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ERV/HRV

Improve energy efficiency through heat and energy recovery

One of the most efficient ways to supply high-quality indoor air is by upgrading to energy recovery ventilators (ERV) or heat recovery ventilators (HRV). Both are able to provide fresh outdoor air while recovering the most energy possible from outgoing air. We can help you upgrade, with expert help and incentives to speed up payback.

Why upgrade?

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    Lower energy and operating costs and increase long-term bill savings.

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    Improve working conditions and productivity.

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    Humidify indoor air in winter and dehumidify it in summer.

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    Remove odours, moisture and fumes.

Which buildings can benefit?

Multi-family residential buildings
Affordable multi-family housing buildings
Hotels and motels
Commercial office buildings

What you need to know about ERVs and HRVs

Every building needs ventilation to bring in fresh air, recover energy from outgoing air and control moisture. To achieve this, most buildings are required to have a mechanical ventilation system to supply outdoor air indoors.

A heat recovery ventilator (HRV) is a ventilation system that uses a counter-flow heat exchanger between the inbound and exhaust airstreams of a building to provide fresh air and controlled ventilation. An ERV combines this ventilation system with the ability to transfer temperature and humidity in and out of a building. Choosing between HRV and ERV requires careful consideration of climate and other factors that affect indoor humidity levels.

  1. HRVs
    HRVs are designed to keep heat in while moving stale air out. What separates an HRV from other ventilation systems is the heat-exchange core. The core transfers heat from the exhaust stream to the incoming stream to warm the incoming air and reduce heating costs. HRVs are ideal for:
    • Reducing demand on HVAC systems and associated natural gas consumption and costs.
    • Improving ventilation which enhances indoor air quality while reducing buildup of moisture, mildew, fungi and bacteria.
  2. ERVs
    Where HRV only transfers sensible heat (change in temperature), ERV is able to transfer both sensible heat and latent heat. The incoming fresh air is tempered with an energy recovery core. Heat is then exchanged through the core and water vapour is transferred with a rotating wheel, allowing for the transfer of humidity as well. ERVs are therefore able to:
    • Capture the energy savings of the heat exchange.
    • Recover the energy associated with humidity levels in the air.

Why work with us? Free expert help, at every step

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Incentives for ERV/HRV

Our Energy Solutions Advisors can help you take advantage of incentives through the following program:

Fixed Incentive Program

Per-unit incentives make it quick and easy to offset the cost of upgrading eligible ERV/HRVs.

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Affordable Housing Multi-Residential Program

Get per-unit incentives for ERV/HRVs and in-suite ERV/HRVs in social, affordable and market-rate multi-family buildings.

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Incentives for business partners

Get rewarded to help commercial and industrial customers and affordable housing providers upgrade to high-efficiency equipment, and connect with Energy Solutions Advisors who can help you close sales.

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Connect with an Energy Solutions Advisor

We’ll help you find ongoing savings and get your project underway.

Eligible equipment is ERV/HRV with a minimum sensible effectiveness of 55 percent at 32 F for spaces with no ERV/HRV or for spaces where ERV/HRV is not required by code (OBC, SB 10, SB 12) and ERV/HRV with a minimum sensible effectiveness of 65 percent at 32 F for spaces where ERV/HRV is required by code. Incentive paid is based on the operating CFM of the ERV/HRV and to qualify for an incentive, the sensible effectiveness used to validate the above criteria must be at the operating CFM level. The offer is not eligible in: areas where the operating CFM sensible effectiveness level is below the minimum requirements above; systems where DCV or scheduled setbacks are used during operated hours; spaces where 100 percent of the exhaust air must be evacuated from the building in order to avoid cross contamination (100 percent fresh air is required such as described in OBC section 1.1.1.4. spaces where no recirculation is allowed by codes or standards, for instance, any limitations as per CSA Z317.2_10 Special Requirements for Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) Systems in Health Care Facilities); and areas where contaminants (gases and vapours) may be present and the ERV/HRV may bring them back into the breathing zone. In-suite installations may be eligible at a different incentive level.