Why is Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery so Important for TALO Housebuilding Solutions?

Every TALO home has Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR) and we would not deliver a home without it. In this article, TALO’s Technical Director, Leona Wikman looks at why this is so important.

MVHR provides a controlled supply of fresh air throughout the house, and uses the heat of the exiting air from the inside to warm it up. Moisture levels and air exchanges are then carefully managed.

However, new homes in the UK typically rely on trickle ventilation, allowing an uncontrolled amount of air to exit the house, taking heat with it. The cold air entering the house then needs heating up – which consumes additional energy and increases heating costs, regardless of the U-value of the walls.

We believe this approach is simply not sustainable or effective when there is an urgent need to drive down energy costs and carbon emissions.

Another key benefit of MVHR is that these systems filter all of the air coming into a house, reducing pollutants and particulates. This creates a much healthier internal living environment, particularly for children, the elderly and those with health conditions such as asthma.

This is why MVHR is a key part of our solution to deliver zero energy housing and to eradicate fuel poverty.

Read more guidance about MVHR in a report published by the Passivehaus Trust – here.

Image with thanks to the Passivhaus Trust.