Patent ID: 7683501

Claim:
An energy recovery system comprising: a ventilation system of a defined area, the ventilation system having at least one exhaust wherein air from within the defined area is expelled outward of the defined area by at least one exhaust fan as an exhaust air flow that flows out of the at least one exhaust; at least one windmill located exterior to the defined area and being a selected distance from the at least one exhaust, at least one flow guide apparatus positioned between the at least one exhaust and the at least one windmill, the at least one flow guide apparatus being separate from and external to the ventilation system; and wherein each windmill is comprised of: a rotatable shaft, a plurality of vanes connected to the rotatable shaft such that rotation of the vanes causes the rotatable shaft to rotate, and an electrical generator connected to the rotatable shaft such that rotation of the rotatable shaft causes electricity to be generated, wherein the plurality of vanes are configured to rotate when the exhaust air flow flows on the vanes.