Quick wins for energy savings in buildings

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2 Quick wins for energy savings in buildings Choosing low energy air filters for both optimized energy performance and indoor air quality Executive Summary HVAC systems heat, cool and clean the air within some 4.9 billion buildings in the United States. That is approximately 223,114 firms or organizations consuming 46.3% of the total U.S. energy consumption. Selecting the proper air filters, optimized for energy efficiency and improved indoor air quality, can save hundreds of millions of dollars nationwide while ensuring the health of the building occupants is protected. In an average commercial building, 39% of the energy bill is for the HVAC system. 30% of that can be attributed to the air filter, and yet they are typically overlooked in energy audits. Installing the right filter can produce huge benefits to an organization s energy saving and sustainability efforts. The use of the wrong or energy-hungry air filter can cost over $40 per year per filter. Low energy air filters can typically save up to 30% in HVAC energy consumption. Camfil knows that saving energy is one of the most challenging tasks facing building environments today. Camfil s low energy air filter products provide the highest indoor air quality, with the lowest resistance to airflow, delivering big energy savings to building owners without compromising the health of the building occupants or the cleanliness of the HVAC system. Property owners, facility-maintenance firms, building and energy managers are realizing substantial financial and energy saving opportunities by simply replacing existing air filters with Camfil s award-winning filters. In 2013 we delivered identified energy savings, in terms of millions of dollars, by installing low energy In 2013, we delivered identified energy savings, in terms of millions of dollars, by installing low energy air filters in HVAC systems in the U.S. air filters in HVAC systems in the US. Page 1

3 Business Challenge Many multi-site firms or organizations are committed to developing and implementing energy plans, involving strategy and policies on energy and sustainability. One of the primary goals of their plans is to balance the key principles; those of sustainability, financial viability, environmental enhancement and social responsibility. Large building owners, building management firms and insurance companies are waking up to the huge value of potential savings that can be achieved from effective air filtration systems. With soaring energy prices and new energy directives and mandates, it truly pays to save energy in air filtration systems. The effective management, maintenance and selection of air filtration systems can allow managers to quickly see a reduction in energy bills. Typical investment paybacks within budgets is less than three months. The Solution Energy-saving air filters are installed in the heating and air-conditioning air handling units where improperly selected filters significantly contribute to air resistance resulting in more energy required by the fan motor. Air filters are designed to be changed periodically; however, unlike other HVAC components in a ventilation system, air filters do not impact capital budgets when upgrading to high performance filters. Would you spend a dollar to save $5 or $10? Camfil can demonstrate how better air filters will lower a filters Total Cost of Ownership (TCO). Low cost filters clog quickly, causing a higher resistance to the airflow which results in an energy cost penalty. Camfil air filters capture particles and maintain the proper low resistance two to three times longer than low cost filters, and require less frequent filter changes. Fewer filters, less labor, reduced waste...and the biggest savings is in energy costs. How? By selecting filters designed for lower average lifetime resistance, the HVAC unit doesn t work as hard to pull air through the system. (LCC) Life Cycle Cost Analysis In the average commercial building, 39% of the energy bill is for the HVAC system and 30% of that is directly related to the air filtration, so it always pays to choose the best low energy air filter combination for the right filtration application. Camfil can show you how, and we ll prove it in the lab, on your site, or in Life-Cycle Cost (LCC) analysis calculations. The Life Cycle Cost for a filter is the cost of the: Filters Labor (installing and replacing) Energy Consumption Cleaning of ventilation system Disposal of used filters = LCC Page 2

4 Significant savings without capital expenditure Camfil identifies actual savings by evaluating current HVAC systems using our Life Cycle Cost (LCC) software which leverages over 20 years of experience and data analysis. Camfil demonstrates through a number of high profile installations and their case studies, how air filters directly influence energy consumption within air handling units that heat, cool and clean the air in the building. Camfil trained evaluators enter the current filter brand, type, operating parameters and filter costs to generate a customized analysis. The energy savings and total cost of ownership advantages are then quantified by switching to, and installing low energy filters. The evidence is presented in a free LCC analysis report. Camfil filters are an important component of an energy plan, total cost saving strategy and commitment to sustainability. In terms of installation, in 90% of existing installations, these low energy air filters can be retrofitted into the existing filter holding frames or housings. In other cases, modifications may be necessary to install the low energy air filters wherein the payback may be extended, but the return on investment is always within 12 months. In Camfil s experience, these upgrades are resourced within the revenue budget and without the need for capital expenditure. The installation of low energy air filters in the air conditioning systems enhances the system efficiency by maintaining the heat transfer efficiency of the heating and cooling coils over an extended period. Low energy air filters, such as the 30/30 pleated panel filter, Hi-Flo ES bag filter and Durafil ES V-bank filter, are designed to optimize all of the available filter surface area, thereby creating, and maintaining, a lower pressure drop across the filter. This has a direct impact on the fan motor in terms of energy consumption. Over the life of a filter, resistance to airflow increases due to the loading of particulate on the filter and the fan consumes more energy to move the appropriate amount of air to heat, cool and clean the air. Significantly less energy is consumed because the average pressure drop of low energy air filters is much lower than competitors filters that are optimized for low cost (made with low quality materials to offer lower initial pricing). Estimate of possible savings can be more than $40 per filter at the national average of $0.10 per KW/hour to optimize a MERV 13 filter. Page 3

5 Camfil works with Sustainability Directors, Energy Consultants, FM Service Providers, Building Services Engineers, Building Occupants, Health & Safety Departments and Plant Maintenance Teams to deliver our programs to their facilities. With their corporate sustainability objectives in mind from the outset, Camfil s Life Cycle Cost Analysis proves air handling optimization in air conditioned buildings is normally the most cost effective means to achieve energy efficiency. The energy savings and benefits are achieved and sustained for our clients across the U.S. and are identified in case studies and verified by our Life Cycle Cost Software. Camfil filters were installed in the world s most environmentally-friendly building in Manchester, England. The filters were selected using LCC software to ensure minimum running costs with consistent high lifetime particle removal efficiency. This selection process was completed in conjunction with the Design Engineers on this project. A cost saving example In a common building, for example a hotel, containing 20 installed air handling units (AHU s) with 10 filters in each (a total of 200 pre and secondary air filters) can achieve energy savings of typically $23, per year, every year, simply by upgrading to low energy air filters. Additional savings include: 50% labor time (you only change half as many filters) 50% waste costs (you only dispose of half as many filters) Nearly 1 ton of CO 2 for each upgrade. A complete library of cost saving case studies is available at Commercial Buildings Molecular Filtration Food & Beverage Museums Hospitals & Health Care Estates Pharmaceutical Estates Industrial & Manufacturing Schools & Universities No compromising on air quality The function of an air filter in an air conditioning unit is to clean the air that we breathe to a prescribed level. Engineers prescribe MERV 13 air filters for the control of respirable particles that can cause lung damage or other health maladies. In order to achieve this, the air filter must perform at this MERV 13 level throughout its installed lifetime. Only filters that are manufactured using fine fibers can reliably perform at this level as the interstitial holes between the fibers are smaller and will trap smaller particles. It is this balance of fine fibers and engineered construction that allows a low energy air filter to deliver optimized energy performance and good indoor air quality. Page 4

6 Camfil sales engineers recommend MERV-A Purchasers of air filters are finding it much easier to select the right air filter for energy efficiency and indoor air quality (IAQ), thanks to the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). An appendix has been added to the ASHRAE air filter testing standard identifying the filters that maintain their efficiency over time. As an optional step, it is advised that users always specify that a filter have a MERV of X with a corresponding MERV-A value of X, thereby ensuring that the filter will maintain its efficiency over the stated lifetime of the filter. Users should also select air filters with an Energy Cost Index (ECI) of 5-Stars, a performance index of all available filters. The 5-Star rating is a designation awarded once a filter is tested and proven to outperform 80% of other products offered in its class. The MERV-A and 5-Star ratings of the Camfil 30/30, Hi-Flo ES or Durafil ES identify the products as the best performing air filters available. The information clearly points out the difference between Camfil filters and competitive products, making it easy to select the right filter for the right application for the best energy efficiency and filtration. The ratings are becoming a critical criteria as building owners and occupants induce public and commercial buildings to improve their IAQ energy efficiency. Up to 40% of all electrical power in buildings is consumed to operate heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems, proper filter selection can benefit the building owner in terms of expense and the environment in terms of sustainability. Selecting the right quality air filters with the lowest energy consumption can significantly boost energy efficiency and also improve IAQ for a better and healthier work environment. Decision makers should always look for the MERV-A rating, identify the ECI value, and have a life-cycle cost analysis conducted on proposed products. Summary With over 50 years of experience in air filtration products and solutions, Camfil delivers value to customers all over the world while contributing to something essential to everyone clean air for health, well-being and performance. Camfil products address the energy considerations that all organizations face. In 2013, we supported site and energy teams in buildings across the U.S., presenting opportunities for engineers to deliver identified major energy savings for clients and stakeholders. Camfil filters deliver the required air quality, clear of particulates, for people to safely inhale, using the minimum amount of energy. No other air filter matches this optimized performance combination. With superior materials and a proven engineered design, Camfil s low energy air filters offer the lowest energy cost throughout their installed lifetime. Balanced with this, the filters also provide protection against Page 5

7 potentially health damaging pollution, by providing independently guaranteed certified performance. Choosing the right air filter can be a big part of your company s energy saving strategy. With soaring energy prices and new energy directives and mandates, it truly pays to save energy in your air filtration systems. Camfil air filters reduce energy costs Camfil 5-Star air filters can save your company up to 30% of your total HVAC energy spend and last twice as long as traditional air filters. Also your company will benefit from significantly reduced installation labor costs and waste disposal costs. About Camfil The Camfil Group is a world leader in the development and production of air filters and clean air solutions. Camfil is also one of the most global air filtration specialists in the world with 23 production units and R&D centers in the Americas, Europe, South East Asia and the Asia-Pacific region. The Group, headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden, has 3,428 employees and sales approaching $1 billion. The company s business is to provide customers with sustainable best-in-class air filtration products and services through four main business units: Filters, Power Systems, Air Pollution Control and Airborne Molecular Contamination. Contact information: Watch the video on lowering Total Cost of Ownership. Go to Lynne Laake, Camfil USA, , Lynne.Laake@camfil.com, Web site: 30/30 Hi-Flo ES Durafil ES Page Camfil USA

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