Recommended ventilation strategies for new energy-efficient production homes.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is seeking to improve the thermal quality of newhomes, most of which are being built in the sunbelt by large building development companies.Low-infiltration production (tract) homes need ventilation systems that satisfy the low-costpriority of the builders as well as the safety, health and low operating cost expectations ofhomeowners. We evaluated ten ventilation strategies in order to recommend the most suitablesystems for four climates: cold, mixed, hot-humid, and hot-arid.We recommend that builders in mixed (cold and hot), hot-humid and hot-arid climates use supplyventilation, which provides the safety and health benefits of positive indoor pressure and theability to filter and dehumidify ventilation air. When ventilation is integrated with forced-airconditioning, we recommend that ductwork be installed within conditioned space and buyers beoffered the option of an efficient, variable-speed fan. In cold climates we recommend thatbuilders offer buyers the option of balanced heat recovery units, which significantly reduceoperating costs. In hot-humid climates, we recommend that builders offer buyers the option ofdehumidifying supply ventilation to control indoor humidity and improve occupant comfort.