Ten years ago this summer, we began development of the CERV (pronounced “serve”), a new type of smart ventilation system for residences. Our objective then, as it remains today, is automated maintenance of the residential indoor environment. Human sense of smell is not a good indicator of good indoor air quality. Our overall goal is to think beyond energy, and to develop technologies that improve our health and well-being. Ten years later, we have demonstrated that you can have excellent indoor air quality and superb energy performance throughout all North American climatic zones.
Our initial CERV research results were presented at the 3rd North American Passive House conference in Duluth, MN in the fall of 2008. By 2010, we had developed and installed our first CERV units in our Equinox House project and two University of Illinois Solar Decathlon homes. We passed UL tests in 2012, and entered the marketplace in the summer of 2013. Over the past 5 years, CERV models have been shipped coast-to-coast, and from southern-to-northern North American latitudes.
Technology is changing at a breathtaking pace, and to take advantage of those advances, we created the CERV2. CERV2 production began in March of this year, and we have now moved beyond Tesla’s “production hell” phase. Watch for changes in our website for more details on the exciting features offered by the CERV2!
This is also the 10th birthday of Sunflower, our 3.2kW, two-axis solar PV array that was commissioned on July 4, 2008. Over the past 10 years, Sunflower has contributed 55,000kWh of energy for Build Equinox activities. With the addition of a 5.5kW stationary solar PV array (aka, “Sundial”) coupled with a number of building improvements (additional ceiling insulation, double-door entrances, LED lighting), our 4500sqft business facility is net zero! Of course, we always keep the air at Build Equinox CERV-fresh! Our March 2017 article describes our path to zero plus operation.
Stop by and visit us anytime to “kick the tires” on a new CERV2 as well as tour our remarkable facility!
This picture of the first CERV prototype was shown in our presentation at the 3rd North American Passive House Conference in Duluth in 2008. Ben presented heat pump energy exchange performance data from the prototype.
This CERV is in a high performance Vermod home. The CERV manages cool air from heat pump water heaters (“HPWH”, left foreground), allowing HPWH to be located in small mechanical rooms. Note the “post” electrical heater, operated by the CERV, that acts as a backup for the home’s ductless minisplit during extreme cold. The CERV requires no pre-heater protection.
Our new CERV2, similar in size to laundry appliances, offers more features, higher efficiency and easier installation. Zone dampers, remote sensors, hybrid geothermal (Geo-Boost), and over-the-air upgrading are just a few of the CERV2’s capabilities. Watch for future articles describing CERV2 applications.
Ben, Alex and Ty installed Sunflower 10 years ago. Sunflower is a 3.2kW, two-axis PV tracker that collects 5500kWh of energy per year. In the background is Sundial, our 5.5kW solar sculpture that produces 6000kWh per year with a total solar energy production sufficient to make Build Equinox’s 4500sqft building net zero. Note our hops-covered south façade that cools the building surface 40F on sunny, summer days. Hops die, retreating to their roots and uncovering the building for winter sunshine and warmth.
