NEED TO KNOW
ventilation & cooling
Maintaining a comfortable internal temperature and good air quality are key ingredients for ahome that’s enjoyable to live in. Erika Chaffey investigates the solutions on offer for a healthy environment
YARD Architects (www. yardarchitects.
co.uk) designed a fully-glazed roof with electrically opening rooflights for this extension, ensuring sufficient ventilation and light from above.
A series of bespoke internal oak louvres provide privacy and filter sunlight into the space, while creating a unique lookEMANUELIS STASAITIS
With hotter and dryer summers on the rise in the UK, ensuring sufficient ventilation and cooling is just as important as heating your home effectively. Achieving a highly airtight structure is essential for energy efficiency, but without a well thought-out ventilation strategy, you could end up with an internal environment that feels more like a sealed container than an enjoyable living space.
Poor ventilation can lead to a range of issues – from stuffy, uncomfortable rooms, to condensation problems that can damage the structure of your home and negatively impact your health. “Heating, cooling, humidity control, air purification and ventilation are all constituent components that should be addressed jointly when designing your home,” says Richard Soper, UK CEO at The Unico System.
There are a whole host of solutions for creating a healthy and comfortable internal environment. The measures you select will depend on your specific property, preferences and budget. Here, I’m exploring the importance of healthy air and sharing the main cooling and ventilation options available.