It has been well studied that our global climate is changing, and a warming effect is occurring. Much of this is due to greenhouse gas emissions.
These emissions which can be produced by many sources, such as car exhaust, industrial processes, and power generation, are creating a dome like effect, trapping heat in our atmosphere. This can lead to disastrous climatological effects.
Power generation and energy use are major contributors to this effect. While renewable energy is on the rise, still in the US, renewable energy only accounts for 20% of electrical power. And in commercial buildings natural gas remains a major source of energy.
Commercial Buildings in the US Account for 40% of All Electrical Energy
In the US, commercial buildings account for 40% of all electrical energy use and the largest user of electrical energy in commercial buildings is HVAC (Heating Ventilating and Air Conditioning). HVAC accounts for 12% of all electrical energy used in the US and shows the major impact HVAC has on greenhouse gas emissions and climate change.
Within HVAC the largest user of energy is conditioning outside air. All commercial buildings have a required amount of outside air that needs to be brought into a space to maintain good indoor air quality. While outside air will improve indoor air quality in most cases, it will significantly increase energy use and ultimately greenhouse gas emissions.
Innovative technologies and standards can affect this and make an impact on climate change and global warming.
What is Standard 241?
A new standard developed by ASHRAE (American Society of Heating Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers) called Standard 241 which was developed to provide spaces which protect occupants from infectious aerosols, expresses the requirements in “Equivelent Clean Air” not just outside air. This opens the door to integrating innovative technologies such as bi-polar air ionization, germicidal ultra-violet light, and electronically charged filters which can clean air effectively, but use very little energy and do not restrict airflow.
These systems reduce the need for volumes of outside air and associated use. Reduced energy demand will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and the impact on our environment.
HVAC manufacturers are also improving the energy efficiency of their conditioning systems. There is a move towards incorporating more electrical heat pumps rather than gas fired systems for heating. This allows for electricity to be used, which can be produced from a renewable source, rather than non-renewable gas. There are also initiatives to electrify buildings to again minimize non-renewable energy use.
Decision-Making to Minimize Energy Use
Finally, our ability to actively monitor air quality and energy use is fast growing and becoming more the standard rather than the exception. This knowledge can allow building operators to make decisions and adjustments which can minimize energy use while ensuring good air quality and a healthy indoor environment.
While HVAC can be a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, it is an area of awareness and improvement, and innovative strategies can reduce its impact and help to protect our environment for future generations.
Tony Abate is Vice President & Chief Technology Officer at AtmosAir Solutions – www.atmosair.com – in Fairfield, CT, an indoor air purification and monitoring technology company and a member of the American Society of Heating Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers.
