In the context of HVAC, what is a primary goal of energy recovery?

In HVAC systems, a primary goal of energy recovery is to minimize the thermal load on heating and cooling systems. This is achieved by capturing and reusing energy from exhaust air or other waste streams to pre-condition incoming fresh air. By utilizing energy that would otherwise be lost, the heating and cooling demands of the HVAC system can be significantly reduced. This leads to improved energy efficiency and lower operating costs, as the system does not have to work as hard to achieve the desired indoor climate.

This approach is particularly important in environments where large volumes of air are exchanged, such as commercial buildings, as it helps maintain a comfortable indoor environment while being more sustainable and cost-effective. Energy recovery technologies, such as heat exchangers, contribute to this goal by facilitating the transfer of thermal energy from outgoing air to incoming air.

In contrast, while lowering equipment installation costs and eliminating the need for insulation may seem beneficial, these objectives do not align with the primary focus of energy recovery in HVAC systems. Similarly, preventing air leaks is crucial for overall efficiency and system performance but is not the main aim of energy recovery itself.