Conference Agenda

In North America, building owners and industry are beginning to transition to in-unit energy/heat recovery ventilation (ERV/HRV) systems over pressurized corridor ventilation systems in multi-unit residential buildings (MURBs). However, there is little empirical evidence supporting this transition due to the associated cost and complexity of field-based MURB ventilation system studies. This study analyzes measured data obtained during the winter-time in side-by-side architecturally similar apartment buildings, one relying on an in-unit ERV system and one relying on the pressurized corridor ventilation system for outdoor air delivery to units. The data analyzed includes ventilation system energy use and airflow rates, as well as the indoor air quality (IAQ) and thermal conditions in 34 units. Measurements were obtained in units distributed across 6 floors of the two buildings to allow for the influence of wind and stack effect on the ventilation systems to be evaluated. The findings from this study contribute measurements to support the industry shift toward a decentralized (in-unit) ERV/HRV system and methods for improving system performance. Future work will analyze measured data over an entire year, allowing for the influence of stack effect on ventilation system performance to be investigated in detail.