Ventilation Explained: Heat Recovery Systems & Airtight Homes

About this episode

Dean Ipaviz and Tom Stephenson discuss high-performance homes, focusing on ventilation, energy management, and the integration of various systems for improved comfort and efficiency.

This is Part 2 of Dean’s conversation with Tom Stephenson from Stiebel Eltron. If you haven’t listened to Part 1, start there first. In this episode the conversation moves beyond heat pumps to the broader systems that make high-performance homes work — ventilation, airtightness, building fabric and energy management. Tom walks through the design of his own all-electric home, explaining how geothermal heating, ventilation with heat recovery, thermal storage and solar generation work together to reduce energy demand while improving comfort. The discussion also explores the practical realities of high-performance construction, including humidity management, cooling strategies and the role of smart controls in optimising energy use. In this episode: Designing a high-performance, all-electric home Geothermal heating, cooling and thermal storage Ventilation systems and indoor air quality The difference between HRV and ERV systems Why airtight homes require controlled ventilation Managing humidity and condensation risks The role of solar, batteries and energy management systems How building fabric impacts energy demand Common misconceptions about heat pumps The future of heat pump…

People in this episode

Host: Dean Ipaviz

Guest: Tom Stephenson

Topics covered

• ventilation
• heat recovery systems
• airtight homes
• geothermal heating
• energy management
• humidity management
• indoor air quality

Keywords

• high-performance construction
• cooling strategies
• smart controls

Mentioned in this episode

Products: Stiebel Eltron, heat pumps, thermal storage, solar generation

Places: Australia

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