Houses that breathe, how to ventilate your home better?

What do we mean when we talk about houses that breathe? In principle, there are two concepts. The less common one refers to homes that have good ventilation, whose air is healthy for the people occupying their spaces, as well as for the house itself. And this is something that can be implemented, to a greater or lesser degree, in most buildings. However, when we refer to homes that breathe today, we usually do so based on new building techniques that offer us sustainable homes.

Although there isn’t much talk about the expenditure that buildings incur, their pollution and consumption are the highest in urban activity. Using sustainable alternatives can help reduce that consumption by up to half. More important is the Nearly Zero Energy Building, capable of reducing expenses to a minimum, and which will also be mandatory starting in 2020. This aims to significantly cut emissions of sulfur dioxide, nitrous oxide, and also carbon dioxide, all of which are responsible for climate change.

The WHO classifies this problem as the sick building syndrome, as it suffers from a number of discomforts and illnesses similar to human ones, which are then reflected in a decline in the well-being of individuals. Fortunately, the construction of sustainable homes is becoming increasingly common. Or what are also referred to as houses that breathe.

In Spain, up until now, the success of sustainable houses was very limited, but this situation is going to change due to the obligation to adapt to the European regulation of Nearly Zero Energy Buildings. Why hadn’t developers considered building more sustainable houses yet? Basically, due to the increase in costs, which in some cases could mean a 15% rise. An expenditure that, in the end, the end user recovers in a short time: the price difference between houses that breathe and those that use cheaper materials is amortized in a few years in the electricity or gas bill.

What can we say identifies houses that breathe?

• They are those in which there is no stale air or humidity. Pollution is extracted outside the homes.
• The air is constantly renewed without the need to open the windows.
• People enjoy better health indoors, without germs or contaminating bacteria.
• The heat is less noticeable in summer, being homes that can avoid the use of air conditioning.
• Likewise, in winter we can enjoy a milder climate.
• We do not have mosquitoes or other insects and dust is less.

To make our house breathe, we must achieve proper air renewal. This can be accomplished through natural actions or by using a mechanical ventilation system. And this air renewal, while related to comfort in the home, cannot be replaced by traditional air conditioning means.

The heating -especially if it is old- can even dirty the air. If the windows are also closed and we do not air the house, we may have thermal comfort, but our house will not breathe. And this could translate into respiratory problems for those living in the spaces.

In the case of air conditioning, it is also not a good option in terms of health. Air conditioning simply pushes cold air into the room, so the refreshing well-being is instantaneous. But it does not renew the air and we do not eliminate possible respiratory problems or pollution.

Actions to implement in houses that breathe

If we do not have air renewal systems, we will have to open the windows. If it is summer, it is advisable to do so at night, when the outdoor air is cooler. In winter, we should at least open the windows once or twice a day for a minimum of ten minutes. Using bathroom extractors when showering or the kitchen hood when frying or preparing food will help to eliminate the most contaminated air.

To make our house breathe much better, we need mechanical ventilation systems. Some can be only extraction systems, which take away stale air and the moisture-laden air through mechanical extractors. The clean air would be introduced through strategically placed ventilation grilles.

The most advanced solution for having houses that breathe is double-flow mechanical ventilation. Thanks to it, while the necessary air is extracted, renewed, filtered, and impurity-free air is also introduced. It is the best way to have a home that truly breathes and ensures that those living in it are in better health conditions.