Ventilation

Years ago, houses were ventilated by simply opening the windows, the doors and by counting on all air movements (air infiltrations and exfiltrations) through the exterior walls. Still used in many homes, this ventilation method, known as natural, is not always practical, comfortable and is even less effective. Especially in winter!
 
The installation of mechanical ventilation makes it possible to control your home’s ventilation more effectively and increases the energy performance of your home. Since mechanical systems use electricity, it is particularly important to select a ventilation unit that allows you to recover heat and energy, such as a heat recovery ventilator (HRV) or an energy recovery ventilator (ERV).
 
Finally, keep in mind that the installation of a mechanical ventilation system that pushes fresh air into each habitable room through ducts is mandatory for new houses under the current building standards and codes in effect.

In terms of habitable space, the heat recovery ventilator (HRV) is the type of unit that ensures better energy performance. In point of fact, the hot stale air is ejected outdoors and used to preheat the fresh air coming in through the system; therefore, less energy is used to bring inflowing air to a comfortable temperature.
 
Generally speaking, a good HRV yields between 60% and 80% of sensible heat recovery efficiency (SRE) (using hot stale air) at –25 ºC. Look for a model that meets these criteria and is certified by the Home Ventilating Institute (HVI).

For more information, consult the guide on Heat Recovery Ventilators published by the Office of Energy Efficiency.
 
For bathroom fans, range hood fans and ceiling fans, look for ENERGY STAR certification. This way you can use products that consume less energy and make less noise.

The optimal relative humidity of a home should be between 35% and 50%. It is within this range that air contaminants are less likely to proliferate (bacteria, viruses, mushrooms, moths, etc.) therefore helping to reduce the chances of developing health problems.

The degree of humidity tends to increase naturally with the various activities performed in the home such as cooking, baths, showers and the use of the clothes dryer. To maintain an adequate level of humidity it is necessary to use appropriate ventilation (by increasing the flow of the central ventilation systems, using bathroom fans and range hood fans) when using certain rooms or appliances.