How Our ERVs Work
What is an ERV?
An Energy Recovery Ventilator (ERV) is a heat exchanger device that works with two airstreams within an HVAC system or even on its own. Using two in-line fans, one will pull an outside airstream into a building while another pulls the stale, potentially polluted air out of that indoor environment. As the airstreams move past each other, the energy from the departing heat and moisture is used to heat or cool the incoming air. Hence, the term, ‘Energy Recovery’. The use of this recovered energy via a high-efficiency ERV contributes to lower energy bills.
If the heat exchanger only recovers heat, but not moisture, it is an HRV (Heat Recovery Ventilator), not an ERV. If an HRV is needed in the event that a building is overly humid during winter, BPE ERVs can be modified to be HRVs.
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A BPE-XE-MIR-200i ERV for home or office.
BPE ERV Primer
A BPE ERV cooling an indoor space.
A BPE ERV heating an indoor space.
Watch an ERV work via thermal camera.
This video features the BPE-XE-MIR-200i -- a perfect choice for home, small offices, and classrooms.
BPE raises the bar for high-efficiency ERVs
BPE heat exchangers are longer than others. Why is that?
Get to know BPE ERV units and dedicated outdoor air systems
Please reach us at info@bpequip.com or 201.722.1414
if you cannot find an answer to your question.
HVAC stands for Heating Ventilation, and Air Conditioning. HVAC pertains to the entire system that controls the amount, quality, and comfort of the air moving around inside a home, building, or facility. A good HVAC system will meet or go beyond standards set by ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers). Poor HVAC can affect human health and productivity. BPE feels there is no excuse for shoddy indoor air quality!
For most building or home purposes, a BPE energy recovery system can save 70% to 90+% thermal energy when heating and cooling! The payback on such a system is typically eight months to a few years. Meanwhile, you’ll enjoy healthy indoor air quality and thermal comfort immediately!
If only heat recovery is needed (and not moisture control) an HRV is needed. BPE ERVs only discharge moisture to the outside and can be fully sealed to act as an HRV on request. BPE makes ERVs and HRVs that can be expected to have a service life of over 20 years with reasonable maintenance.
Thermal comfort is when people wearing normal clothing are generally comfortable. ASHRAE standard 55 defines this as 68° F to 78° F and when 80% of people are reasonably comfortable.
In a nutshell, ERVs can balance humidity levels between the outdoor air coming into a space and the stale air leaving. A high efficiency unit provides precise control of humidity without dropping the temperature.
Building Performance Equipment, Inc. has patented the technology for utilizing excess condensation by transferring it into the exhaust stream rather than into your building. In doing so, it provides improved heat transfer while avoiding the need to drain the condensate. In other words, BPE Regenerative Condensate® Return Technology recycles moisture to increase thermal effectiveness, resulting in 34% latent efficiency (efficiency of water vapor) even during hot and humid summer temperatures.
- All BPE ERVs are superiorly cost effective - 70% to 90+% thermal efficiency.
- Patented fixed-plate, reverse counter-flow technology, which allows for reductions in peak demand as well as significant energy savings.
- BPE units meet ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 62.1 2019 Ventilation for Acceptable Air Quality and can help new or retrofitted buildings meet LEED and ENERGYSTAR® requirements for various incentive programs.
- Prolongs life cycle of existing HVAC systems by reducing mechanical stress. Units can work with or separately from existing HVAC systems.
- No Cross Contamination of air streams
- Up to 34% latent effectiveness (humidity) via BPE Regenerative Condensate Return® Technology
- Energy Efficiency Ratings (EER) of 36 to 160 (industry standard is 10)
- Excellent support staff and computer modeling
- Galvanized steel construction
Generally, a unit should provide 20 cfm per person. Choosing a model is as easy as multiplying the number of people who will typically share an indoor space by 20. Choose the BPE model with the number that is larger than the resulting number…
Example: A home or office with 6 People: 20 cfm x 6 = 120.
For this example, you would choose a BPE XE-MIR-200i.
For large projects, always consult a design professional and refer to:
ASHRAE (American Society of Heating Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers) standard:
62.1 Acceptable Indoor Air Quality for commercial buildings and
62.2 Acceptable Indoor Air Quality for residences.
Also, BPE IAQ specialists and engineers are always happy to help with project specifications!
BPE units can be ordered with or without fans. The energy recovery modules have so little back pressure that many times existing exhaust fans can be used. Then there are our integral units where fans and controls are built in. Our BPE-XE-MIR-200i is perfect for small offices and homes. The UNI line can be stacked to accommodate larger spaces on up to industrial complexes and arenas.
BPE engineers and IAQ specialists can also help with fan selections for your application.
If you can install a bathroom fan and have a three-prong outlet, most people can install a residential or a small office BPE unit without help.
For larger units or multiple and/or stacked modules in a space such as a large public high school you will need professional installers.
Call your local BPE manufacturer’s representative or call BPE at 201-722-1414.
Generally, the less moving parts the better!
BPE ERVs have no moving parts in the energy recovery module. Only the fans move and typically, they last 10 to 20 years.
Filters are always a good idea to keep dust and allergy issues under control. BPE ERV units come standard with Merv 8 filters and can be upgraded to Merv 13 filters as requested or needed.
A BPE ERV has the lowest cross contamination of any ERV/HRV on the market and will pull out contaminated air and bring in fresh air. Schools in central New Jersey used hundreds of BPE ERVs for classrooms, using displacement ventilation to provide a single path of fresh air coming in as contaminated air is pulled from the other side of the classroom. Installing decently pleated filters on the main system is a smart move, too.
Typically, an ERV system is used in addition to an HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) system since most HVAC systems do not have fresh air ventilation. BPE allows an existing building to add back in ventilation without major mechanical retrofits.
BPE has been involved with many off-the-grid, low-power-usage, and net-zero construction projects.
A residential unit with controls and fans takes less power to operate than a 60-watt light bulb! EER (Energy Efficiency Ratings) of over 60 EER are common (3x as efficient as geothermal solutions).
BPE ERVs and HRVs have removed over 800,000 cars years of pollution off the grid in North America. The goal is to continue recovering heating and cooling energy so that people and businesses reduce their carbon footprint by using less fossil fuels. In turn, the atmosphere absorbs less CO2, NOx, and Sox. If we’re ever going to limit the Earth’s warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius by 2100, it’s important to tackle the industries that produce the most carbon. By helping the building industry adopt clean energy practices, we strive to play a major role in a healthier planet full of healthier people.
