ipt saving energy
TRANSCRIPT
Saving HVAC energy through better air filtration
for healthy indoor environments
Ronald Wood PhD BSc.
Innovative Plant Technology
Why not breathe clean, pollutant free indoor air.
20% saving in energy use,
6 – 26% increase in work performance
3 - 5% ventilation cost reduction
12 – 18 months payback period
CASE STUDY
•• Umow Lai - Consulting Engineers, Melbourne,
5 Living Wall air filters over 2 floors• Independent testing of duct outlets after two years of
continuous operation. • low levels of VOCs (at or below detection limits)• very low microbial count• higher levels of fresh air• overall 13% improvement in productivity
Living Wall air filtration
Proven low-tech natural remediation
Removes particulates, VOCs, virus, bacteria, fungi
Small footprint
Low energy use
Works 24/7
WHY THIS?
• lower ventilation rates in existing buildings
• no need to over-size HVAC in newly designed buildings.
• Free-standing or incorporated into air handling
• Complements existing filtration
• Complies with AS 1668-1.2 2012 Part 2 Appendix D cleaning recirculated air
Schematic make up of an indoor air biofilter Image courtesy of Nedlaw Living Walls Inc
COST PERSPECTIVE
• Breakdown of a typical office building operating cost structure:
Salaries are over 80% of business costs Rent is around 15% Remaining costs ~ 5% energy, water and maintenance
PAYBACK 1
• Example• Two biofilter walls each 2.4m wide x 1.7m high ~ 8 m2 are
installed in an open plan workspace of NLA 450 m2 • cost - $20,000 ($2500 per m2)• (workplace density of 10m2/person (AS 1668.2) provides
clean filtered air for up to 45 occupants). • Simple Payback Period - straight line approximation• Payback Period (years) = $ Capital investment
$ Annual Savings• Occupancy rate of 20 persons, and a 1% improvement in
performance, average salary cost $72,000 (ABS, May 2012), Saving $720 per person = $14,400
• Payback Period 16 months
PAYBACK 2
• Similarly at a full occupancy rate of 45 persons the payback period would be around 6 months.
• There are additional energy savings from reduced ventilation rates, lower filter pressure drop, and less maintenance and replacement costs of HVAC fans, filters and pumps and by avoiding design over-sizing.
• Biofilter maintenance costs equate to $6.70/m2floor space/p.a. or approximately $150 per person per annum at an occupancy rate of 20 persons, or $67 for 45 persons.
• Clearly minimal costs compared to potential savings.
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Filtered air distribution Image courtesy of Nedlaw Living Walls Inc.
Next Steps
• To discuss how iplant Living Wall Biofilter systems can enhance your buildings and bring value to your tenants and clients, contact Dr. Ronald Wood
• Innovative Plant Technology • e-mail iplant@plantscleanair
.com