Earth-to-Air Heat Exchangers and Their Role in Energy Efficiency of Large-Scale Buildings

In this paper, the role of Earth-to-Air Heat Exchangers (EAHEs) in improving the energy efficiency of large-scale buildings is examined. Particular attention is given to its applicability in facilities, where high ventilation rates, large internal volumes, long operating hours, and the frequent need for air quality control create favorable conditions for upstream air tempering. Integration pathways are outlined in relation to typical ventilation architectures and control strategies, emphasizing the potential for demand reduction under design conditions and improved part-load performance during seasonal operation.

Finally, EAHEs are positioned within broader sustainable energy management strategies for logistics buildings, including hybrid configurations with heat recovery ventilation, heat pumps, and renewable energy systems. The potential contribution of EAHEs to operational energy reduction and associated emissions mitigation is discussed, while noting that robust performance assessment requires careful consideration of site-specific constraints and the use of dynamic simulation and monitoring frameworks to support design optimization and verification.