Answer : There are ASHRAE Standards and ARI 1060 Standards. An alternative measure is to just look at the overall BTU's recovered divided by the total amount of power in watts used to run all aspects of the energy recovery ventilator (fans, pumps, motors, reheats, controls, ect.). This is called EER, or Energy Efficiency Rating, which equals btu/watts. Other HVAC equipment is also rated this way.

A BPE unit can exceed 60 EER for summer and winter conditions.

Call your local BPE representative for application help.

Answer : BPE reps can provide the most up to date modeling. This can range from a free initial energy savings evaluation with Btu's saved and spread sheet analysis for a one page print of project savings based on local weather data, the subject building application and the heating value of air and thermal energy and latent energy recovered. To an investment grade TRACE 700 run to EPACT & IRS National Standards. Investment grade energy analysis are quoted on a building by building basis.

To see if you qualify for a free energy savings evaluation, talk to your local BPE representative today!

Answer : There are at least two main points to consider;
1. Life cycle costs for O&M or how much work and money it takes to keep the energy recovery system running for 20 years. BPE gives a 20 limited life time warranty, also other manufacturers are also giving longer warranties or provide turn key service packages for 10 years or more.
2. The actual BTU recovered per watt of energy used to operate the HRV or ERV. ERR = Btu/watt and is a good indicator of how much energy per watt used you are getting. BPE units are engineered to give over 60 Btu's for 1 watt of power used to run fans, controls and everything else used to exhaust and bring in air. BPE units are engineered with low pressure drop and very high efficiencies to provide the best possible solution to bring in fresh air anywhere and exhaust bad air as needed. Tests have shown BPE units are efficient and effective enough to precondition even arctic air without expensive additional inline heaters or coils.

Answer : An average commercial building, meeting current fresh out door air standards typically make up 30 to 40% of the heating and cooling loads of a typical HVAC system.

Answer : Cross Contamination is when exhaust air is reintroduced into the fresh air intake of a HVAC system.

Answer : At BPE we rate our units over a flow range and the nominal 2000 cfm units start at over 90% and at full nominal flow rate of 2000 cfm for a 2000 series unit are 70% sensible efficient.

Others have 3000 cfm nominal units that are 100% ARI test at 750 cfm, at full nominal rating are only 38% efficeint. Ow!!! Look at the curve for a range of operating conditions.

Answer : No, Cross Contamination is only an issue if this exhaust air has harmful contaminants, such as toxic gases or pathogens or if the heat recovery media holds moisture and grows harmful agents.

Answer : Generally the less complicated, the less moving parts a system has the less maintenance is needed. BPE's Solution is simple and elegant, with very few moving parts.