Ventilation, Airtightness & Real Consumption: Climate Control

Ventilation, airtightness and thermal camera diagnostics

A perfectly insulated home is like a sealed thermos: it maintains temperature, but if it doesn't "breathe" correctly, it becomes unhealthy.

Learn why airtightness is the next big step after insulation, how we detect hidden leaks with Blower Door Tests and thermal cameras, and how our habits, mechanical ventilation and the local climate determine how many kWh the meter will ultimately register.

Ventilation Losses (ACH)

Air renewal is essential for health but is also one of the greatest sources of energy loss. Discover how to balance excellent air quality with maximum savings.

Air Changes per Hour (ACH): What are they?

What the ACH index means and how it translates directly into heating and cooling costs.

Natural vs Mechanical ventilation

Window-opening tradition vs modern air renewal systems. What really saves you money?

Air changes per hour and ventilation losses

The Stack Effect in maisonettes

How warm air escapes like a balloon from upper floors, drawing freezing air through the front door.

Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR)

The game-changing technology: 100% fresh, filtered air while retaining up to 90% of the heat.

How to ventilate correctly in winter: The 5-minute rule

A practical daily guide. Flush out humidity and pollutants instantly without freezing walls and furniture.

Calculating ventilation losses in kWh (10x10 Model)

Back to the lab: precisely measuring how much ventilation costs in our 100 sq.m. Model home.

Blower Door Test & Measurements

Wrapping a house in insulation isn't enough if air continues to flow uncontrolled through tiny cracks. See how we scientifically measure airtightness and seal the building envelope.

Blower Door Test: How it finds the 'holes'

The test that creates artificial depressurisation to reveal every hidden air leak with hard numbers.

Most common air leak points in Greek homes

Sockets on external walls, skirting boards, old shutter boxes: the map of where your home leaks.

Blower Door Test and airtightness measurements

Airtightness boosts heat pump efficiency by 20%

Why heat pumps and underfloor systems suffer in draughty homes and how simple sealing slashes consumption.

The n50 directive: Passivhaus limits

Diving into strict European standards. What numbers must a home achieve to be considered energy-excellent.

Sealing air leaks: Silicones, foams, tapes

Solutions for DIYers and professionals. Which materials permanently seal micro-cracks around frames and pipes.

Thermal Camera & Diagnosis

What's invisible to the naked eye is revealed by infrared radiation. Thermography is the ultimate diagnostic tool for thermal bridges, insulation defects and hidden moisture.

Building thermography: Detecting invisible problems

How the thermal camera works, how we "read" the colours and why a scan is essential before and after renovation.

Diagnosing moisture and mould with infrared

Find the source before the wall turns black: detecting invisible pipe leaks and condensation points.

Building thermography and insulation diagnosis

Detecting insulation defects with thermal camera

The 'lie detector' for your contractor: clearly showing gaps and material failures hidden inside walls.

When is the ideal season for thermography?

Why you can't scan at midday in summer and what conditions (large ΔT) give the clearest diagnostic image.

DIY: Laser thermometers and humidity sensors

Low-cost tools for homeowners who want a basic, smart inspection of surfaces without professional gear.

Real Consumption & kWh

Why does the theoretical number often differ from the bill that arrives? We analyse the external (climate) and internal (habits, appliances) factors that determine real-world consumption.

Heating Degree Days (HDD)

Climate in numbers: scientifically comparing the heating needs of a mountain village vs an island.

From theory to practice: The 'performance gap'

Why the Energy Performance Certificate doesn't always match the electricity provider's figures.

The 'human factor' in consumption

Thermostat at 24°C, windows on tilt all day: how much our habits actually cost in energy.

Internal heat gains

Free energy! How cooking, appliances, computers and even our presence actively heat the space.

Smart thermostats in an insulated home

Can an algorithm reduce the bill? The contribution of smart home to boiler and heat pump optimisation.

Case Study: 10x10 Model in 3 Greek cities

The grand finale: Crete, Athens, Florina - real heating cost in euros for the same 100 sq.m. home.

Main insulation guide

Return to the complete insulation guide.

Go to the guide

Request a thermography or energy audit

If you need a Blower Door Test, thermal camera scan or consultation - contact us.