Decentralized ventilation systems applied in residential buildings are generalized in this article. Basic system elements and devices and tools assigned for its application are considered herein. Basic requirements for design of the ventilation systems used in residential buildings are stipulated.

The article presents an analysis of the primary technologies used to arrange air ventilation systems in residential buildings in Saint-Petersburg during the late 18th and early 20th centuries. The historic buildings construction and engineering systems is indisputable interest and can be subject to conservation of historic buildings in addition to conservation of architectural facades. The article analyzed historical techniques ventilation device in conjunction with the heating system.

Historic apartment buildings in Saint-Petersburg no longer meet today’s energy efficiency standards and need upgrading to achieve lower energy-consumption. The possibilities to upgrade old buildings – historic and cultural monuments – are initially limited. A controlled heat recovery ventilation system is considered to be an integral part of energy efficient building. Provided engineering facilities of a building are updated and reequipped energy performance increases without any impact on building exteriors. Different types of decentralized intake and exhaust ventilation systems with heat recovery based on various types of heat exchangers are considered in a detailed way.

Nowadays it is possible to reduce energy consumption without losing comfort as a result of using efficient energy saving technologies and advanced environment control methods for buildings. One of the measures to improve energy performance of buildings can be installation of decentralized air intake and exhaust mechanical ventilation systems with plate heat exchangers in apartments making it possible to «return» up to 85% of thermal energy. The article deals with the decentralized system controlled ventilation with heat recovery and alternative solutions heating supply air in residential buildings.

Transition to a new approach related to use of facades and roofs entirely made of glass in building construction called for an additional analysis to evaluate an issue of how to ensure an interior climate. In the article have been investigated the factors, which make people feel uncomfortable in the pavilions with large glazing areas: cold air flow near glazing area, which occurs on the cold surfaces of the windows, going down and along the floor, radiation heat exchange between human beings and building envelopes, condensation on internal glazing surfaces.