Energy efficiency and controlled demand in ventilation systems

The energy efficiency has become a maxim in modern construction. Nowadays, modern buildings are unthinkable without saving on energy costs and maintaining a high level of comfort at home. To the point that the nearly zero-energy building is already a reality.

The ventilation systems are essential in the search for energy-efficient buildings, as are construction materials, lighting, and other aspects that directly impact the buildings.

When constructing a building, every last detail must be considered so that high energy consumption is not generated. And for this, ventilation plays a crucial role, as thanks to ventilation systems, it will be possible to improve the thermal sensation within the rooms. With a moderate investment in these solutions, it is possible to obtain great energy efficiency.

This is because the energy demand of any building is usually closely marked by the air conditioning of the interior. Both air conditioning units and heating systems usually account for the largest energy expenditure of an entire property. And these can be reduced thanks to the mechanical and controlled extraction of air. Moreover, this prevents the entry of pollution into homes.

All of this leads us to Controlled Ventilation Demand, a solution that also earns us energy savings.

Controlled demand with energy efficiency

The Controlled Ventilation Demand is the technology that, automatically and without us having to pay attention to it, can offer a specific ventilation flow in each situation. Adapting to each moment, making the rooms ventilate intelligently, and in an energy-efficient manner.

There are several ways to have a Controlled Ventilation Demand to adjust to the needs of a building automatically. Some of the features of these systems are:

• The speed or flow of ventilation must be controllable, which will adapt to each situation.
• Presence detectors can be used to know when to ventilate more or less.
• To determine when it is necessary to renew the air, humidity or even carbon dioxide detectors are necessary. Pressure sensors are also needed.
• Fans must be low power consumption.

However, advances in health and protection that are achieved with controlled ventilation are not as discussed. By not depending on windows, the air we breathe indoors is free of pollutants. We put aside outdoor pollution and also airborne contaminants.

In the same way, controlled ventilation systems that adapt to the demand of each moment suffer less mechanical wear. A fan can last a whole decade, but by regulating itself automatically, it can last longer and is less prone to breakage.

Construction and energy efficiency

Within the energy efficiency, we have construction options such as passive houses. In these cases, everything from lighting to the orientation of the homes is done with energy saving and zero energy consumption in mind. Only the ventilation system will be of mechanical use.

In these cases, for example, mechanical ventilation systems are used that also benefit from aerothermal energy. This process is energy efficient, as it uses a heat pump to repurpose the energy spent and convert it into cold or heat, depending on the time of year.

In this particular case of aerothermal energy, manufacturers estimate that up to 78% of the energy used by the ventilation system can be recycled. In specific cases where the climate is much more extreme, one can also opt for geothermal systems, which recover energy from the ground. However, it requires a much more expensive installation and is not necessary if winter is not harsh.

To ensure comfort at home and also noteworthy energy efficiency, one of the best options is, as we have mentioned, to invest in ventilation systems that replace the expenses of air conditioning or heating devices. After all, these are what consumes the most in a household, and we can avoid it with a good ventilation system that consumes intelligently and adapts to every situation.