To help you choose, the table below provides a comparison of the systems’ performance based on their characteristics:
| System | Natural ventilation | Hybrid ventilation | Mechanical exhaust ventilation | Heat recovery ventilation | Mechanical exhaust ventilation with heat recovery |
| Indoor air quality | |||||
| Ventilation flow control | ++ | +++ | ++++ | +++++ | ++++ |
| Boost airflow | – | ++ | ++++ | ++++ | ++++ |
| Energy performance | |||||
| Savings on heat losses | ++ | +++ | ++++ | +++++ | +++++ |
| Low consumption of the exhaust fan | ++++ | +++ | ++ | — | ++ |
| Acoustics | |||||
| Quiet Working | ++++ | ++++ | ++ | ++++ | ++++ |
| Insulation from outdoor noise | + | + | +++ | +++++ | ++++ |
| Installation | |||||
| Low cost | ++++ | ++ | + | – | – |
| Maintenance | |||||
| Easy maintenance | ++++ | +++ | ++ | – | ++ |
| Low criticality in case of exhaust fan failure | ++++ | ++++ | – | – | – |
| Aesthetic integration | |||||
| Discretion and compactness of terminals | – | – | ++ | ++ | ++ |
| Investment | |||||
| Low cost | +++++ | ++ | ++++ | – | – |
| Markets | |||||
| Individual houses | + | – | ++++ | ++++ | – |
| Collective dwellings | ++++ | ++++ | ++++ | +++ | ++++ |
| Main benefits | |||||
|
|
|
|
|