At any time of year, it’s important to make sure your home is properly ventilated. But home ventilation has come a long way since the early days. How has it evolved, and what are your options today? Let’s take a look.
Early Ventilation
The earliest forms of ventilation were things like opening a window to let fresh air in, or installing a chimney to let smoke out. Heating and cooling were done through natural means, so ventilation was too. People discovered that open windows on either side of a room could create a cross breeze, and buildings were designed to optimize airflow throughout.
In 1866, electric fans were introduced, to improve air circulation. Then in the 20th century, the invention of the air conditioner changed the face of ventilation even more. Not only could you pump cool air into a home and warm air out, you could also filter it, removing the contaminants and maintaining circulation. Optimizing airflow throughout a building was no longer necessary, and ventilation began to focus on each room individually, rather than on the design of the home as a whole.
Modern Ventilation
Air conditioning room by room can indeed keep you cool and comfortable. It also uses a tremendous amount of energy, which cost a lot and increases your carbon footprint. Therefore, in today’s environmentally conscious world, ventilation is designed to be greener, using energy more efficiently for maximum benefit. Homes are once again designed to optimize airflow.
Since hot air rises, vents are placed to allow hot air to be exhausted through the ceiling. HVAC systems are also designed to help air flow more efficiently, providing your home with warm or cool air without using as much energy. As a result, taking advantage of these modern ventilation innovations allows you to heat and cool your home comfortably for a lot less money. If you want to lower both your energy bill and your carbon footprint, home ventilation options are a good place to start.
To learn more about home ventilation options, contact us at Ace Hardware Home Services today. We proudly serve Dayton’s HVAC needs.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Dayton, Ohio about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).
