The article describes development and application of self-contained ventilation systems in civil buildings. It suggests several models of air exchange within the building, compares these models and points out the variant of ventilating with self-contained mechanical systems with utilization of heat. The researchers conclude that structurally self-contained systems of mechanical ventilation with utilization of heat are most efficiently built into window constructions. This installation variant makes it possible to keep the interior, avoid building construction strengthening, shorten time and labor input of construction-assembling works, allow rational use of the vertical building envelopes area without extra space using. The paper key issue is the development of constructive solutions of self-contained ventilation systems main elements to ensure the possibility of their use in window structures. This research stage was developed with account of previous results of field tests and of such ventilation systems theoretical descriptions. The authors assess limit dimensions of the systems suitable for installment into window constructions of civil buildings in the view of modern Russian requirements to thermal protection. The research suggests a general constructive solution of such a ventilation system and a heat exchanger model which can be used as an air heat utilizer in these systems.