Air Quality Standards

What is a MERV Rating?

MERV, which stands for Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value, is a rating that was developed by ASHRAE (the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers) used to assess the filtering power of a furnace filter/air cleaner.

The MERV scale consists of ratings from 1 to 16, with filter performance being greater as the number increases. On the MERV scale, dirt particles are graded from 0.3 microns to 10 microns. A micron is 1 millionth of a millimeter, and to give you an idea of just how small that is, you can look at the size of a single human hair. The average strand of human hair is about 100 microns thick, so imagine just how small 0.3 microns of dirt is!

Why is MERV Rating Important?

When you’re purchasing an air conditioner or furnace filter for your home, you want to be sure that you are buying a filter that will keep the air in your home clean. While all Aprilaire air cleaners will provide you with the filtering efficiency needed to improve the air quality of your home, depending on the particular needs of your family, you may require a filter that has a higher MERV rating, like the Aprilaire Model 5000 Electronic Air Cleaner.

Cases in which this is likely are those when you or someone in your home suffers from allergies, respiratory problems, or other similar incidences. Then again, you may just want to get the best filter for your family so that the indoor air quality around your home is the best it can be.

With Aprilaire AIr Cleaners, it's Garbage in, NO Garbage out!

Aprilaire Sponsors Terre Verde Green Renovation Project

Control of indoor air quality at the forefront of “Greenovation”

Madison, Wis. – Aprilaire, manufacturer of products that provide whole-house solutions to indoor air quality problems, is sponsoring a massive renovation project in Florida by providing the latest technology in air filtration, humidity control and zoned temperature control systems.

The project is Terre Verde, a 1970’s Florida-style ranch home adjacent to the Ocala national forest in central Florida. The home has been virtually untouched with any improvements in its entire 40 years.

Dr. Anna Marie, health specialist for The Weather Channel and host of the syndicated better living show YOUR LIFE WITH DR. ANNA MARIE, is leading this green renovation project to transform this home into an eco-friendly, energy efficient and ultimately healthy home.

Part of the renovation will employ new building technologies to make Terre Verde much tighter in order to save energy. While good for the pocket book and the environment, these kinds of advancements lead to the increase of indoor air pollutants – houses that don’t breathe like they use to. 

Working with local Aprilaire representatives and indoor air quality specialists, Aprilaire has installed the latest in air cleaning technology with One Touch active control, allowing the homeowner to control when and how much air cleaning takes place based on their lifestyle and need. Also provided is Aprilaire high-capacity Central Dehumidification and Zoned Comfort Control; a system which provides for focusing temperature control in specific areas of the home only where and when it is needed.

“These products help save energy by providing comfort while running air conditioning less often, but that’s just the beginning, noted Dr. Anna Marie, “They also provide for a much healthier, more sustainable environment by dramatically controlling the growth of mold and mildew, and trapping airborne allergens and other harmful particles from the entire home. Aprilaire products work together to protect the home’s furnishings, materials and of course it’s inhabitants. And that’ll be me, eventually!”

“Aprilaire is committed to the project and to help promote sustainable living, said Tom Ruse, Marketing Communications Manager. “We’re excited to help showcase the latest technologies available to make homes healthier, more comfortable and energy efficient”.

Terre Verde will be showcased at the Lake County Florida Builder Association’s Parade of Homes in March 2010.  

Aprilaire (www.aprilaire.com)

Aprilaire has been a brand leader in the indoor air quality industry for over 60 years. The company designs, develops, manufactures and distributes whole-home indoor air quality products that provide comfort, health, energy efficiency, and the protection and preservation of the home. For more information on central air cleaners, visit www.aprilaire.com.

Whether updating a home to be healthier, more energy efficient and  sustainable or building a new home and trying to achieve green certification, Aprilaire, a leader in the indoor air quality industry, offers homeowners a complete indoor environmental quality package that features the most innovative products on the market. Over the past several years, research and experience have improved the understanding of what is involved in maintaining good indoor air quality. Four key indoor air quality components that help ensure the sustainability and health of the home and its occupants are moisture load control, ventilation, air filtration, and energy efficiency.

Moisture Control

• According to LEED for Homes, “Control indoor moisture levels to provide comfort, reduce the risk of mold & allergens, and increase the durability of the home. In hot and humid climates, dehumidification can reduce the energy demands associated with air-conditioning.”

Aprilaire addresses high indoor humidity problems and/or concerns in the home with an innovative, effective and affordable whole-home solution – the Model 1750 Central Dehumidifier. The Aprilaire central dehumidifier provides 24-7 moisture control in two critical ways: first, it works independently from the central air conditioner to control excess moisture on days that do not require cooling. Second, it works in conjunction with the central air conditioner to provide the most efficient complete humidity control solution while maintaining an optimum home temperature. An Aprilaire Dehumidifier provides the ability to automatically control moisture levels through the whole home in order to ensure the sustainability of the home, as well as a more healthy and comfortable indoor environment.

The 90-pint/day Aprilaire dehumidifier is a whole-house unit that can be installed in attics, closets, crawlspaces, garages, basements, and in new construction or existing homes. Built-in intelligence provides automatic control for not only whole-home dehumidification, but also for fresh air ventilation, air cycling, and air filtration. Automatic air cycling allows for improved humidity and temperature balance throughout the house. The built-in automatic fresh air ventilation provides not only the control of fresh air, but also the dehumidification, if needed, of that fresh air upon entering the home. The fresh air ventilation control will meet ASHRAE 62.2 standards where and when required.

Just as important as removing excess moisture is adding the right about during the winter months is cold climates. The National Association of Home Builders’ Model GREEN Home Building Guidelines recognizes that controlled humidity is an important health element for those living in regions where furnaces are used during the winter season. As the innovator of controlled whole-home humidifiers, Aprilaire offers a full line of automatic whole-home humidifiers that provide just the right amount of humidity based on outdoor temperature and indoor relative humidity. By utilizing an automatic whole-home humidifier, homeowners are protecting their health, preserving their home and saving energy. 

Ventilation

• According to the EPA’s Energy Star program, “Without mechanical ventilation to provide fresh air, moisture, odors, and other pollutants can build up inside a home. Mechanical ventilation systems circulate fresh air using ducts and fans, rather than relying on airflow through small holes or cracks in a home’s walls, roof, or windows. Homeowners can breathe easier knowing their home has good ventilation.”

Aprilaire’s innovative Ventilation Control System offers an affordable and effective means for not only mechanically ventilating homes, but to ventilate them to ASHRAE 62.2 when required. The system consists of a six-inch damper, controller and transformer. The system provides time‑based control with outdoor temperature and indoor relative humidity operating limits. The control opens a damper with a fan or equipment call to meet a desired ventilation requirement that is set by the installer with the ventilation knob (0 – 60 minutes) and cycle time setting (1, 2, 3, or 4 hours). Once the ventilation requirement is met, the controller will close the damper. If the fan and equipment run times do not meet the ventilation requirement, the controller will turn the fan on and open the damper until the desired ventilation is met. 

Air Filtration

• According to the Sustainable Living Sourcebook “ Of concern from a health standpoint are small, invisible respirable-size particulate matter, having a high probability of penetrating deep into the lungs, where they may stay a long time and cause acute or chronic effects. Large particulate matter such as some molds, pollen, animal dander, and house dust allergens, do not penetrate as deeply, but may cause an allergic response. Health effects can range from irritation of the eyes and/or respiratory tissues to more serious effects, such as cancer and decreased lung function. Biological particles, such as animal and insect allergens, viruses, bacteria, and molds, can cause allergic reactions, infectious diseases, and/or can produce toxic products that may be released into the air.”

Aprilaire central air cleaners are attached to the heating and cooling system and permanently trap the airborne contaminants that can aggravate health and allergy and asthma symptoms. In a recent standard industry test, the Aprilaire 5000 achieved 99 percent efficiency against airborne particles. The unit captures and kills virtually all contaminants including those that most affect personal health—viruses, bacteria, spores and allergens 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.

Aprilaire also offers homeowners a one-of-a-kind air cleaner control that allows them to actively clean the air in their entire home based on personal preference and event triggers:

• Constant Cleaning: air cleaner is active for 24 hours a day seven days a week
• Automatic: air cleaner will run a minimum of 30 minutes per hour
• Event Clean: air cleaners will run for three hours continuously and then turn off
• Allergies: air cleaner will run continuously for 24 hours and then turn off

Installed next to the thermostat or on the air cleaning unit, the new control also provides validation the air cleaner is working by indicating through a sequence of bars that rise when the blower on the heating and cooling system is energized. It also indicates when the filter needs to be replaced based on blower run time.

Energy Efficiency

• According to the EPA, “Maximizing household energy use through serviced heating and cooling systems, leak-less ducts, and thermostats that are programmed to save energy at night or when residents are away, would prevent 169 billion lbs of greenhouse gas emissions per year.”

Heating and cooling costs are the #1 expense in most American homes. Energy Star states that the average home spends about $1,500 annually on energy bills. All of Aprilaire Programmable Thermostats are Energy Star Rated — and according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), a programmable thermostat can save you up to 30% on your energy costs.

Did you know....Mold can have devastating affects on your home and your health.  In some extreme cases, entire houses have been condemned due to the grave health concerns that mold infestation can cause.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) lists moisture and mold prevention and control tips on their website.  One of the tips is "Keep indoor humidity low.  If possible, keep indoor humidity below 60 percent (ideally between 30 and 50 percent) relative humidity."
 

Actions that will help to reduce humidity
One of the actions the EPA suggests to reduce humidity in the home is the use of a dehumidifier.  Aprilaire would like to take this one step further - use a whole-house dehumidifier.  While a portable dehumidifier only removes moisture from the room it is in, an Aprilaire whole-house dehumidifier works in conjunction with your HVAC system to remove moisture from every room in your home. 

An Aprilaire dehumidifier is also easy to maintain with no tanks to lift and empty.  Simply clean the air filter every year and you're good to go.  Call your Aprilaire dealer today and ask how you can benefit from having an Aprilaire dehumidifier installed in your home. 

Aprilaire - preventing mold growth to protect the health of you and your family.

Did you know....There are four core benefits to proper levels of relative humidity (RH) in your home:  health, comfort, protection and energy savings.  While all four are important protecting the health of you and your family is the most critical of the four.

The American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) has done extensive research to determine the ideal levels of RH to eliminate or reduce certain health ailments.  As you can see from the chart, air that has low levels of RH increases the occurrence of bacteria, viruses, respiratory infections, allergic rhinitis, asthma, and ozone production.  High levels of RH increase bacteria, viruses, fungi, mites, allergic rhinitis, asthma, and chemical interactions. 

How do you ensure that you and your family are protected from these ailments?  A whole-house solution from Aprilaire is the answer.  Whether it's a humidifier to add soothing moisture in the winter months or a dehumidifier to remove excess humidity in the spring, summer and fall, Aprilaire has the products to solve your humidification needs.  And, unlike portable products, Aprilaire conditions your entire home, ensuring that every room in your house is at the proper level of humidification.

Aprilaire, keeping homes healthy for over 50 years!