Roof Details ERV


Photo of Lyforms Small-Scale ERV roof detailThe main mission of Lyforms Small-Scale it to provide n scale buildings and accessories from the modern era. As part of this mission, I decided to create roof details that would be more common on modern era building rooftops. When researching online for prototypes to model from the modern era, I came across a device called an energy recovery ventilator (ERV). I discovered that while the concept behind ERV's has been around for a while, it has become increasingly popular in the past 30-40 years due to the increased interest in energy efficiency with HVAC systems.

What is an ERV you ask? While I'm not an expert, based on the research that I've done, it is a device that takes air that is going out of a building and uses it to precondition the air coming into the building. It works differently depending on the season. In the summer, it will take hot & humid outdoor air and mix it with cool & dry air leaving the building, thus removing the heat & moisture while allowing the clean outdoor air to enter the building. In the winter, it does the opposite by taking the cool & dry outdoor air and mixing it with the warm & moist air leaving the building, thus warming & humidifying the clean outdoor air as it enters the building.

The Lyforms Small-Scale ERV is based on a rooftop prototype that will look good on top of small to mid-sized commercial and industrial buildings with an airflow range of 240-500 CFM. For those who don't know what that means, don't worry because it doesn't do anything. If you think it will look good on a rooftop, then go for it!

Check it out here:

Hopefully it will find a way to your layout!