Mon, 25 May 2026 12:04:50 +0100 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/ Lussumo Vanilla 1.0.3 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=1697&Focus=20216#Comment_20216 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=1697&Focus=20216#Comment_20216 Thu, 08 May 2008 13:14:45 +0100 majik https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=1697&Focus=20238#Comment_20238 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=1697&Focus=20238#Comment_20238 Thu, 08 May 2008 18:29:50 +0100 tony
Could you move out of the city? Or get them all to stop polluting our atmosphere?]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=1697&Focus=20265#Comment_20265 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=1697&Focus=20265#Comment_20265 Fri, 09 May 2008 00:52:18 +0100 majik
Unless these HRV systems are intended for use only in rural or isolated environments where the outside air is relatively 'clean' ("fresh" in my book implies "clean"), then surely how these systems deal with smog/air pollution, which certainly exists in most urban areas, would be a question that EVERYONE contemplating installing them would want answered? Have any others of you felt cause to pause when reading the words 'fresh outside air' in the blurb for HRV systems?

This is actually a question that I thought would apply to many of us - if I was in ANY urban or semi-urban environment, logburner smoke or not, I'd be asking: if the outside 'fresh' air that the system is drawing from is polluted, a) What effect does this have on the quality of my indoor air when using this system, and/or b) Does this system protect me from harmful external-air pollutants, and if so 1) how, and 2) how well?

(Tom: Thanks for the suggestions! Unfortunately a) no, can't move out just yet, but definitely working on it and b) a 'clean heat project' has been running for 5 years now in the city with subsidies offered for switching to 'cleaner' heating systems. I honestly can't tell the difference in the air now from 5 years ago, the clean air standards are breached here same number of days now as then (approx 30 days a year for the city, but if you have even a few neighbours who heat their homes and water with wood, that number might as well be tripled or quadrupled for how you personally are affected). Much of NZ is hydro-powered and this year as most years we are being threatened with winter power cuts because of poor rainfall -the smog problem will not go away until NZ gov't gets its act together to assure a reliable winter power supply.)]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=1697&Focus=20266#Comment_20266 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=1697&Focus=20266#Comment_20266 Fri, 09 May 2008 00:53:54 +0100 majik https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=1697&Focus=20286#Comment_20286 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=1697&Focus=20286#Comment_20286 Fri, 09 May 2008 10:46:23 +0100 David R
In fact, HRV is more likely to be specified in an urban environment where windows must be kept closed because of noise issues. All systems will have inlet air filters, so they will improve the quality of the air. If you are worried about particulate pollution (generically known as PM10 and PM25) then you can fit higher specification filters (EU7 standard, for example). These will increase the energy required by the the fans, and will need changing regularly.]]>