With today’s escalating energy costs, homeowners are more concerned about the energy efficiency of their homes. “Green” construction is also becoming increasingly popular. As a result, today’s homes are constructed using standards requiring better insulation and airtightness. While this makes them more energy efficient, it also reduces the natural flow of fresh air into the home which can cause indoor air quality to suffer. Poor indoor air quality can pose health hazards to occupants and can also cause cosmetic and structural damage to the home.
Mechanical ventilation systems provide an easy, reliable and proven solution. They remove stale air and replace it with an inflow of fresh air which makes the home healthier and more comfortable.
Heat recovery ventilators (HRV) and energy recovery ventilators (ERV) are air exchange systems that help to enhance indoor air quality and minimize heating costs. They retain existing heat (or cooling) and optimize the interior moisture content in the air. These mechanical systems use fans to maintain a balanced airflow into the house while exhausting stale indoor air.
When selecting the most appropriate HRV or ERV, several factors should be considered, such as recovery efficiency, airflow capacity, and electricity consumption.
What's the Difference?
What is the difference between an HRV and an ERV? HRVs and ERVs are similar
devices in that both supply air to the home and exhaust stale air while recovering energy from the exhaust air in the process. The primary difference between the two is that an HRV transfers heat (or cooling) while an ERV transfers both heat (or cooling) and moisture. Both ventilation systems place the control of air quality and air exchange in the hands of the homeowner rather than relying on inherent, often inadequate, leaks or other openings in the home to provide necessary ventilation.How do you decide?
Where can you find objective, comparative data to make the best choice in HRVs or ERVs? The HVI-Certified Product Directory presents certified data for HRVs and ERVs. The directory is updated monthly and is available for download. The HVI-Certified ratings are obtained from tests performed in independent third party labs, using industry accepted test methods. Individual products can be compared according to their real performance.
Does HVI recommend products?
No. Through a Certified Ratings Program, HVI provides a voluntary means for residential ventilation manufacturers to report comparable and creditable product performance information based upon uniformly applied testing procedures performed by independent laboratories. Together these activities help to promote the health and growth of the home ventilation industry while providing consumers with valuable information and confidence in their choices.
The Healthy House Institute (HHI), a for-profit educational LLC, provides the information on HealthyHouseInstitute.com as a free service to the public. The intent is to disseminate accurate, verified and science-based information on creating healthy home environments.
While an effort is made to ensure the quality of the content and credibility of sources listed on this site, HHI provides no warranty - expressed or implied - and assumes no legal liability for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, product or process disclosed on or in conjunction with the site. The views and opinions of the authors or originators expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of HHI: its principals, executives, Board members, advisors or affiliates.
