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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.
QuickTime™ and a decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
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
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