A heat recovery ventilator (HRV) transfers what type of heat?

The correct choice is that a heat recovery ventilator (HRV) transfers both sensible and latent heat. HRVs are designed primarily for balanced ventilation in a building, recovering heat from the exhaust air and transferring it to the incoming fresh air, thus maintaining energy efficiency.

Sensible heat refers to the heat that causes a change in temperature of the air, which is easily measurable with a thermometer. In the case of an HRV, when warm air is exhausted from the building, it transfers its sensible heat to the cooler incoming air, raising its temperature and reducing heating loads.

Latent heat, on the other hand, is associated with moisture content in the air. HRVs also transfer this moisture by allowing the humidity from the exhaust air to influence the incoming air, thus affecting both temperature and humidity levels inside the building.

The incorrect options do not fully capture how HRVs operate. While some may suggest that only sensible heat is transferred or focus solely on latent heat, the functionality of HRVs encompasses both aspects, making them efficient in recovering thermal energy and managing air quality.