Nate Core Practice Test 2025 – Comprehensive Exam Prep

Energy recovery ventilators (ERVs) enhance HVAC systems primarily by exchanging stale indoor air with fresh outdoor air while conserving energy. This is achieved through a heat exchange process where the outgoing air transfers its heat and moisture to the incoming air. In the winter, this can prevent the loss of heat, allowing the system to use less energy to warm the fresh incoming air. Similarly, in the summer, the ERV can help to cool the incoming air by transferring some of that heat energy to the outgoing air, making the cooling process for indoor environments more efficient.

By utilizing this method, ERVs help to maintain indoor air quality without sacrificing thermal comfort or energy efficiency. This capability addresses the challenges of elevated energy costs and the need for proper ventilation in modern buildings, which are often more air-tight than older structures. The other options do not accurately describe the primary function of ERVs: they do not inherently increase humidity levels, do not cool air without energy loss—instead, they manage energy during the air exchange process—and while they may aid in filtering out some particulates, that is not their primary purpose in HVAC systems.