Indoor air quality specialist, ECEX, is warning businesses of the detrimental effects of pollen on HVAC units, including Air Handling Units (AHUs), chillers and cooling towers - threatening general system efficiency and essential cooling for equipment such as data centres.
The problem is at its peak this time of year as tree and grass pollen culminate in a literal ‘explosion' during the summer months.
In a bid to tackle the issue head-on, the firm is encouraging organisations to look at installing ECEX Air Intake Screens; a simple technology which has been proven in independent field trials to not only prevent filters from clogging; but also reduce energy consumption, CO2 emissions and maintenance, with very rapid payback.
During a recent install at Westminster City Hall, London, the screens were fitted to two AHUs, with one unit alone clocking-up the following impressive results: energy saving - 4.9 per cent reduction in power consumed; and CO2 emissions - savings of 296.33kg, the two trial AHUs clocked up savings of 438Kg (equivalent of taking a car off the road for a year).
Maintenance reduction - filters need replacing less often, further reducing costs and potentially pushing the ROI of ECEX Air Intake Screen installation to less than four months.
Commenting on the project, Amey's site M&E Manager who helped co-ordinate the installation in London, explained: "Following the installation of the Air Intake Screens [at Westminster City Hall], we will achieve CO2 emission savings from just these two AHU's of over 5,000Kg per annum, equivalent to taking one car off the road for a whole year."
John Grenville, managing director at ECEX, commented: "Pollen, leaves, insects and general airborne debris can have a dramatic, negative effect, pushing up energy usage and a building's carbon footprint.
"ECEX Air Intake Screens offer facilities managers the opportunity to cut costs, reduce maintenance - and increase the life of internal filters by up to 60 per cent."
