DIY Network

Insulation and Air Quality: ERV From "Home IQ" episode DHIQ-112

Figure A

What is an ERV?

One of the main advantages of a well-insulated and well-sealed building envelope is that it takes less energy to heat and cool the home. An efficient building envelope keeps the conditioned air within the home that needs a smaller furnace and/or air-conditioner that is working less often -- and this translates into real savings on the utility bills.

But when a home is well sealed a new problem arises -- the home becomes a plastic bag, which means any pollutants, such as dust, that may get in the home "stay" in the home. To solve this particular problem, the home needs to be ventilated, and this is where an ERV -- energy recovery ventilator (figure A) -- comes into affect.

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An ERV pulls in outside air and exhausts the stale air from inside the home, and it does this in an efficient way by using the "exhausted" air to condition -- or heat or cool -- the incoming fresh air. For example, during the heating season the cold outside air is being tempered with the indoor air via the ERV and, therefore, you'll be saving a good deal of heated air. The reverse is true in the cooling season.

This means the Oberg home should be energy efficient and comfortable during the changing season all-year round.

RESOURCES :

Tuff-N-Dri® Basement Waterproofing System
Tremco Barrier Solutions, Inc.
Website: www.guaranteeddrybasements.com

Rigid Foam Insulation
Owens Corning
Website: www.owenscorning.com

Warm-N-Dri® Foundation Board
Tremco Barrier Solutions, Inc.
Website: www.guaranteeddrybasements.com

Spray Foam Insulation (Icynene)
Icynene, Inc.
Website: www.icynene.com

Fiberglass Insulation (Owens Corning)
www.owenscorning.com

Acoustic Insulation (Owens Corning)
Owens Corning
Website: www.owenscorning.com

Insulation Installation (US Spray Systems)
US Spray Systems
6500 Commerce Circle
Trafford, PA 15085
Toll-free: 800-895-8784
Fax: 412-374-1180

Insulation (Suburban)
Suburban Insulation, Inc.
Website: www.ibpteam.com

Energy Recovery Ventilator (ERV) / Air Conditioning
Carrier Corp.
7310 W. Morris St.
Indianapolis, IN 46231
Phone: 317-240-5219
Website: www.global.carrier.com

Roofers
Basi Roofing
3200 Black Oak Dr.
Allison Park, PA
Phone: 412-486-1661
Fax: 412-486-9178

House Wrap (DuPont)
DuPont Tyvek®
Website: www.tyvek.com

GUESTS :

Anthony Grisolia
Systems Integrator
Ibacos, Inc.
Website: www.ibacos.com

Brad and Lynn Oberg
Homeowners
Company: IBACOS (Brad)
Title: Co-Founder/Chief Technology Officer
Website: www.ibacos.com

Greg Allen
Site Supervisor
Hendolhurst Homes
955 Markman Park Rd.
Baden, PA 15005
Phone: 724-935-5658
Fax: 724-935-0884
E-mail: gcrbs@adelphia.net

Tom Cullivan
National Marketing Manager
Tremco Barrier Solutions, Inc.
6402 East Main St.
Reynoldsburg, OH 43068
Phone: 614-322-4420
Fax: 800-230-8178
E-mail: cullivth@tremcoinc.com

Eric Newhouse
Systems Integration Designer
IBACOS
Website: www.ibacos.com

Bruce Dickson
Project Manager
IBACOS
Website: www.ibacos.com

John Broniek
Buildings Programs Manager
Ibacos
Website: www.ibacos.com

John Holton
Senior Architect
Ibacos
Website: www.ibacos.com

Kevin Waldo
Product Manager
Carrier Corp.
7310 W. Morris St.
Indianapolis, IN 46231
Phone: 317-240-5219
E-mail: Kevin.waldo@carrier.com
Website: www.global.carrier.com

Shawn Rippon
VP Marketing
Icynene
6747 Campobello Rd.
Mississauga, ON, Canada L5N 2L7
Toll-free: 800-758-7325
Phone: 905-363-4040
Fax: 905-363-0102
Website: www.icynene.com

Dan Zupsic
Installer
Suburban Insulation, Inc.
193 Crowe Ave.
Mars, PA 16046
Phone: 724-625-2257
Fax: 724-625-3720
E-mail: mars@installed.net
Website: www.ibpteam.com

Matt Klym
Installer
Suburban Insulation, Inc.
193 Crowe Ave.
Mars, PA 16046
Phone: 724-625-2257
Fax: 724-625-3720
E-mail: mars@installed.net
Website: www.ibpteam.com

Jerry Zupsic
Estimator
Suburban Insulation, Inc.
193 Crowe Ave.
Mars, PA 16046
Phone: 724-625-2257
Fax: 724-625-3720
E-mail: mars@installed.net
Website: www.ibpteam.com