Housing renovation under energy savings criteria: the importance of controlled mechanical ventilation

Improving energy savings inside through housing renovation and thereby increasing its sustainability is a smart decision. However, most of the time it is necessary to undertake costly renovations to achieve it. Fortunately, there are currently many aids aimed at covering that investment. Next, we will discuss them and mention the importance of mechanical ventilation in this regard.

Aids for the rehabilitation of homes with energy criteria

The Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan launched by the Government of Spain has set an ambitious goal. Specifically, it aims to reduce consumption of non-renewable energies by 30% through the rehabilitation of 160,000 homes before the end of 2023.

With this goal of energy sustainability, the plan aims to subsidize up to 40% of the cost of renovations, establishing a maximum limit of 3,000 euros per home. To pay for this initiative, the Next Generation funds of the European Union will be used. In total, 3.42 billion euros.

The autonomous communities are responsible for managing these funds, so each of them has the authority to establish application deadlines. The only requirements are to have a project and a budget from a contractor and to have an electronic certificate or digital signature, as the aids are managed entirely online.

Controlled mechanical ventilation when renovating a home

Ventilation and energy are two concepts that go hand in hand. What's the reason? At this time, the use of systems with heat recovery units can provide significant savings in a home's energy consumption. The use of mixed water batteries is very useful for maintaining temperature and reducing heating or air conditioning expenses.

However, the bet on controlled mechanical ventilation systems when renovating a home offers many more advantages beyond those related to energy savings. For example:

• They increase the feeling of comfort. This is mainly due to the fact that they regulate humidity levels and keep the interior temperature stable.
• They create a healthier environment. Even if we ventilate a home naturally, it is normal for outdoor air to contain pollen, bacteria, and contaminants from cars or tobacco smoke. Controlled mechanical ventilation systems take care of purifying the air and keeping their respective values within recommended limits.
• They increase the value of the home.58% of those interested in buying a house would be willing to pay more for a sustainable one. Specifically, 13% more.

Rehabilitation of homes with the Passivhaus standard

The Passivhaus standard has become a global reference regarding sustainable and environmentally friendly homes. Through its application, it is possible to reduce more than 75% the cooling and heating needs of any house.

Firstly, Passivhaus focuses on insulation and the absence of thermal bridges, as well as air tightness. It also gives a crucial role to mechanical ventilation systems with heat recovery. In fact, it states that it is not possible to build a sustainable and efficient house without installing one that meets its needs.

Therefore, rehabilitating homes with the Passivhaus standard offers a plethora of advantages. Among them, ensuring the highest possible energy savings and the highest indoor air quality levels. Therefore, it is not surprising that, through the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan, government authorities have firmly committed to complying with its criteria.