Description

A building’s HVAC airside system is like the human circulatory system. It has the important function to ensure comfort, create indoor air quality (IAQ) through ventilation, filtration, and extraction, and it protects the building and objects within.  

Many airside ECMs can potentially have a negative impact on IAQ, such as DCV, VFD on fans, sealing ducts or sealing the building, and alternate air cleaning technologies. Negating the importance of tracking airflow can result in poor IAQ, comfort issues, damage to the building, or unintended wasted energy.

Ventilation cost can range from $0.60 - $3.00 per cfm per year dependent on building climate zone location.  Excessive moisture can increase air conditioning kW, impact comfort, and result in mold growth. Airflow measurement and tracking can be integrated for less than $1 per sqft.  

Recent events such as COVID-19 and wildfires are disruptive and put occupants at risk. The HVAC airside system is a direct connection to these events and airflow measurement technologies can assist the owner to respond.

There is an opportunity to couple building resiliency improvements with energy improvements. There are financial benefits for the owner by enhancing ventilation that far outweigh the energy savings by reducing ventilation. Some estimates place it at $1400-$7500 per employee.  

Presenter:

Darryl DeAngelis, Director of Business Development, EBTRON, Inc.

Learning Objectives:

1. The relationship between airside ECMs and IAQ

2. How airflow measurement limits unintentional energy waste

3. Using airflow measurement to trend and validate performance

4. Consideration for future building readiness for Pandemic, Wildfires, etc.

NAESCO has submitted this webinar to the AIA for 1 CEU approval. 

NOTE: Beginning in 2023, all NAESCO webinars will be offered to all attendees at no cost. Recordings and slides will be available to members only, after the webinar.