Analysis of Energy Recovery Ventilator Savings for Texas Buildings

Abstract

This analysis was conducted to identify the energy cost savings from retrofitting Texas buildings with air-to-air ERV (Energy Recovery Ventilator) systems. This analysis applied ERV and psychrometric equations in a bin-type procedure to determine the energy and costs required to condition outside air to return-air conditions. This analysis does not consider interactions with the air-handling system; therefore the effects of economizers, reheat schemes, variable flow rates and other adaptive components were not considered. This analysis demonstrates that ERV cost-effectiveness is largely dependent upon the building location in Texas (i.e., climate conditions) and outside air fraction: • For a typical laboratory building that requires 100% outside air, an ERV could save roughly $1.00 to $1.50 per cubic foot per minute (CFM) of outside air during a one year period. • 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 the period of one year.