Mixed mode ventilation
Reduce your energy bills with mixed mode ventilation.
With ever-increasing energy costs and concerns for the environment, it’s time to rethink the way we ventilate buildings.
Mixed mode ventilation is a relatively new concept that is increasing in popularity and proving to be an efficient and cost-effective way to maintain ventilation and indoor temperatures.
What is Mixed Mode Ventilation?
Mixed mode ventilation is a system used to maintain indoor air quality and internal thermal temperatures using both natural and mechanical ventilation systems.
- Natural ventilation – refers to natural forces, such as wind and thermal buoyancy, used to ventilate and cool buildings.
- Mechanical ventilation – refers to mechanical systems using fans used to supply and exhaust air from a room.
Mixed mode ventilation utilises both of these systems, with a preference for natural ventilation in order to keep down costs and reduce carbon footprint.
Mechanical ventilation systems come into play when natural ventilation is less effective at delivering the fresh air, such as when there is not enough wind.
How does mixed mode ventilation work?
Mixed mode ventilation is normally operated manually or automatically, depending on your needs and preferences.
The systems utilise sensors that identify when the natural ventilation system is less effective at cooling, heating or ventilating the spaces and will then switch to the mechanical solution.
When natural forces pick back up, the system will switch back to the natural ventilation.
- Natural ventilation is used during the summer months securing a minimum use of energy.
- Mechanical ventilation with heat recovery is used during the winter securing a low usage of heat.
- The indoor climate is ensured all year round with mixed mode ventilation.
We can also help you with a mixed mode ventilation system. Almost all buildings can make use of natural ventilation including office buildings, schools, shopping centres, hospitals and sport halls.
Is Mixed Mode Ventilation right for you?
Generally, mixed mode ventilation is suitable for a wide range of buildings such as:
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Office buildings
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Schools and universities
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Shopping centres
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Hospitals
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Commercial buildings
If you would like to find out whether you can reap the benefits of mixed mode ventilation, get in touch today. We will work closely with you to create a system that best suits your needs and your building.
About hybrid ventilation
Hybrid ventilation combines the strengths of natural and mechanical ventilation in the best possible way:
- Natural ventilation is used during the summer months securing a minimum use of energy
- Mechanical ventilation with heat recovery is used during the winter securing a low usage of heat
- The indoor climate is ensured all year round
Hybrid ventilation optimizes the energy consumption and indoor climate
By using hybrid ventilation is it ensured that energy and indoor climate is optimized despite of the outdoor and indoor climatic conditions - also during spring and autumn.
The system chooses the optimal operating condition - unless the user makes a subjective choice. Heating control can be integrated in the system and the heating can be closed when the windows opens.
Hybrid ventilation is often cheaper than mechanical ventilation
For projects where the analysis shows that the dimensioning summer air exchange is higher than winter air change can a hybrid ventilation solution often cheaper than, for example mechanical ventilation. The reason is that the investments for the mechanical ventilation increases with increasing summer air change while natural ventilation remain mostly unchanged price. In projects where summer air exchange is 2-3 times the winter air change will hybrid ventilation typically be cheaper than mechanical ventilation.