7ways an Energy Recovery Ventilator (ERV) can save money for your next commercial building project.

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An Energy Recovery Ventilator (ERV) can significantly reduce energy costs for a small commercial building in the southern United States by improving the efficiency of the HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) system. Here are several ways an ERV achieves this:

 

# 1 Heat Exchange Efficiency

ERVs transfer heat between incoming and outgoing air streams. In warm climates, they can cool incoming fresh air by transferring the heat to the outgoing stale air, reducing the load on the air conditioning system. This process helps maintain indoor comfort without requiring as much energy for cooling.

 


#2 Humidity Control


In humid southern climates, ERVs also transfer moisture. They can reduce the humidity of incoming air by transferring moisture to the outgoing air, which reduces the need for dehumidification. This leads to lower energy consumption as the HVAC system doesn't have to work as hard to remove excess humidity.

 

#3 Reduced HVAC Load

By pre-conditioning the incoming air (either by cooling or dehumidifying it), ERVs reduce the amount of work the HVAC system must do. This results in lower energy consumption, as the HVAC system can operate more efficiently.

 

#4 Improved indoor Air Quality (IAQ

ERVs bring in fresh outdoor air while exhausting indoor air, which improves IAQ. Better IAQ can contribute to higher productivity and comfort for occupants, which can indirectly reduce energy costs by promoting a healthier, more comfortable work environment.

 

#5 Balanced Ventilation

ERVs maintain a balanced airflow, which helps prevent over-pressurization or under-pressurization of the building. Proper pressure balance reduces the infiltration of unconditioned outdoor air, which can otherwise increase the HVAC load and energy costs.

 

#6 Reduced Peak Load Demand

By lowering the demand on the HVAC system, ERVs can help reduce the peak load demand on the building's energy system. This can result in lower demand charges from utility companies, which are often based on peak usage periods.

 

#7 Long-Term Cost Savings

While there is an initial investment in installing an ERV, the long-term energy savings can outweigh the initial costs. ERVs typically result in lower utility bills due to decreased energy consumption for heating, cooling, and dehumidification.

 

Practical Example

Consider a small office building in a southern state where summers are hot and humid. Without an ERV, the HVAC system must cool and dehumidify the outdoor air brought in for ventilation. By installing an ERV, the building can pre-cool and dehumidify this incoming air, reducing the HVAC system's workload. Over time, this leads to significant energy savings, particularly during peak summer months when air conditioning costs are highest.

 

We installed a Panasonic Intelli Balance 100 on my recent project for a custom home. 



We sealed the entire house and to bring in fresh air we decided on this ERV. The house is 1,800 SF with a 9-foot ceiling height throughout. The cost to supply and install this ERV was $2,400.



As seen from this diagram the incoming air flows across the outgoing air. 

The hot outside air is cooled by the outgoing cool air in hot climates.  This transfer of energy saves electric costs for the homeowner. For this house, we figured a $50 per month savings based on the electrical costs of $.11 per kilowatt hour. The payback would be 4 years. The Panasonic ERV has a warranty of 6 years and can exceed a 10-year lifespan with regular maintenance.

 

Retail Project

For Retail and office buildings, The Texas A&M Energy Systems Laboratory conducted an  

Analysis of Energy Recovery Ventilator Savings for Texas Buildings. (Enclosed link)

ESL-IC-09-11-31.pdf (tamu.edu)

Their findings are listed above for an office/classroom in College Station, Texas 

For a typical office building that only requires 10% outside air, an ERV could save up to $1.00 per CFM of outside air over one year. 

The constant replacement of outdoor air with fresh air helps eliminate odors and keep humidity levels low, preventing moisture problems such as mold growth that can result from excess moisture in the air.



Maintenance costs would be the cleaning of the filters every 4 months and probably replacing them every 6 months. 

Conclusion=

Implementing an ERV in a small commercial building in the south can lead to substantial energy cost savings by improving HVAC efficiency, managing humidity levels, balancing ventilation, and reducing peak load demand. These benefits contribute to a more energy-efficient and cost-effective building operation.


Shettig Construction Management provides Professional Design-Build Construction Management services from the inception of your project through completion. www.shettig.com mshettig@gmail.com





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