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The house is a system. The house is a system. The house is a system. It's becoming one of those phrases that is thrown about the construction world like overcooked pasta. But what does the phrase mean? Where does the system begin? Where does it end? What are the relationships between the components? And does It make any difference?
What Is the system? Going beyond the ability to fully comprehend, everything is part of THE SYSTEM. The act of my creating this document has a ripple effect that is impacting an infinite array of other acts. This document may have an impact on the way you build your next house and so the document becomes a part of that system. (Then again, It may not.)
That's too much. The circle of reason Is too big. We need to draw the physical circle smaller so that it takes into account the house and Its occupants. We must also inscribe two other circles on the first: time and, of specific Interest here, ventilation. For a single moment ventilation Is not needed. The house is static. Nothing is changing. But if the clock begins to move, occupants come into the house, materials outgas, mold grows, air flows.
Ventilation is an active noun. It can be quantitatively defined for a moment, but it is constantly shifting and changing. The house is also constantly changing but at a slower rate. The goal is for the house to change extremely slowly, which would mean it would require painting less often, roofs would have to be replaced less frequently, and much less maintenance would have to be done. One of the byproducts of maintenance is material waste, and the most efficient use of any material is to leave it where it is.
The ventilation system in the house is one of the few components that can help to maintain the integrity of the structure, reducing maintenance, reducing waste. It accomplishes that by removing excessive moisture and by maintaining beneficial indoor air quality.