Sustainable Ventilation via ERVs

Sustainable Ventilation via ERVs: Enhance Indoor Air Quality and Reduce Energy Costs

Maximized sustainability in ventilation optimizes energy efficiency, reduces costs, supports the environment, and provides cleaner and healthier indoor air

Deficient indoor air quality (IAQ) is a problem that’s threatening an increasing number of homes and buildings across the globe, especially with improved air-sealing methodologies that not only trap in air but also numerous internally generated contaminants. The best way to enhance IAQ is with more and better ventilation since fresh outdoor air can replace stale indoor air, but this can mean added equipment and energy costs.

So how can IAQ be enhanced while keeping expenses down and even generating savings? The answer is by maximizing sustainability via energy recovery ventilation (ERV), a process that optimizes energy efficiency through the reuse of otherwise-wasted heat and humidity, thus reducing carbon emissions and helping to curb climate change. By recovering the energy that conventional ventilation systems discard, energy recovery ventilation can reduce HVAC energy costs by up to 65% percent every year over the long-term. Therefore, ERV systems not only further sustainability and support the environment, but they also boost the bottom line.

With that in mind, this white paper lays out the case for why energy recovery ventilation is the best choice for enhancing IAQ energy-efficiently, cost-effectively, and sustainably.

The Situation: Deficient IAQ Threatens all Homes & Buildings

With buildings becoming increasingly air-sealed, a consequence is a rise in deficient IAQ. This serious—yet often unnoticed—condition threatens occupant health, cognitive function, productivity, and general well-being. Deficient IAQ is especially concerning since people are indoors about 90 percent of the time (the elderly 95 percent). The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) found that indoor air may be two to five times more polluted than outdoor air. Hence, the EPA ranks indoor air pollution among the t op five environmental risks to public health. What’s more, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimated in 1984 that 30 percent of all new or renovated buildings suffered from deficient IAQ.

A complex array of internally generated contaminants, such as toxins, vapors, gases, chemicals, odors, and other volatile organic compounds (VOCs), can build up and diminish IAQ. Contaminants are introduced in many ways, but the primary means is by being off-gassed from sources such as construction materials, furniture, fabrics, carpets, paints, sealants, finishes, cleaning supplies, and even the human metabolic process that emits bioeffluents. A comprehensive list of indoor air contaminants, their sources, and adverse effects can be found here.

The Problem: Deficient IAQ has Many Adverse Effects & Incurs Financial Costs

Deficient IAQ has numerous adverse effects on health, cognitive function, and productivity, not to mention the negative financial impact incurred by treating deficient IAQ. Below are some examples:

Adverse Effects & Financial Costs of Deficient IAQ

Health Problems	Deficient IAQ has many adverse health effects, including acute allergies, headaches, coughs, asthma, skin irritations, breathing difficulties, as well as chronic illnesses such as cancer, liver disease, kidney damage, and nervous-system failure.
Cognitive impairment	Deficient IAQ causes cognitive impairment, as shown in studies by the Harvard School of Public Health and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in which Carbon Dioxide (CO2)—an indoor air contaminant—negatively impacted thinking and decision-making at levels commonly found inside all homes, schools, and buildings. In fact, the Harvard study found that, on average, a typical participant’s cognitive scores dropped 21 percent with a 400 ppm increase in CO2.³ Such cognitive impairment can affect every type indoor occupant, from people inside their home, to children in daycare, to students inside K-12 schools and colleges/universities, to workers inside an office building—and everyone in between.
Productivity decline	Deficient IAQ causes serious losses in productivity for businesses of every type due to worker sickness and absenteeism, which is estimated to cost the U.S. economy $168 billion annually, according to the Building Ecology Research Group.
Financial costs incurred by treating deficient IAQ	Deficient IAQ may have many adverse effects, but taking the necessary steps to enhance IAQ can incur major financial costs since new equipment must be purchased and additional energy must be expended to power the HVAC system. You might have better IAQ, but your bottom line could be in worse shape.

The Solution: Energy Recovery Ventilation Enhances IAQ & Reduces Costs by Maximizing Sustainability

What’s the best way to provide cleaner and healthier air inside homes and buildings? The answer is more and better ventilation. When stale indoor exhausts out and fresh outdoor air comes in, the indoor air quality is enhanced. In fact, the American Lung Association notes that ventilation is a key component in addressing indoor air pollution.

So how can IAQ be enhanced while also minimizing costs and even generating savings? The best way is via energy recovery ventilation, which enhances IAQ while maximizing sustainability. This is achieved through optimizing energy efficiency by capturing otherwise-wasted heat and humidity from the exhaust air that’s then used to precondition the outdoor air coming in.

How does energy recovery ventilation maximize sustainability? There are three main ways:

How Energy Recovery Ventilation Maximizes Sustainability

Optimized energy efficiency	Energy efficiency is optimized by preconditioning the outside air coming in with the otherwise-wasted heat and humidity of the exhaust air going out. During the warmer months, outside air entering a home or building is pre-cooled and dehumidified, while in the cooler months, the outside air entering a space is humidified and pre-heated. This results in HVAC energy costs being reduced by up to 65 percent.
Reduced HVAC loads	Because less energy is used in the ventilation process, the loads that HVAC systems use to power heating and cooling can be drastically reduced, resulting in even further reductions in HVAC energy use and costs, as well as capital equipment downsizing.
Minimized carbon footprints	The combination of less energy used and HVAC loads being reduced means carbon footprints are minimized, thus supporting the environment and helping to curb climate change.

By maximizing sustainability in the ventilation process, energy recovery ventilation has many benefits, including:

Benefits of Energy Recovery Ventilation

Cleaner and healthier indoor air	IAQ is enhanced since internally generated contaminants are removed by exhausting stale indoor air, while outdoor contaminants are prevented from entering through filtration.
Reduced HVAC loads	This is possible by optimizing energy efficiency, cutting peak demand, streamlining operations, and reducing HVAC loads.
Significant annual long-term energy savings	Due to optimized energy efficiency and reduced HVAC loads every year for the life of the system, significant annual energy savings are generated over the long term.
Increased structural asset value and longevity	When a home or building suffers from deficient IAQ, it produces a diverse assortment of potentially negative impacts on the asset value and longevity of the structure. For example, the growth of microbiological organisms might be encouraged, mold might be more apt to propagate. Or, upkeep and maintenance demands could increase. Another option could be the premature failure of construction materials. Enhanced IAQ improves the overall health and integrity of the actual structure, thus increasing its asset value and longevity.
Lowered capital & operating costs	By downsizing HVAC equipment and streamlining operations, a home or building’s capital and overall operating costs are lowered.
Bolstered building revenue potential	By advancing occupant health, cognitive function, productivity, and comfort with enhanced IAQ, a building can charge more in rent due to offering these benefits that other buildings can’t provide, thus bolstering monthly lease potential and expanding overall revenue. Additionally, by reducing energy, capital, and operating costs, building operating profits can be further increased.
Strengthened sustainability	Less HVAC energy used means a reduced carbon footprint, which strengthens sustainability efforts.

That said, not all ERV systems are created equal. The best option is RenewAire’s enthalpic-core, ERV systems. These systems use a static-plate core technology that recovers total energy, and not just sensible energy. Additionally, RenewAire ERVs are known for their ease of use, reliability, and energy savings. When compared to other ERV options, here are more reasons why RenewAire ERVs are the premier choice:

Why RenewAire is the Best Choice for Energy Recovery Ventilation

Strong track record of quality	RenewAire was the first company to manufacture static-core ERV technology in North America over 40 years ago.
Easy and simple	Installing and using an ERV is easy. And, ERV maintenance is just as simple and minimal.
Ultimate reliability	Due to optimized energy efficiency and reduced HVAC loads every year for the life of the system, significant annual energy savings are generated over the long term.
Amplified annual long-term energy savings	Due to unparalleled reliability and efficiency, annual energy savings are amplified over the long term.
Built to last	The systems are built to last for over 20 years. And, these systems deliver significant annual energy savings every year over their lifetime.
Competitively priced	Costs are kept low through unparalleled innovative design practices, expert workmanship, and a Quick Response Manufacturing (QRM) process, thus enabling all units to be competitively priced.
Short payback	Because ERVs generate significant energy savings and are competitively priced, the payback period is short.
Recoup upfront costs quickly	Due to low-priced units, a short payback, and major energy savings, upfront costs can be recouped quickly.
Relevant everywhere	These ventilation systems are designed to support a wide array of home and building sizes, types, and installation constraints. From Alaska to Florida, all climates are supported.
Best warranty and lowest claims	RenewAire offers an industry-leading 10-year warranty on the static core, and the company’s warranty-claim track record is the lowest in the industry.
No defrosting necessary	No condensate pans or drains are used, which means that there is no need to defrost. Thus, ERV maintenance is even easier.
No cross-contamination of airstreams	Exhaust and fresh outdoor airstreams are kept completely separate to prevent airstream cross-contamination. Units are AHRI 1060-certified at zero percent cross-contamination with balanced airflow.
Highly rated	RenewAire has some of the highest ratings in the industry from such top organizations as the Home Ventilating Institute (HVI) and the Air-Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI).
Qualify for top-level certifications and rebates	Homes and buildings can qualify for energy-efficiency and sustainability certifications from such renowned organizations as: LEED, Green Globes, Passive House, Living Building Challenge, ENERGY STAR, and other net-zero buildings. Rebates can also be attained due to reductions in the consumption of HVAC energy.
Exceptional indoor comfort	Temperatures and humidity are moderated to maintain a comfortable indoor environment.
Superior customer service and support	The knowledgeable RenewAire technical sales support team is ready to answer any type of question.

The Results: Better Savings, Health, Cognitive Function, Productivity, Comfort & Well-Being

By enhancing IAQ while maximizing sustainability through energy recovery ventilation, the following results are achieved:

Results of Enhanced IAQ Achieved by Maximizing Sustainability via Energy Recovery Ventilation

A better bottom line	Due to reduced HVAC energy consumption, as well as equipment downsizing, the result is significant energy savings every year over the long term. For example, cutting HVAC energy costs by up to 40 percent every year for the life of the system—which is built to last for over 25 years—equals serious energy savings.
Improved health	By breathing cleaner and healthier indoor air, occupants will experience fewer health problems. This is critical, as the WHO noted that in 2012, 4.3 million deaths globally were attributable to household air pollution.
Heightened cognitive function	By removing contaminants from the indoor air, occupants will improve their overall cognitive function, thus achieving more coherent thinking and decision-making. Specifically, the same Harvard study mentioned previously found that, on average, when compared to an indoor environment with deficient IAQ (high VOC concentration), cognitive scores were 61 percent higher in a simulated green-building environment (low VOC concentration) and 101 percent higher in a simulated green-building environment coupled with doubling the outdoor-air ventilation rate from 20 CFM per person to 40 CFM per person.
Boosted productivity	Higher-quality indoor air results in healthier workers and reduces sickness and absenteeism. In addition to better health, workers will also experience improved cognitive function, thus further boosting productivity. In fact, another Harvard study found that doubling the rate of a conventional ventilation system from 20 CFM per person (the rate recommended by ASHRAE) to 40 CFM per person only costs about $32 per person, per year. And, it leads to a productivity increase of $6,500 per person, per year. And if an ERV system is added, the anticipated increase in energy costs can be reduced by 60 percent.
Exceptional indoor comfort	By moderating indoor temperatures and humidity, a comfortable indoor environment is achieved.
Enriched lives and well-being	A better bottom line, improved health, enhanced cognitive function, and boosted productivity all add up to enriched lives and well-being for indoor occupants, which is accomplished energy-efficiently, cost-effectively, and sustainably.

In Sum

Deficient IAQ threatens all homes and buildings, especially with air-sealing integrity on the rise. This poses serious risks to the health, cognitive function, productivity, and well-being of indoor occupants. However, enhancing IAQ through increased ventilation can be expensive. The solution to enhancing IAQ cost-effectively is energy recovery ventilation. ERVs are the sustainable choice. They can reduce energy costs, generate long-term savings, and provide cleaner and healthier air.