#5 – Ventilation and HVAC
HVAC Systems in LEED buildings
- Most LEED certified projects use high efficiency condensing boilers and high efficiency cooling systems with variable speed drives, economizer cycles, CO2 monitors and occupancy sensors.
- For the higher end certifications of gold and platinum new technologies are being developed such as using solar energy for space heating and water heating.
- Geothermal energy can also be used for direct radiant cooling and heating or for ground source heat pumps. Heat pumps for houses built for mild climates often don’t need air conditioning units, despite some hot summer days that may benefit from them. For homes with forced air systems, furnaces often blast too much hot air, which is an inefficient heating method, especially in the spring and fall.
- A solution worth considering in this scenario is a heat pump. This is a system that works a bit like an air conditioner or fridge but can run in reverse. It moves heat rather than generates it like traditional heating systems. In the cooler months, the heat pump brings warmth from outside and in the summer it moves the heat from inside the house to the outdoors.
- Types of heat pumps include air-source, geothermal, dual-source and absorption.
- One example of this is the University of Toronto’s new Environmental Sciences and Chemistry Building. This uses six giant tubes, 80 to 90 feet in length, which draw fresh air underground before piping it indoors, naturally cooling or heating the building and help the building achieve LEED Gold status.
- Other technologies reduce power consumption at peak periods such as Cool Roofs that reduce the load on air conditioning. Also thermal storage systems can use power at night to chill water that is used for cooling later in the day. f you’ve ever worked on a roof during the summer you’ve probably noticed it can get pretty hot up there. In fact, standard roof coverings that are dark in color can easily reach 150°F/65°C in the hot sun, potentially causing damage to the roof and transferring heat to the building below.
- One way to reduce these effects is to use different roof coverings to create what are known as “cool roofs” or “white roofs.” These can be white or light-colored and usually incorporate some kind of reflective material that directs the sun’s heat away from a building. They are also good thermal emitters that let heat escape rather than being absorbed.
Finally, whole home and natural ventilation, whole home dehumidifier, and which filters and conditions the air, before the HVAC System. Good venting, uses air supply vents shared by HVAC systems, and diffusers at floor level to distribute cooler air at floor and ceiling heights. As well as circulating heat at the proper levels for maximum comfort.
Spartan supplies the most energy-efficient fans in the world.
Proper ceiling fans use up to 80% less energy than conventional fans, saving you up to 50% off your winter heating and summer cooling costs. Form meets function for outstanding performance year-round. Our fans are an engineered self-balancing system, that keep the blades in a steady, aerodynamic equilibrium, eliminating the noisy wobbling that’s typical of conventional ceiling fans. These innovations reduce energy consumption and noise levels by up to 50% while maintaining optimal airflow for more comfortable cooling. That’s maximum output for minimal power consumption.
X5 MORE EFFICIENT LIGHTING
Elegant design calls for elegant solutions. Inspired by California’s energy efficiency standards T24,Spartan fans include optional lighting with energy-saving 6watt bulbs. That’s x5 less wattage than a conventional fan, shining a light on reduced electricity costs.
SAVE 50% ON WINTER HEATING BILLS
Our Reverse function circulates warmer air from the ceiling back down into the room to maximize the efficiency of your heating system.
#5 Whole Home Ventilation System
The whole-home Ventilation System keeps your indoor air as fresh as possible, making your family healthier and more comfortable.
The systems helps reduce unhealthy airborne pollutants from populating your home’s indoor air. These airborne pollutants include, but are not limited to bacteria, viruses, VOCs, and odors. The EPA has estimated that indoor air is up to 5 times more polluted than the air outside and can lead to major health issues like cardiovascular disease, cancer, and asthma.
Delivering fresh, clean into your home helps dilute these dangerous airborne pollutants like radon.
This fresh air ventilation system also helps control your home’s humidity to reduce moisture problems. Reducing these moisture problems helps preserve wooden furnishings, doors, and floors. It also helps reduce the proliferation of airborne viruses and pests.
Lastly, this system will help reduce odors from cooking and pets.
Features:
- Provides fresh air only when needed.
- Never allows air that’s too hot, too cold, or too humid
- Provides an energy-efficient way to fresh air in your home
- Will not ventilate if the outdoor air will raise indoor relative humidity above 55%
- Designed with very few components to deliver improved performance and reliability.
Requires minimal maintenance.
Comes with a 5-year warranty.
#5 Whole Home Dehumidifiers
Excess moisture in your home creates perfect conditions for mold growth, allergens, musty odors, and mildew which can lead to unhealthy air. Our Spartan solutions for dehumidifiers removes the right amount of moisture from every room in your home, until your optimal humidity level has been reached.
Our whole-house dehumidifiers can also help make your home more comfortable and energy-efficient while protecting your home’s assets. The dehumidifier solution includes a dedicated drain which means there is no messy water tray to empty. Yearly filter cleaning or replacement makes maintenance simple.
Prevent Indoor Allergies
Find an allergy remedy for Hay Fever, Pet Dander, and Pollen
Allergies come in different shapes and sizes. It can come in the form of Mr. Snuggles, Clark, or Fido’s pet dander. Or it can come in the shape of pollen that gets tracked in from the outside. Or mold, or mildew, or dust.
No matter our culprit, indoor allergies sufferers know all the common symptoms.
Sneezing, sniffing, scratchy throat, and dry eyes. That’s the life most of us indoor allergies sufferers live.
Luckily, there is an allergies remedy and it’s something that works in the background.
It is an allergies air filter and allergies air purifier. They work 24/7/365 so you can breathe healthy clean air in your home once again.
PEST CONTROL
Did you know that the majority of your exposure to pesticides occurs indoors, even if you’re treating the outside of your home? Regardless of whether you DIY your pest control efforts or hire professional pest control services, outdoor and indoor pest remediation can actually let harmful chemicals and VOCs loose in your home’s air. Solve your Indoor Air Quality concerns, and even your pest problems, by filling your home with Healthy Air.
Reduce Chemical Exposure When Using Pesticides:
- Follow Manufacturer Instructions
- Mix or Dilute Chemicals with Water
- Increase Ventilation When Treating Inside
- Control Pests Without Chemicals
- Don’t Store Pesticides in Your Home
- Use Ventilation Regularly
Prevent Mold in a House
Control indoor moisture to prevent indoor mold growth
Not all molds are problems or allergens. However, when mold grows excessively in your home, your family and home are at risk. Tiny particles of mold—known as “spores”—are ever-present in the air you breathe. They act like seeds, forming new indoor mold growths when conditions are right. The best way to prevent growth is to control what causes it—excess indoor moisture.
“There is no practical way to eliminate all molds indoors; the way to control indoor mold growth is to control (indoor) moisture.”
-U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
While you can never completely rid your home of mold, Spartan solutions for VVAC and Air, whole-home indoor air quality solutions help you prevent mold growth and reduce mold spores in the air, effectively reducing the risks to your family and home.
Spartan can help you protect your home and belongings
Controlling your home’s humidity to preserve and protect
Taking care of your home is a never-ending job. From daily cleaning to seasonal maintenance, to major repairs, it can be overwhelming.
Don’t get caught up in the details and miss the big picture. One of the most sensible ways to minimize damage and extend the life of your home is to address the condition of your indoor air.
Controlling your home’s humidity is one of the easiest ways to do that. Mold, mildew, warping, rotting, cracking, and damage from pests can all be controlled through proper humidity.
If the air in your home is too dry or too moist, it can create its own set of problems. The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, Air-Conditioning Engineers recommends keeping your home’s humidity between 30-60 percent. This range is optimal for preventing pests and damage to your home’s structure from the air that’s too dry or too moist.
You’ve worked hard for your home and you want to keep it in tip-top shape so make sure your wooden floors, furniture, instruments, and structure are all preserved.
It’s equally important to keep your basement and crawlspace protected from excess moisture. The same musty odors that come from those areas of your home also impact the rest of your home and may present problems to the rest of your home.
HVAC Many choices
Big Difference SIP reduces the size and allows for downsizing
All buildings should be analyzed by a HVAC professional to properly specify the heating, cooling and ductwork to ensure desired performance.
- Size of Building (each floor analyzed individually)
- Orientation of Building
- Type of Wall Construction (and associated R-value)
- Window information (number, location, insulation value, fenestration rating)
- Door information (number, location, insulation value, fenestration rating)
- Duct location (in heated space, in unheated space, in attic, in crawl space)
- Fireplaces (numner, type)
- Air Infiltration
All these factors must be analyzed to provide an accurate HVAC design.
A rule of thumb approach is not suitable for HVAC design, especially with high performance systems such as SIPs.
A process for the accurate design of HVAC system is available from the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers, Inc. (ASHRAE). Detailed information og HVAC design is available in ASHRAE Fundamentals Handbook.
ASHARE publishes the ASHRAE Manual J procedures which are used to design the HVAC system.
The energy savings can be attributed to two factors:
1. Increased R-value
2. Lowered air infiltration
Applying Manual KJ calculations provides for the increased R-value and the reduced air infiltration of building with R-Control SIPs.
The two factors will allow for downsizing of the heating and cooling equipment. This will provide immediate cost savings at the time of construction. In addition, proper sizing of the HVAC system will provide a more comfortable environment.
Architects / engineers, builders, building owners and other building professionals have learned from experience that the energy savings for a typical SIPs structure can be 30-50%
Note: Please also review Technical Bulliten sip no 2000 for information on heat recovery ventilator requirements.
Spartan Buildings
Spartan Buildings is a systems integration and technology consulting company that aims to help solve sustainability challenges. We deliver smart building technologies, with the objective to apply the most modern smart building concepts and net zero energy innovations towards LEED Certification. read more..