Integrated heating and ventilation: Double duty for ducts

Journal Article · · Home Energy; (United States)

OSTI ID:6474727

Jackson, M A ^[1]

---

1. Bonneville Power Administration, Portland, OR (United States)

Under the right conditions, integrated systems work well and have a fairly minimal energy penalty. However, the right conditions are not common in Northwest housing stock. Houses typically are built with heating system supply ducts located in crawl spaces and return plenums in attics. duct leakage is usually large, in excess of 100 cfm, as is the potential for conductive heat loss from the ducts. This type of heating system should not really be used for an integrated heating and ventilating system unless the ducts can be tightened up and the heating system and ducts insulated to reduce conductive heat loss. A more appropriate home for an integrated system would have: The entire heating and distribution system within the air barrier of the home; a tight envelope; adequate controls-at least a 24-hour time clock and a manual override [open quotes]twist[close quotes] timer-and; occupants who know how the system works. Furthermore, to avoid unbalanced pressures within the home, it would have well-distributed return ducting, or make it possible for air to freely flow from supply to return registers to minimize the pressure imbalances. Heating and cooling systems can be very inefficient if poorly sealed, poorly insulated, badly designed, and improperly installed. Integrating a ventilation system with an inefficient heating and cooling system compounds the problems and the results are not acceptable. Those considering an integrated system would do well to ensure that the heating distribution system is as efficient and tight as possible. Once this has been achieved, the integration of ventilation can proceed at minimal energy penalty.

• OSTI ID: 6474727
• Journal Information: Home Energy; (United States), Journal Name: Home Energy; (United States) Vol. 10:3; ISSN 0896-9442; ISSN HOENE2
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
320107* -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Building Systems-- (1987-)
CONTROL
CONTROL EQUIPMENT
DESIGN
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
DUCTS
EFFICIENCY
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
ENERGY SYSTEMS
EQUIPMENT
HEATING SYSTEMS
NORTH AMERICA
PRESSURE CONTROL
USA
VENTILATION SYSTEMS