What Is An Energy Recovery Ventilator?

Energy Recovery Ventilator.
Photo courtesy of RenewAire

In a home with a tight "envelope," or well-insulated walls, windows and doors, an Energy Recovery Ventilator (ERV) can help to reduce energy use and improve indoor air quality.

Duane Amundson, an energy savings consultant, wrote an article for Greenspiration Home that describes the function of an ERV and discusses the benefits of using one:

"An ERV exhausts stale air with its fan, and brings the same volume of fresh air back in. A built-in heat exchanger allows the fresh air to be semi-conditioned by the exhaust air, so that you aren’t just tossing out air you’ve already paid to heat or cool." Read the full article here.

Using a unique peer-to-peer approach, Greenspiration Home is an online publication dedicated to educating homeowners about building, renovating, and decorating green.