Using Your Heating, Cooling, and HRV Systems
For heating and cooling, your apartment is equipped with a “mini split” heat pump system that is highly efficient, reducing both your energy bill and carbon footprint. The systems in our building are either ducted (with vents in the walls/ceilings) or ductless (with a head mounted to the wall).
Your heating and cooling system can be turned on and off as needed, or can be programmed on a timer. Here is the user’s manual for the thermostat.
Unlike traditional electric or fossil fuel heating systems that generate heat, a heat pump extracts warmth from the outdoor air and transfers it into the system to warm your space (and runs in reverse to cool it). These modern systems use up to 60% less energy than standard home electric radiators.
These systems can also be put in “fan only” mode if you just want a bit of extra air flow.
More about Mitsubishi heat pumps
Programmable thermostat for heating and cooling
The Heat Recovery Ventilator
Your unit also has a Heat Recovery Ventilator (HRV) that brings in fresh air from outside, runs it through a high-quality filter, and pumps stale air back out. The HRV has two benefits, 1) providing filtered air with fewer particulate and VOC pollutants, and 2) replacing stale indoor air with oxygen-rich outdoor air.
What Settings to Use
This will depend on how much circulation you want or need. When you’re home, the HRV wall control should be set to Low, Medium, High, or Auto. If you are going away for an extended period and want to save energy, you can put it on Away. Bathrooms are equipped with a timed boost button that will ramp up the HRV for a set period of time.
You should make sure that the HRV is on when you are home, especially if the windows are closed, to ensure you’re getting good ventilation in the apartment.
You’ll want to consider turning up your HRV when you have more people over or you’re exercising (which will raise CO2 levels) and when you’re cooking (which creates airborne pollution).
If you want to get scientific, you can get an air quality monitor that will measure carbon dioxide levels and overall air quality. IQAir and Airthings are two popular brands.
Heat Recovery Ventilator control for fresh air intake