Assessing Six Residential Ventilation Techniques in Hot and Humid Climates

摘要

The addition of mechanical ventilation air to "tight" homes in hot and humid climatesmay adversely impact health, building durability, comfort and energy use by raising indoorhumidity 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 indoorhumidity in "tight" homes with mechanical ventilation has been documented in various BuildingAmerica projects in hot humid locations (Rudd 2003).The research described here quantifies the energy use, and humidity impacts of sixmechanical ventilation strategies installed serially in a new, Energy Star Manufactured homelaboratory (MHLab) with typical air tightness (5.4 ACH50) and simulated occupancy for aperiod of 14 days. Only one strategy (Case 4-Dehumidifier) provided ventilation meetingASHRAE Standard 62 and maintained the indoor humidity lower than 50%.