There are lots to be gained from ventilation that works “on demand”. The company Healthy Homes in Sweden is in the forefront with ventilation systems that adapt to occupant behavior and needs.
“We want to avoid over-ventilation of the different rooms and spaces in the home and instead use the energy to ventilate when it is actually needed, one of the developers Jonn Are Myhren, explains. For example, when you wake up and use the bathroom, shower and the kitchen in the morning the ventilation is increased, and the ventilation is reduced during the day if there is no one at home.”
Our heat recovery unit Endura Delta is fully automated and works 24-7. It collects data from sensors, e.g. temperature, humidity, CO2 in the rooms and adapts the ventilation accordingly.
“Even smell is surveilled and will kick in extra ventilation, a much-appreciated feature especially when there is activity in bathrooms and kitchens. During traditional ventilation the air flow usually exceeds the need during most of the day but is insufficient during the morning peak.”
Efficient heat recovery
The second peak, although at a lower level, emerges in the evening at dinnertime when activities like cooking and other demands for increased ventilation.
With a heat recovery rate of 87% more heat is transferred from the extract air to the incoming air compared to most other similar systems on the market. In addition, even more energy is saved due to lower fan operation, thanks to the automatic function and reduced ventilation during several hours a day.
… and cooling function in summertime
Endura Delta can also be set in holiday mode for minimum energy use if there are no residents at home. The Endura Delta is further equipped with an automatic summer bypass were the heated air doesn’t pass through the heat exchanger thus achieving a cooling effect.
Technically the system is based on a plate heat exchanger (PHE), with 87% efficiency, using maximum 85 W per fan. In this way the in- and outgoing air is never in contact thus avoiding smell to be recirculated. The system is compatible with “smart homes” systems and it is also passive house certified.
In what kind of buildings can it be installed ?
“It is developed for family homes, apartment buildings and summer homes, existing ones or newbuilds. As our company name “Healthy Homes” indicates, it is suitable wherever you want to improve the indoor climate. In addition to all ventilation benefits it is also equipped with a filtering function to reduce pollen and other unwanted particles in the incoming air.”
“There are also more practical aspects such as easy installation that have been taken into consideration and is now much appreciated by our customers.”
Automatic or user surveilled and operated? Both options are possible. The system is app controlled and the actual levels of temperature, moisture, CO2 and ventilation activity can be monitored. The active user can adjust and personalize/maximize the benefits via the app. For the more passive user an easy filter exchange once a year is all maintenance that is needed.
Started as a research project
What came as a surprise during the development, besides the energy aspects, was the fact that the indoor air in the sleeping room could reach unhealthy carbon dioxide levels during the night.
Improved health and energy savings
“Actually, the indoor climate can often be poorer than we realize. Our aim is to make homes healthier to live in and save energy at the same time. Just imagine if you are suffering from headaches or other conditions that can be related to poor indoor climate – or maybe even caused by the building materials – and this can be fixed by improved ventilation. We think that an investment in better and more energy efficient ventilation has many benefits.”
Want to know more?
A brochure in English can be downloaded on Healthy Homes website https://www.healthyhomes.se/enduradelta
You are also welcomed to contact Healthy Homes directly:
Telephone +46 (0)739 47 48 71 E-mail: info@healthyhomes.se
About the company
The Healthy Home story started in 2012 when researchers at Dalarna University, Sweden, realized that the most efficient energy savings in homes can be achieved by reducing the ventilation down to one third when there is no one there. In cooperation with the Belgium company Renson a development project was started, and systems were developed for Scandinavian climate and tested for several years.
Background: This article is made in the framework of the project Effective Financing Tools for implementing Energy Efficiency in Buildings (EFFECT4buildings). The aim of the article is to share of experiences on energy efficiency solutions. EFFECT4buildings project develop a toolbox with a set of financial instruments for building managers to implement more energy efficiency measures. The project also maps, promote and share experiences among building managers of different technology solutions for energy efficiency in buildings. EFFECT4buildings is implemented with the support from the Interreg Baltic Sea Region Program 2014-2020 (European Regional Development Fund) and Norwegian national funding. For more information: http://www.effect4buildings.se
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Disclaimer: The sole responsibility for the content of this article lies with the authors. It does not represent the views of the European Union.
