Using Enhanced Air Cleaning to Integrate IAQ and Energy Conservation

It is a fact nowadays that urban air pollution in many locations has reached and maintains unacceptable levels. Because of this the use of enhanced air filtration in HVAC design specifications is no longer a luxury but a necessity. The time when code minimum filtration could be used is quickly disappearing and multistage air filtration systems are now required to protect the health, wellbeing, and productivity of the building occupants. Transforming investments in enhanced air filtration into capital equipment and ongoing energy savings can be realized when using the IAQ Procedure (IAQP) of ASHRAE Standard 62.1. With notable trends toward high-rise commercial and residential buildings, employing the IAQP as a design basic for HVAC systems can easily achieve the dual benefits of achieving energy savings by reducing the amount of outdoor ventilation air and achieving significantly improved indoor air quality by direct control of pollutants. The use of the IAQP can also be used in buildings seeking LEED or similar certifications by qualifying for credits under IAQ, energy conservation, design innovation, and other categories. This paper will discuss the IAQP and provide examples of the application of enhanced filtration as a replacement for ventilation air in locations with significant ambient air pollution and the resulting energy savings. (c) 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.