Empire Communities, a renowned residential homebuilder in Canada and the United States, announces a significant milestone: its standard home model featuring ERTH360 Air enhancements has met the stringent clean airflow requirements set by the newly established ASHRAE Standard 241. This achievement is a testament to Empire’s unwavering commitment to delivering homes that prioritize indoor health and sustainability.

Published in July 2023, ASHRAE Standard 241, titled “Control of Infectious Aerosols,” represents a groundbreaking benchmark in the construction industry, applicable to both commercial and residential buildings. Empire Communities’ standard home model, equipped with ERTH360 Air improvements, successfully passed this rigorous standard through the innovative air tracing test method. Air tracing, a cutting-edge technology pioneered by the San Francisco-based company Poppy, allows for rapid, cost-effective commissioning and retro-commissioning of buildings. This method is instrumental in verifying that a building meets the highest standards of clean air performance.

Empire Communities’ homes have now earned the prestigious Poppy Certify status, placing them among a select group of buildings recognized globally for exceptional health standards. The integration of ERTH360 Air technology, including bypass HEPA filtration units, MERV 13 filters, and a 175 CFM energy recovery ventilator (ERV), ensures that Empire’s homes provide superior indoor air quality while also being energy-efficient and environmentally conscious.

“In our 31st year of homebuilding, we remain dedicated to the safety and comfort of our homeowners while advancing sustainability,” said Dan Guizzetti, Co-CEO of Empire Communities. “Achieving Poppy Certify status is a key part of our broader initiative to introduce ERTH360 Air in select Empire communities, underscoring our commitment to enhancing homebuyers’ health and well-being.”

ASHRAE Standard 241 offers homeowners numerous benefits, including significantly reduced risks of disease transmission, minimized exposure to pathogens like SARS-CoV-2 and influenza, and the creation of isolated areas within the home with hospital-grade clean air. These enhancements not only safeguard the health of occupants but also contribute to a more resilient and sustainable living environment.

Empire’s achievement demonstrates that accessible HVAC upgrades, coupled with comprehensive testing, can enable a standard home with central air conditioning to meet the most demanding requirements of ASHRAE Standard 241. Additionally, ERTH360’s Discovery Home at Empire’s Avalon community in Caledonia, Ontario, showcases even more advanced indoor environment improvements, including clean air, filtered water, and circadian lighting, further cementing Empire’s leadership in innovative and healthy homebuilding.

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