Panasonic has announced the launch of its BalancedHome Elite and Elite Plus series of Energy Recovery Ventilators (ERV). Available in top and side port configurations, the new series of ERVs come in eight separate models with four different airflow levels (measured in CFM), with all models being compliant within major building codes.

BalancedHome ERVs Incorporate Smart Tech for Greater Efficiencies

Designed to help reduce the heating and cooling demand of buildings, ERVs are a popular component of traditional HVAC systems that use recovered exhaust air to heat incoming intake air before it enters the home, thereby reducing the amount of extra conditioning needed to get the air up to room temperature and making the system more energy efficient overall.

Adding onto that energy efficiency, Panasonic states it has added an optional smart Wi-Fi module to the BalancedHome Elite and Elite Plus series, which allows users to both monitor and operate the ERV remotely, while also giving it the ability to work with WhisperGreen select models for what Panasonic calls “an optimal, balanced system.”

Baseline, the models feature varying airflow levels ranging between 30-160 cubic feet per minute (CFM). Units include built-in ASHRAE 62.2 timing function for code compliance. ERVs can be used in compliance with ASHRAE 62.2, ENERGY STAR, Indoor airPLUS, California Title-24, and 2021 Washington State Residential Energy Code.

The Elite Plus models earn an 82 percent SRE rating—meaning that roughly 82% of the outgoing heat is recovered through the system—adjusting automatically to static pressure to provide balanced ventilation to improve indoor air quality in a cost-efficient manner

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All models come with ceiling and wall mounting options for added installation flexibility. The optional wall control also provides homeowners with system status, as well as ventilation.

HVACs Remain Largely Unaddressed in CI Market Despite Prevalence

While not prominently represented in the custom integration space, Panasonic has maintained a consistent presence at CEDIA Expo over the years. In 2022, the company partnered with Swidget—which one a BEST award back in 2023—to make it easier for integrators to provide a smart value add to Panasonic HVAC units.

Interactions between control systems and HVAC units have only grown more commonplace over time. The pandemic turned many on to the importance of maintaining a healthy home environment. In addition, increased efficiency in building envelopes on newer homes have also made HVAC systems far more prevalent, as the lack of a breathable envelope means fresh air needs to be cycled in mechanically.

This has made the ability to interface with these systems properly has only grow more valuable over time. Still Panasonic remains one of the few HVAC companies in the CI space seeking ways to make these integrations easier on the integrators themselves.

Companies like Airzone have made their name exclusively on developing workable bridges between control brands and inverter HVAC units so the two can communicate without hamstringing functionality, as has happened in the past. There is also RePure, run by industry veteran Michael Don Ham, which seeks to incorporate multiple environmental systems into a single controllable interface for homeowners.

For more information on the BalancedHome Series ERVs, readers are instructed to visit BalancedHome ERVs | Panasonic North America – United States. More information on Panasonic’s indoor air quality solutions can also be found on the Panasonic website at https://iaq.na.panasonic.com/.

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