The popularity of ERV (energy recovery ventilation system) in the United States has gradually increased in recent years, but its application still has regional 

and structural differences, which is mainly affected by climate conditions, building codes, environmental policies and consumer awareness.

1. Current popularity ‌

‌Market growth trend‌:

According to the US ventilation system market report, the annual growth rate of fresh air systems (including ERV/HRV) from 2020 to 2023 is about 8%-10%. 

Among them, ERV is more in demand in extreme climate areas because it takes into account temperature and humidity control.

‌Regional differences‌:

‌Cold/hot areas‌: Such as Alaska, Minnesota (severe winter cold) and Texas, Arizona (high summer temperature) have a high penetration rate, and energy-saving needs drive installation.

‌High humidity areas‌: Southern states such as Florida and Louisiana prefer ERV (rather than HRV) to control humidity and reduce mold risks.

‌States with strict environmental protection policies‌: Due to building energy-saving regulations (such as CALGreen) and LEED certification requirements, the installation rate 

of ERV in new buildings in California, New York and other places has increased significantly.

‌Application scenarios‌:

‌Commercial buildings‌: Hospitals, schools, and office buildings have a high penetration rate (about 30%-40%) because they need to meet ASHRAE ventilation standards and have 

obvious energy-saving returns.

‌Residential market‌: The penetration rate is low (about 10%-15%), but the application is accelerating in high-end residences and newly built energy-saving residences (such as passive houses).

‌2. Driving factors‌ ‌Energy-saving policies‌:

Federal tax credits (such as Residential Energy Efficient Property Tax Credit) provide subsidies for the installation of high-efficiency ventilation equipment.

Local regulations such as California Title 24 require new buildings to meet certain energy-saving standards, promoting ERV as a compliance solution.

‌Upgraded health needs‌:

After the epidemic, American consumers have increased their attention to indoor air quality (IAQ), and fresh air systems are seen as an effective means to reduce virus transmission 

and reduce CO₂ concentrations.

The high proportion of allergy and asthma patients (about 25% of the population) has driven the demand for ERVs that filter PM2.5 and pollen.

‌Green building certification‌:

Certification systems such as LEED and WELL use energy recovery ventilation as a bonus item to promote the use of ERVs in commercial and high-end residential projects.

‌3. Main Challenges‌

‌Building Structure Limitations‌:

The existing residential stock in the United States is mainly single-family houses, and renovation requires penetrating the wall to arrange the air duct, which is complex and costly to install.

Old houses have poor sealing, which may reduce the efficiency of ERV (need to cooperate with building airtightness renovation).

‌Lack of consumer awareness‌:

Many families still rely on central air conditioning or open windows for ventilation, and lack understanding of the energy-saving and health value of ERV. Market education still needs time.