Financial Benefits of Using an Airxchange Energy Recovery WheelAirxchange wheels provide a hedge against rising energy costs and offer risk free financial returns that are superior to alternative capital investments. An HVAC system incorporating Airxchange wheels provides a more energy efficient building with compelling financial returns. The reduced cost of a smaller HVAC system offsets the added Airxchange wheel cost. In addition, this more efficient system provides ongoing operating savings. The chart below demonstrates how the installed can be lower for a system with a wheel, versus one without, resulting in an immediate financial benefit. Financial returns vary based on climate since the wheel saves more energy in warmer and cooler climates. The implication of this characteristic is clear: warmer or cooler climates provide greater financial returns.
Miami, FL - 12x5
|
31.5
|
215 |
-$22,968
|
$7,946
|
Instant
|
Houston, TX - 12x5
|
31.5 |
419 |
-$22,968 |
$7,959 |
Instant |
Phoenix, AZ - 12x5
|
23.5 |
329 |
-$7,071 |
$5,976 |
Instant |
Memphis, TN - 12x5
|
34.2 |
542 |
-$28,302 |
$9,232 |
Instant |
El Paso, TX - 12x5
|
16.0 |
489 |
$8,033
|
$7,024 |
1.14 |
San Francisco, CA - 12x5
|
5.6 |
289 |
$2,8896 |
$1,903 |
15.18 |
Baltimore, MD - 12x5
|
26.3 |
593 |
-$1,2673
|
$9,852 |
Instant |
Albuquerque, NM - 12x5
|
12.4 |
500 |
$15,157
|
$8,677 |
1.75 |
Salem, OR - 12x5
|
11.7 |
500 |
$16,538 |
$5,778 |
2.86 |
Chicago, IL - 12x5
|
23.9 |
730 |
-$7,701 |
$11,222 |
Instant |
Boise, ID - 12x5
|
14.1 |
658 |
$11,897 |
$9,658 |
1.23 |
Burlington, VT - 12x5
|
16.7 |
790 |
$6,531 |
$12,061 |
0.54
|
Helena, MT - 12x5
|
10.1 |
828 |
$19,809 |
$11,917 |
1.66 |
Duluth, MN - 12x5
|
6.3 |
871
|
$27,327 |
$13,914 |
1.96 |
Fairbanks, AK - 12x5
|
5.3 |
1,067
|
$29,364 |
$19,808 |
1.48 | Net capital expenditure includes the cost of the Airxchange wheel sytem minus the savings due to smaller HVAC system
Cities are representative cities according to Department of Energy Climate Zones ERV net capital expenditure and savings based on AIRX Estimator for DX Systems
Assumptions Used for this analysis:
Outside Air (CFM) 10000
ERV install cost per CFM $4.00
Unit install cost per ton $2,000.00
EER of HVAC 10
Electric rate ($ per kWh) $0.08
Demand Charge per KW $8.00
Gas rate ($ per therm) $1.00
|