Imagine what it would be like if you could travel backwards in time to a period in our history prior to the industrial revolution. A time when air pollution was unheard of, unless you count the smell of cows in the barn behind your house.
Can you feel it? You’re sitting on your front porch swing with your eyes closed and the feel of the warm sunshine on your body. Can you smell the freshness in the breeze that is caressing your face?
Imagines scenes of wheat gently blowing in the wind, cattle grazing on a hillside and the birds singing in a nearby oak tree.
Take your time and enjoy the moment. Let the good feelings carry you away.
Now while you are totally immersed in this pleasant fantasy I would like to ask you a question:
In this wonderful world without cars, factories, or refineries, is there any air pollution to be found anywhere?
Ok, you are probably thinking of the chemicals pouring out of huge smoke stacks in the big city; Smog and ozone warnings on the TV and the radio; DDT and other pesticides being sprayed from aircraft overheard. None of these things can interfere with the serene environment of your daydream. What else could there be?
If you answered no to my question, you would be wrong.
Prior to mankind’s interference with the natural order of things, Mother Nature had her own very large problems.
Volcanoes spewed all kinds of pollution and particulate in the air.
Viruses and mold found plenty of places to live and grow in natural settings
Biological contaminants abound everywhere
Mother Nature’s fresh air purifier was very busy “scrubbing” the air clean and fresh for all living things to grow and prosper. If she were not continuously on duty, life on earth would cease to exist. Some of her weapons of choice consisted of:
Ozone (both up high AND down low)
Ozonide ions
Hydroxyls
Hydro-Peroxides
Super Oxide ions
Mother Nature did her job extremely well until man interfered. Now, even though she is forced to work overtime, she is still holding her own “outdoors”. Unfortunately, we have locked her out of our homes in the interest of energy conservation. This was a mistake which we are paying for now.
Natural Ventilation
When you open the window you not only allow nature’s fresh air purifier in. you also allow for an air exchange which means that the foul air will go out. Good building design should include two kinds of vents; Permanent open vents for the regular interchange of air and then adjustable openings to satisfy special circumstances that require additional interchange. More than one opening is required for good natural ventilation. Remember to let nature's fresh air purifier do most of the work for you.
Mechanical Ventilation
In some locations or situations you will need to turn to mechanical ventilation designed to mix or dilute pollutants or to remove pollutants. These mechanical systems could be independent of climate conditions. They do, however, cost more and eventually have to be replaced. Mechanical ventilation systems require fans, ducts, air intakes and diffusers. There is, of course, an energy cost as well as additional noise to contend with.
Mechanical ventilation systems such as Heat Recovery Ventilators (HRV) and Energy Recovery Ventilators (ERV) are balanced systems that bring in and filter the outdoor air while exhausting stale indoor air pollution. These systems capture energy and use it to heat or cool the incoming air for greater energy efficiency and comfort.
Here are some locations where specialized ventilation is needed:
Ventilation is Just the Second Step
Ventilation, on the surface, may appear to be all that is required. Unfortunately, ventilation will not protect you from microbes, VOC’s, allergens and other contaminants discussed earlier on the web site. Ventilation is merely the second step in our total solution.
Natural Ventilation
