Air handling units (AHUs) can contribute to energy efficiency in buildings in several ways.
Here are some of the ways AHUs can improve energy efficiency:
Heat recovery: AHUs can be equipped with heat recovery systems that recover heat from the exhaust air and use it to preheat the incoming fresh air. This reduces the amount of energy needed to heat the air, leading to significant energy savings.
Variable speed drives: AHUs can be equipped with variable speed drives (VSDs) that allow the fan motor to operate at different speeds depending on the demand for air. This reduces energy consumption by ensuring that the fan motor is not running at full speed when it is not needed.
High-efficiency filters: AHUs can be equipped with high-efficiency filters that remove contaminants and particles from the air, improving indoor air quality and reducing the need for frequent filter changes.
Demand-controlled ventilation: AHUs can be equipped with sensors that detect occupancy levels and adjust the amount of fresh air intake accordingly. This reduces the amount of energy needed to condition the air by ensuring that fresh air is only brought in when it is needed.
Energy recovery ventilation: AHUs can be equipped with energy recovery ventilation systems that use the outgoing air to preheat or precool the incoming air. This reduces the amount of energy needed to condition the air, leading to significant energy savings.
Overall, AHUs can contribute to energy efficiency in buildings by reducing the amount of energy needed to heat, cool, and circulate air. air handling unit price By implementing energy-efficient features such as heat recovery, VSDs, high-efficiency filters, demand-controlled ventilation, and energy recovery ventilation, AHUs can significantly reduce energy consumption and lower operating costs.
How can building owners or managers determine if their AHUs are operating efficiently?
Building owners or managers can determine if their air handling units (AHUs) are operating efficiently by performing regular maintenance, monitoring performance, and conducting periodic energy audits.
Here are some specific steps they can take:
Regular maintenance: Building owners or managers should schedule regular maintenance for their AHUs to ensure that they are operating at peak efficiency. This can include cleaning or replacing filters, checking fan belts and bearings, and inspecting the heating and cooling coils.
Monitoring performance: Building owners or managers should monitor the performance of their AHUs by measuring air flow rates, temperature and humidity levels, and energy consumption. This can be done using data loggers or other monitoring devices.
Energy audits: Building owners or managers can conduct periodic energy audits to identify areas where energy efficiency can be improved. Energy audits can help to identify opportunities for reducing energy consumption, such as upgrading to more efficient equipment, implementing energy-saving controls, or optimizing HVAC system operation.
Benchmarking: Building owners or managers can also benchmark their AHU performance against industry standards or other similar buildings to identify areas where improvements can be made.
Commissioning: Building owners or managers can consider commissioning their AHUs to ensure that they are operating as intended and to identify any issues that may be affecting performance.
By taking these steps, building owners or managers can ensure that their AHUs are operating efficiently, which can result in lower energy costs, improved indoor air quality, and a more comfortable and healthy indoor environment.
