Assessing Six Residential Ventilation Techniques in Hot and Humid Climates

Primary Author(s)

Florida Solar Energy Center
Neil Moyer, Florida Solar Energy Center

Secondary Author(s)

Chasar, Dave; Hoak, David; Chandra, Subrato

Report Number

FSEC-PF-378-04

URL

http://publications.energyresearch.ucf.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/FSEC-PF-378-04.pdf

Keywords

Ventilation; Buildings; Residential; Residential ventilation; Humidity control; Energy use; Building durability; Mechanical ventilation

Abstract

The addition of mechanical ventilation air to "tight" homes in hot and humid climates may adversely impact health, building durability, comfort and energy use by raising indoor humidity levels (RH) above 50%. High indoor humidity has been linked to microbial growth, building material decay, discomfort, and increased energy use (Moyer, et al, 2001). High indoor humidity in "tight" homes with mechanical ventilation has been documented in various Building America projects in hot humid locations (Rudd 2003).

The research described here quantifies the energy use, and humidity impacts of six mechanical ventilation strategies installed serially in a new, Energy Star Manufactured home laboratory (MHLab) with typical air tightness (5.4 ACH50) and simulated occupancy for a period of 14 days. Only one strategy (Case 4-Dehumidifier) provided ventilation meeting ASHRAE Standard 62 and maintained the indoor humidity lower than 50%.

Date Published

8-1-2004

Identifiers

539

Subjects

Ventilation; Humidity; Energy consumption; Buildings--Energy conservation; Indoor air quality

Local Subjects

Buildings - Residential; Buildings - Ventilation

Type

Text; Document

Contributor (Linked Data)

Chasar, Dave [LC]

Collection

FSEC Energy Research Center® Collection

STARS Citation

Florida Solar Energy Center and Moyer, Neil, "Assessing Six Residential Ventilation Techniques in Hot and Humid Climates" (2004). FSEC Energy Research Center®. 539.
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/fsec/539