How do Energy Recovery Units assist in HVAC systems?

Energy Recovery Units play a crucial role in HVAC systems by enhancing energy efficiency and maintaining indoor climate control. They achieve this primarily by preventing the loss of sensible heat from indoors. This means that during the ventilation process, these units can transfer heat between incoming and outgoing air streams.

When indoor air is expelled, the energy contained in that air (sensible heat) can be recovered and used to pre-condition incoming outdoor air. This function minimizes the need for additional heating or cooling from the HVAC system, leading to reduced energy consumption and improved comfort levels inside the building. This recovery of sensible heat helps maintain the desired indoor temperature more efficiently, contributing to overall energy savings.

In contrast, while filtering contaminants and increasing outdoor air exchange rates are important functions within an HVAC system, they do not directly relate to the primary function of energy recovery units. Additionally, while some cooling may occur as a byproduct of the operation, the core role of these units is focused on heat recovery rather than instant cooling.