Energy recovery ventilators (ERVs) provide balanced ventilation that improves indoor air quality while minimizing energy loss. As buildings become more airtight, fresh air must be introduced in a controlled way to prevent contaminants and excess humidity from building up indoors. ERVs address this by continuously exchanging stale indoor air with fresh outdoor air.
Through energy recovery technology, ERVs transfer both heat and moisture from the exhaust air stream to the incoming outdoor air. During summer conditions, warm and humid outdoor air is pre-cooled and dehumidified by the cooler exhaust air. In winter, cold and dry outdoor air is preheated and humidified by the warmer exhaust air.
By preconditioning ventilation air, ERVs significantly reduce the energy required for heating, cooling, and ventilation. This allows HVAC systems to operate more efficiently and, in many cases, be downsized, resulting in lower energy consumption and improved overall building performance.