solution for heating and ventilation systems that can potentially benefit millions of multifamily buildings. Merrimack Valley Habitat for Humanity (MVHfH) partnered with U.S. Department of Energy Building America team Building Science Corporation (BSC) to provide high performance affordable housing for 10 families in the retrofit of an existing mass masonry building (a former convent). The original ventilation design for the project was provided by a local engineer and consisted of a single large heat recovery ventilator (HRV) located in a mechanical room in the basement with a centralized duct system providing supply air to the main living space and exhausting stale air from the single bathroom in each apartment. This design was deemed to be far too costly to install and operate for several reasons: the large central HRV was oversized and the specified flows to each apartment were much higher than the ASHRAE 62.2 rate; an extensive system of ductwork, smoke and fire dampers, and duct chases were specified; ductwork required a significant area of dropped ceilings; and the system lacked individual ventilation control in the apartments
- Research Organization:
- National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO.
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Building Technologies Office
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC36-08GO28308
- OSTI ID:
- 1105091
- Report Number(s):
- DOE/GO-102013-4094; KNDJ-0-40337-00
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
AIR BARRIER
AIR SEALING
AIRTIGHNESS
BSC
BUDGET CONSTRAIN
BUILDING AMERICA
COMBINED HYDRONIC AND SPACE HEATING SYSTEM
COMPARTMENTALIZATION
ENCLOSURE
FREEZE-THAW
HYDRONIC DISTRIBUTION
INCENTIVES
MASS MASONRY BUILDING
MULTI-FAMILY
REBATES
RESIDENTIAL
RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS
RETROFIT
ROOF INSULATION
SPACE CONDITIONING
VEN
WALL RETROFIT
WATER HEATING
WINDOW SELECTION