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UCD Energate House CO2 Test

   

Researchers at Berkeley Lab are currently investigating indoor air quality issues, sponsored by the U.S. Dept. of Energy, Building America Program. They note in their research that "Building and interior finish materials are sources of volatile organic air compounds (VOCs). Some of these are carcinogenic; many are odorous or have irritant effects at low levels. Occupants and their activities also generate air-borne pollutants indoors. Excessive levels of VOCs and other air pollutants can result in a variety of adverse health effects including headaches, nausea, sensory irritation, difficulty breathing and increased cancer risks. Acceptable levels of indoor air pollutants can best be achieved by eliminating or controlling the sources of these compounds and by maintaining adequate building ventilation". The danger posed with current construction methods in the US is that a so-called 'forced air' ventilation system is used (in approximately 70% of US homes) whereby indoor air is simply re-circulated without being refreshed from outside. Small wonder, then, that the Environmental Protection Agency has identified indoor air quality as one of the top five most urgent environmental risks to public health in the US, with over 20 million people now suffering from asthma.

Energate house provides an excellent safety net against indoor air pollutants through the mechanical ventilation system, which ensures that the entire air volume in a given residential unit is refreshed and filtered between 8 and 12 times a day. This ensures a safe and healthy living environment for people who choose to live in an Energate House. CTG has seen at first hand a real-time demonstration of the benefits of this ventilation system through a nominated project in a demonstration house in Wicklow, Ireland. University College Dublin carried out a live experiment whereby they released a non-toxic gas into the house and measured the precise concentrations of the gas in different parts of the house over a period of 30 minutes. It was possible to observe the concentrations of this invisible gas rapidly decline real-time on a laptop and therefore observe the health benefits of a fresh air ventilation system. It is always very interesting to hear comments of people that visit one of these houses for the first time as they are always struck by the high quality indoor air quality.

The ventilation system is also very effective at ensuring that the levels of condensation and thus risk of mould in a house are kept to an absolute minimum. A typical human exhales 20ml of water vapour in each breath, equating to approximately 2 litres of water per person per day. Imagine as a scenario the amount of water being exhaled by a family of five every twenty four hours. In our House, this moisture laden air is exchanged for fresh air from the outside, whereas in a conventional house this vapour often condenses on cold surfaces, especially in winter, thus leading to a high risk of mould and resulting air quality problems.

A Energate House thus not only dramatically reduces your carbon footprint and provides high levels of thermal comfort but also ensures a very healthy indoor air quality.