Energy Recovery Ventilation Can Reduce HVAC Costs in Commercial Buildings

Did you know that buildings account for as much as 40% of total energy consumption worldwide? That’s the figure according to the United States Department of Energy (DOE) and, as you can probably imagine, commercial buildings account for a large portion of that 40%. Between HVAC, lighting, water heating, and other building systems, commercial facilities use A LOT of energy, which adds up to A LOT of money. So it should come as no surprise that most business owners and property managers are looking for ways to curb energy use and save money. But how?

Energy Recovery Ventilation Wheel Technology

One increasingly popular way to improve energy efficiency in existing commercial buildings is through the use of retrofits, like Energy Recovery Ventilation (ERV). An energy recovery wheel recycles energy from the normally exhausted building air to pre-condition incoming ventilation air. By recycling 70 – 80% of the total energy contained in the exhaust air, energy recovery wheels lower total HVAC energy usage.

“Widespread use of Energy Recovery Ventilation can save up to .55 quads of energy annually by recycling energy otherwise wasted in building exhaust air,” according to the DOE.

Additional benefits of Energy Recovery Ventilation include:

1. ERV’s help reduce peak heating and cooling loads that must be met by the HVAC equipment.
2. Due to HVAC equipment downsizing, as a result of ERV’s installation, property managers can expect some capital cost reduction.
3. In certain situations, the use of ERV’s can eliminate the need for a building exhaust fan.
4. ERV’s can also provide annual energy savings by reducing the amount of HVAC energy needed to condition the outdoor ventilation air.
5. ERV’s are most beneficial in climates where cooling loads place heavy demand on commercial HVAC systems.

ERV’s are quickly becoming integral parts of commercial HVAC systems and are available from most HVAC manufacturers in a variety of configurations.

Energy Recovery Ventilation Installation and Maintenance

While ERV’s can reduce energy use in commercial buildings, they may also need maintenance beyond that required for baseline HVAC systems. At Crockett Facilities Services, Inc. (CFSI), our commercial service division helps building owners and property managers preserve their building investment and improve their bottom line by optimizing the performance of their mechanical and HVAC equipment, including ERV’s.

For more information on how we can partner with you to meet your energy-saving goals, please contact Crockett Facilities Services, your Northern Virginia HVAC company, by calling 301.262.2771, email sales@crockett-facilities.com, or submit a form for a service quote. Like us on Facebook; follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Google+.

Source:

For and from HVAC Systems: Energy Exchange between Exhaust and Fresh Air, Building Services Management magazine

This entry was posted on Friday, May 9th, 2014 at . Both comments and pings are currently closed.