This paper provides an experimental evaluation of the efficiency of an energy recovery ventilator (ERV) for a range of summer temperatures in Ottawa including humid summer days. The assessment was achieved using the twin houses at the Canadian Centre for Housing Technology (CCHT) and their “side-by-side testing” to measure the real impact of the installation of the ERV. “Side-by side testing” consists of incorporating into the test house an innovative energy-saving component, in this case the ERV. Both houses are then operated identically and monitored. Changes in house performance due to the innovation are observed through comparison of test house performance to reference house performance for a range of weather conditions. The parameters that were compared for this study include airflow, energy consumption, house air temperature, and humidity. Incorporating an ERV into the test house in the summertime not only offered more efficient humidity control compared to the reference house with a heat recovery ventilator (HRV) but also showed a reduction in air-conditioning electricity consumption in particular and cooling electricity consumption in general.

Units: SI