Engineered Systems - November 2008 - (Page 19)

CaseInPoint prior to being tapped for the top post at Homewood. Long had recently reviewed research data on a new air ﬁltration technology that paid for itself almost immediately in direct savings as a result of reduced energy use, less-frequent ﬁlter changeouts, and other measurable metrics. The ﬁlter is trade-named the “30/30” for its 30% higher dust holding capacity and 30% greater efﬁciency. The ﬁlter is a radial pleat panel ﬁlter designed to be compatible with any ﬁlter bank used in business, schools, or health care facilities. Its manufacturer, Camﬁl Farr, was already an approved vendor for the school system. Chris Sheheane, Camﬁl Farr’s Birmingham’s branch manager, suggested a test bank be set up where an “apples to apples” comparison could be made between the new ﬁlters and those that were then in use. “I attended Homewood City Schools for six years,” says Sheheane, “and I really wanted to help my alma mater. I thought an on-site test would let us all see what was possible in terms of energy savings, ﬁlter life, and reduction in total cost to the district.” The best opportunity, according to Neil Long, was the high school. “It had,” he explains, “twin, identical, heating/cooling units on top of the gym.” The 30/30 ﬁlters were set-up for a six-month trial alongside the ﬁlters that had been in use. The test period was slated to end in June 2008. Four months into the study, however, the contrast between the original ﬁlters and the new 30/30 ﬁlter technology was so extreme that the test was halted. Performance results, which were certiﬁed by an independent lab, were impressive. Rather than generate an expense, Homewood High School had a net cash savings of $200 per ﬁlter. There are 144 ﬁlters, so the direct dollar savings were both immediate and substantial. THE SAVINGS ADD UP Additional savings would be realized from several other sources. First among those are labor costs. Since the new ﬁlters last twice as long, changeout is only half as frequent. Energy expense would also be reduced: the 30/30 ﬁlters are engineered for very low air resistance, therefore, less energy is required to move air through the ﬁlters. Disposal costs, and incidental expenses such as shipping, also contribute to cash savings. Dr. Cleveland immediately authorized Neil Long to complete the conversion to the new ﬁlters. Shortly thereafter, Homewood High School became an ECI “5-Star” school. ECI (Energy Cost Index) is a ﬁltration designation determined by a ﬁlter’s efﬁciency over its lifetime, and the energy required to move air through that ﬁlter. ECI compares ﬁlters of similar construction under the same conditions of operation and provides an indicator of true performance. An ECI of ﬁve stars is the highest rating granted. Discussions are underway regarding the changeover of other Homewood schools to the new ﬁlter technology. In addition, all schools in the Mountain Brook and Vestavia Hills are now using Camﬁl Farr air ﬁlters. The 30/30 ﬁlters have particular advantages for schools and colleges, because they can be used as a “ﬁnal ﬁlter” in areas such as classrooms, cafeterias, and gymnasiums. Schools with laboratories and health care facilities can use the 30/30 as a “preﬁlter” to extend the life of the costly HEPA and ULPA ﬁlters typically used in those environments. ES Input 221 at www.esmagazine.com/instantproductinfo ESM11084Fulton.indd 1 w w w. esmag a zine . c o m 10/15/08 2:39:25 PM 19 http://www.fulton.com http://www.esmagazine.com/instantproductinfo http://www.esmagazine.com

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Engineered Systems - November 2008 Contents Editor’s Note HVAC Challenge Back2Basics Case In Point Commissioning Building Automation HVACR Designer Tips Show Me The Motor Money The IAQ Top 10 Putting A Damper on Tragedy Special: Lighting Controls Computers & Software Products Glossary Classifieds Advertiser Index Tomorrow’s Environment

Engineered Systems - November 2008

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