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Problem:
How do you meet code without inducing mildew in summer and chills in winter?
Solutions:
New ventilation codes seem crazy, with more fresh air required for fast food than car repair garages. That's right, experts say that you need more oxygen when eating, then if you were in an enclosed garage with a car running while working on the engine. Meanwhile, in offices, where complaints continue to proliferate, the code has not changed much in years. The only significant change is if you are in a meeting room, where you need about 7 times as much air as when you are in your office doing work. The assumption is that people are the primary source of pollution, so the more people, the more air is needed. In any case, when you add all this "fresh air" (95% humidity in a Washington summer) to a space, you may get comfort problems or mildew.
If you can't change the building codes, one solution is an energy recovery ventilator (ERV), which contains a heat wheel. In summer, the heat wheel uses exhaust air (on its way out) to cool and dry incoming fresh air. In winter, the wheel heats and humidifies cold air, all with minimal cross-contamination. ERV's cost about $6K for a conference room to $25K for a large system, but reduce tonnage requirements, and save energy on utility bills. Greenheck is a popular manufacturer, and others (e.g, Aaon, Trane) offer an ERV option on their rooftop units.
Additional information:
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