What is energy recovery ventilation (erv)?

 

Energy recovery ventilation (ERV) is one of the most energy efficient systems you can use with your HVAC control systems, especially in commercial buildings. When using a traditional HVAC control system, a large amount of the hot and cool air delivered to indoor spaces actually ends up outside via the air exhaust, the trash exhaust, and the bathroom vents, resulting in a lot of wasted air. ERVs, which continue to grow in popularity, recover some of the energy from the airstream delivered outdoors.

ERVs connect to the ducts that are part of your existing HVAC systems, so they’re easy to install and don’t require much additional equipment. They also reduce the strain on your heating and cooling systems, and during the hot summer months ERVs can dehumidify and pre-cool your air supply before it enters your indoor space. Conversely, during the cold winter months, ERVs pre-heat the air by extracting heat from the warmer exhaust air before it’s expelled outside.

One thing many people don’t consider is the indoor air quality within their space. You spend the vast majority of your time indoors, so you may be surprised to know that according to the EPA, indoor air often contains two to five times more pollutants than outdoor air. Many of us assume that indoor air is cleaner than outdoor air due to air filtration systems, but contaminants easily slip through many air filters. ERVs remove contaminants, pollen, allergens, and pollutants from your air, ensuring your air supply is as clean and healthy as possible, and for commercial spaces this is essential. 

Benefits of using ERV with an HVAC control system 

As mentioned, ERVs may not be very widely-known yet, but they are continuing to grow in popularity as people discover their many benefits. Some of the key benefits include:

• Reducing strain on your HVAC system, and because your air conditioners won’t have to work so hard, you’ll enjoy lower energy bills year round.
• Making your HVAC system more energy efficient, which is important as we all find ways to make our personal environmental footprint smaller
• Reducing unpleasant odors that can come from kitchens, bathrooms, and other areas. For restaurants, bars, shopping malls, schools, and other commercial spaces this is an essential benefit, because unpleasant odors can drive people away and make the environment very uncomfortable. 
• Keeping the temperature consistent from room to room. Once you find your ideal indoor temperature setting, ensure all the rooms remain at this comfortable temperature throughout.
• Filtering and removing contaminants from the air that may not be caught by your air filtration system. For people with asthma, allergies, and other respiration issues, breathing air that contains pollen and other allergens can cause problems. ERVs improve air quality and keep everyone breathing easier. 
• They are quiet and require minimal maintenance and upkeep.

In addition to all the benefits listed above, ERVs help keep your space cleaner because they reduce the build-up of dust and other contaminants. Maintaining a clean environment in commercial spaces is crucial, and when you have an ERV system you’ll notice that your space doesn’t get dusty as quickly as it used to, so you won’t have to dust and wipe down surfaces as frequently as before.

For more information about HVAC control systems, or if you have any questions about our commercial HVAC services, please contact us today and speak to a member of our team. Discover why so many people choose us as their trusted commercial HVAC contractor. We look forward to hearing from you.

Original content is posted on https://www.tritechenergy.com/blog/energy-recovery-ventilation-erv/