Assessment of a carbon dioxide controller for residential ventilation and indoor air quality management. Final report
- Geomet Technologies, Inc., Germantown, MD (United States)
Indoor air quality can be adversely affected by combinations of building materials, furniture, consumer products, and by such activities as cooking. Acceptable indoor air quality (IAQ) can be achieved by management of pollutant sources or by various modes of controlled or uncontrolled ventilation. Control of pollutant sources can often be difficult to achieve; however, increased ventilation can generally reduce concentrations of all indoor pollutants, usually to levels established by ASHRAE Standard 62-1989 which specifies acceptable levels of major indoor pollutants as well as ventilation rates for specific types of occupied spaces. Increased ventilation, however, is often done at a penalty of increased domestic energy use for heating and cooling. Ventilation systems which can satisfy the ASHRAE standard can save energy if they do not operate when the house is vacant. Among possible ventilation control methods are carbon dioxide based sensors which can detect human presence. Carbon dioxide (CO{sub 2}) can also be used as a surrogate indicator of general IAQ. Tests of a CO{sub 2}-controlled energy recovery ventilator (ERV) were performed in two houses (one in Florida, one in Maryland) to evaluate the effectiveness of CO{sub 2} as the triggering parameter for controlling an ERV. Concentrations of selected indoor air pollutants were examined as a function of ERV operation. Effects of ERV-forced air exchange rates on energy consumption for heating or cooling were also monitored. Simulated occupancy of each house was achieved by programmed injection of CO{sub 2}. Indoor and outdoor concentrations of such pollutants as formaldehyde, volatile organic compounds and radon were also monitored. Domestic heating (or cooling) energy consumption was monitored. Patterns of energy use and indoor pollutant concentrations were compared during periods of ERV use to periods of ERV non-use.
- Research Organization:
- Electric Power Research Inst. (EPRI), Palo Alto, CA (United States); GEOMET Technologies, Inc., Germantown, MD (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- Electric Power Research Inst., Palo Alto, CA (United States)
- OSTI ID:
- 88615
- Report Number(s):
- EPRI-TR-104970; TRN: 95:005957
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: PBD: May 1995
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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