9 minute read
Jobsite Safety
Stale air, lingering odours and high humidity can happen in the best of homes and sometimes, simply opening a window can bring relief. When it’s mild outside and there is a breeze, opening a window can be bene#cial. However, in Canada’s hot and cold climate this is not always practical or possible. Leaving a window open in mid-winter will add to your space heating costs, cause uncomfortable drafts and the window may freeze open.
Fortunately, there is another way of bringing fresh air into your home that is energy e!cient, secure and highly e"ective – a heat recovery ventilator (HRV). HRVs are suitcase-sized appliances that typically have one fan to bring in outdoor air and another fan to push out the stale air. Heat is transferred from the outgoing air to the incoming air by passing the two air streams through a heat-exchange core, helping to reduce heating costs. As the two air streams are kept separated, only the heat is transferred to the incoming air. In a sense, an HRV can act as the lungs for your home.
Advertisement
In houses with baseboard or radiant heating, the fresh air from the HRV is
HRV - Lungs for your House
deliv ered directly to the bedrooms and the main living areas through a dedicated duct system. At the same time, the HRV draws stale air from the kitchen and bathrooms and sends it outside. In houses with furnaces, it’s not uncommon to #nd HRVs connected to the furnace ductwork system.
Installation
Although you can buy an HRV at some home improvement stores, it may be preferable to have it designed and installed by a quali#ed contractor certi#ed by the Heating, Refrigeration, Air Conditioning Institute of Canada or other training organizations in accordance with current building codes and standards. It is very important to measure and balance the supply and exhaust air$ows to ensure the HRV does not create dangerous house depressurization or pressurization problems. This should be carried out when the HRV is #rst installed and be checked regularly afterwards by a quali#ed contractor in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. Look for units with lower energy usage and high energy e!ciency in the heating season, preferably choosing from those with an ENERGY STAR® rating.
Maintenance
HRVs require minimal annual maintenance to ensure energy e!cient and safe operation. At the beginning of each heating season, clean the #lters and heat recovery core, and ensure the drain pan and pipes are clean and clear. Inspect and clear the screens in the outdoor intake and outlet hoods. Check the manufacturer’s literature for requirements.
While there will always be times when opening a window to allow a refreshing breeze to air out your home is desirable, HRVs o"er an e"ective and e!cient way to get the ventilation you need.
For more information on sustainable technologies and practices for new housing and renovations, visit CMHC’s website at www.cmhc.ca, or call Tom Levesque, Manager, Communications & Marketing, at 902-426-1811
CANADA MORTGAGE AND HOUSING CORPORATION
Lungs for Your House - Heat Recovery Ventilation
Heat Recovery Ventilation Systems offer an effective and ef!cient way to get the ventilation you need in your home.
Scan this tag with a smartphone for more information on Heat Recovery Ventilation systems, including those used in CMHC’s EQuilibrium Sustainable Housing Demonstration Initiative.
Visit www.cmhc.ca or call 1-800-668-2642 today!
Homeowner FYI: Jobsite Safety Tips
By Michelle Brunet
Contributing Writer
When it comes to home building or renovation projects, it is natural to be #xated on what your modernized kitchen will look like or daydream about your brand new abode. While riding this wave of excitement, it is crucial to consider safety for you and your loved ones.
Safety starts with the builders and contractors you hire. While it may be tempting to select professionals who charge the lowest price, it is more important to hire contractors that will facilitate and set the tone for a danger-free construction project. “Make sure your contractor is not only professional and quali#ed to do the work, but is trained to do it safely,” states Damon Alcock, Strategic Services Director with the Nova Scotia Construction Safety Association (NSCSA). “Ask for proof of insurance and safety certi#cations and insist everyone wears and uses all the required protective gear.”
Alcock recommends asking about such key credentials as Worker’s Compensation Coverage, liability insurance and NSCSA’s Certi#cate of Recognition.
If you are having a new home built it is important to know when and how you can visit the site. “Homeowners should always consult with their contractor or builder before any site visit,” says Alcock. “Construction sites pose many hazards that homeowners may not be aware of.” Alcock adds that homeowners should be escorted through the site with a contractor or another professional who can make them aware of hazard areas.
Homeowners not understanding which spaces and utilities they can and cannot access is a common safety concern during renovations, says Alcock. “For instance, if you are doing a kitchen renovation, will you be able to cook meals, or access the refrigerator? Or when the workers leave for the day, will you be able to use the area or is it completely o" limits? It is important to know these answers before a project begins, so you can make alternate arrangements if required.”
Take extra steps for protecting young children during renovations, like arranging for extra childcare or ensuring allergens speci#c to your kids are not being brought into the home. “Talk to your contractor about site security both during the work day and after hours,” adds Alcock. “Taking tools with them at the end of the day, or locking them in toolboxes are good ways to prevent children from playing with them.”
It may be bene#cial to arrange for other accommodations for your pet, points out Alcock. An extremely active and outgoing animal could get into work zones leading to potential accidents. “Pets have been known to chew power tool cords, eat workers’ lunches and drink harmful liquids like paint, leading to costly vet bills,” says Alcock.
Alcock encourages homeowners to be an active participant in promoting safety. “If you have any safety concerns during a renovation, speak to your contractor,” he says. “Keep yourself informed and do your part to not only keep your family safe, but also to help keep your contractor and their team safe.”
5IF/4$4"IBTBXFBMUIPGJOGPSNBUJPOBOE resources for contractors and homeowners alike and also o!ers over 40 health and safety compliant courses. www.nscsa.org
Get Started On Your Heat Pump Revolution
We’ve heard a lot recently about heat pumps and how they can help Nova Scotians save energy. So we spoke with %PO.BD,FO[JFPG&BTUXJOH1SPEVDUT-JNJUFEUPMFBSONPSF about heat pumps and how they can work for us.
Q: So what is a heat pump? And how do they actually work? A: Basically, a heat pump is a heating and cooling system that uses refrigerant to move heat from one place to another. When it’s cold, the refrigerant absorbs heat from the air, water or ground outdoors and circulates it inside, where the heat is released to warm the house. During the summer the system works in reverse, absorbing heat from the air inside the home and releasing it outside, cooling the house down.
Q: Why do you think more and more Nova Scotians are choosing heat pumps for their homes? A: First of all, heat pumps are one of the least expensive ways to heat your home. Even though every home is di$ erent, we’ve heard that our customers save signi# cantly on their heating bills with their heat pumps. And they’re often much easier to maintain than other traditional forms of heating.
Finally, we’ve seen air conditioning become dramatically more popular – people drive air conditioned cars and work in air conditioned o! ces, and understandably they want the same comfort in their homes. Heat pumps can provide all of this e! ciently and cost-e$ ectively.
Q: Who do you think should consider using a heat pump? A: There are several di$ erent types of heat pump systems available today that can be a great # t for almost any type of home. Whether you’re in a fully furnished home with an existing heating system, or building a new home and considering your options, there’s a heat pump system that will work well for your situation.
Q: How do they help increase energy e! ciency in homes? A: Traditional ways to heat our homes have never been incredibly e! cient. Heat from traditional furnaces can escape up the chimney, for example, and never make it into our home. With the advances we’ve seen in heat pump technology, the systems are remarkably e! cient. For every watt of electricity needed to run a heat pump, you get up to three watts of heat transferred into the house.
Because of this, they help increase the EnerGuide rating on homes as well. Q: Why are they a good choice for Nova Scotians? A: We’re lucky that Nova Scotia has a fairly moderate climate year round. This means that a heat pump system can be e! cient all year long, since the milder climate makes it easier for the heat pump to extract heat from the outside air, water or ground and transfer it indoors.
Q: What should people consider before getting a heat pump? A: People should think about how they heat their homes now, and talk to an expert about what kind of heat pump would be most suitable. For example, if there is already a ductwork system in the home a central system might be the best # t. If the house has some form of baseboard heating then a wall mounted ductless system would probably make the most sense.
Q: How does installation work? Are they harder to install in older homes? A: Installation will vary depending upon the type of system you choose. Some systems require ductwork installation, others do not. The age of a home itself is not critical but insulation levels in the walls and attic will impact the e$ ectiveness of any system.
Q: What’s the maintenance like for heat pumps? Are they easy to manage? A: They really are easy to maintain. Day-to-day, the system will just run like clockwork and you don’t have to think about it at all. And like other appliances, we do recommend regular yearly maintenance to make sure it stays clean and running e! ciently.
Q: Are there other bene# ts people might see with a heat pump? A: Heat pumps can help improve the air quality in your home, making them an e$ ective way for people with asthma or allergies to heat their homes. Since no fuel is burned in the house, there are no pollutants added to the air in your home. Also, when the system is used as an air conditioner it dehumidi# es the air in your home as well, eliminating the need for a stand-alone de-humidi# er in many cases.
Q: How can people # nd out more about heat pumps or talk to someone about their speci# c project? A: Get in touch with an experienced professional if you want to learn more.
You can visit HeatPumpsSetYouFree.ca for a list of heat pump contractors across Nova Scotia.
If you’re visiting the Real Home Show, drop by booth #130 to see heat pump technology in action, and to discuss options for your home.
