M2 Commercial Mechanical Inspector Practice Exam 2025 – Complete Prep Guide

Energy Recovery Ventilation Systems (ERV) are specifically designed to recover and reuse energy from exhaust air. They operate by transferring heat and moisture between incoming and outgoing air streams, allowing for improved energy efficiency in buildings. During winter months, ERVs can preheat incoming cold air using the warmth of the exhaust air, and in summer, they can help cool the incoming air by using the cooler, exiting air. This process not only reduces the amount of energy required for heating or cooling the air but also maintains indoor air quality by ensuring a proper exchange of fresh air.

Chilled beams, while effective for cooling, do not focus on recovering energy from exhaust air. Exhaust fan systems primarily serve the role of removing air from a space without the capability of recapturing or reusing any thermal energy. Heat pump systems are designed for heating and cooling but do not specifically incorporate a mechanism for recovering energy in the same manner as energy recovery ventilation systems. Thus, the unique ability of ERVs to optimize energy use by recovering and reusing energy from exhaust air makes them the correct answer.