An energy recovery ventilator (ERV) is a system that is typically connected to the HVAC system. ERVs pull clean air into a home or building and push unclean air outdoors. They use a heat exchanger to push heat and moisture between conditioned unclean air and fresh outdoor air.
An energy ventilator works by pulling air from multiple rooms in homes or buildings. While the air is being pulled from these areas, fresh air is pulled from outdoors into the ERV system. Then, the two streams of air go through a heat exchanger core where energy transfer happens. To finish the process, the conditioned air is dispersed throughout the rest of the home and the stagnant air is pushed outdoors.