In this study, we analyze the impact of mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (VHR) on the operation primary energy use in residential buildings. We calculate the operation primary energy use of a case-study apartment building built to conventional and passive house standard, both with and without VHR, and using different heat supply systems. VHR increases the electrical energy used for ventilation and reduces the heat energy used for space heating. Significantly greater primary energy savings are achieved for VHR in resistance heated buildings than in district heated buildings. For district heated buildings the primary energy savings are small. VHR systems can give substantial final energy reduction, but the primary energy benefit depends on the electricity used for VHR and the airtightness of buildings, and strongly on the type of heat supply system. This study shows the importance of considering the interactions between heat supply systems and VHR systems to reduce primary energy use in buildings.
展开▼
