An energy recovery ventilator (ERV) uses the energy associated with thermally conditioned air being exhausted from a building to precondition the incoming air. ERVs, which offer many advantages for improved indoor air quality and reduced energy consumption, are one of the fastest-growing segments of improved IAQ management in buildings. According to a recent report from Boulder, Colo.-based Navigant Research, worldwide revenue from ERVs will grow from $1.6 billion in 2014 to $2.8 billion in 2020.
“Along with new standards and regulations, the heightened sensitivity to how the health and comfort of office workers affects productivity is driving increased acceptance of IAQ technologies in more buildings,” says Benjamin Freas, research analyst with Navigant Research. “ERVs are growing in popularity because they provide energy-saving benefits without sacrificing IAQ.”
Other IAQ technologies that are experiencing strong growth, according to the report, include carbon-dioxide sensors, demand-controlled ventilation, dedicated outdoor air systems and ultraviolet irradiation to eliminate microbes. (See “Component”, page 49, for more about UV irradiation.) Revenue for the overall IAQ market is projected to increase from $3.3 billion in 2014 to $5.6 billion in 2020, expanding at a compound annual growth rate of 8.8 percent over that period.
The report, “Indoor Air Quality Monitoring and Management”, provides a comprehensive, global look at the state of the various IAQ-related technologies that are currently available and being used in new and retrofit applications. An Executive Summary of the report is available for free download at www.navigantresearch.com/research/indoor-air-quality-monitoring-and-management.