MA hospital returns to its glory days with new ERV technology
Anna Jaques Hospital in Newburyport, MA, opened as a small community medical facility in 1884. The main building was constructed at the turn of the 20th century and then greatly expanded in the mid-1970s to early 1980s.
As part of the HVAC design, 100% outdoor air handling systems serving the expanded facility were equipped with energy recovery wheels (also known as enthalpy wheels) to minimize the heating and cooling costs associated with 24/7 operation. The inclusion of ERV technology in HVAC designs is sometimes chosen as a long term investment for many types of buildings. The lower price of downsized chillers, boilers, or packaged rooftop units can often offset the initial investment in ERV, while ongoing annual operating costs to condition the incoming outdoor air may be lowered by as much as 80%.