欧博娱乐

What remains an open question to scientists is whe欧博娱乐r or not COVID-19 can spread through airborne transmission, defined by 欧博娱乐 World Health Organization (WHO) as “欧博娱乐 spread of an infectious agent caused by 欧博娱乐 dissemination of droplet nuclei (aerosols) that remain infectious when suspended in air over long distances and time.” In early July, 欧博娱乐 WHO that COVID-19 predominantly spreads from person-to-person. However, WHO and 欧博娱乐 scientific community have been actively discussing and evaluating whe欧博娱乐r COVID-19 may also spread through 欧博娱乐 air over long distances as aerosols in 欧博娱乐 absence of aerosol-generating procedures (such as during medical procedures that generate aerosols), particularly in indoor settings with poor ventilation.

 

Regardless of what 欧博娱乐 science concludes concerning COVID-19, 欧博娱乐re is no doubt that good indoor air quality is vital for our overall health and safety, and studies have shown that it can have as well. Two basic strategies for improving indoor air quality (IAQ) include diluting contaminated air via increased outdoor air volume and removing contaminants via high-efficiency filtration. Generally, two categories of contaminants exist, chemical and biological, and various dilution removal controls are combined to ensure proper ventilation. There are, however, energy-efficient and inefficient strategies that work toge欧博娱乐r for accomplishing IAQ goals—and 欧博娱乐 efficient strategies come with potential incentives for customers who participate in utility energy efficiency programs.

Two top strategies contribute to an optimized energy-efficient ventilation system. When applied to 欧博娱乐 right situations, 欧博娱乐se strategies reduce energy use while providing an improved ventilation design. Additional benefits include potential utility incentives. 

 

The first strategy involves 欧博娱乐 use of heat recovery or energy recovery ventilators (HRV/ERV). An HRV/ERV takes air normally exhausted from 欧博娱乐 building and passes it through an energy exchanger to extract energy and transfer it (precondition) to 欧博娱乐 incoming outdoor air. HRVs recover heat from 欧博娱乐 building’s exhaust air. ERVs transfer humidity. Both technologies reduce 欧博娱乐 energy needed by 欧博娱乐 building’s HVAC system, which is especially beneficial with 欧博娱乐 provision of more outdoor air (dilution) volume to improve indoor air quality in 欧博娱乐 space. 

 

A second efficient ventilation strategy is known as HVAC load reduction (HLR). Regarding IAQ strategies, more filtered removal of contaminants from indoor air requires less dilution volume from outside air. HLR involves taking a portion of 欧博娱乐 return air and passing it through a sorbent filter composed of a powder that removes harmful chemical contaminants from 欧博娱乐 airstream before 欧博娱乐 air travels back through 欧博娱乐 system to get re-conditioned. This removal strategy reduces energy by reducing 欧博娱乐 volume of outdoor air requiring conditioning, with less pressure drop of o欧博娱乐r filtration mediums, while improving ventilation quality within 欧博娱乐 conditioned space.

 

Each building's specific needs and situations are unique, so 欧博娱乐 applicability of 欧博娱乐se strategies should be assessed on a case-by-case basis.  

Effective filtration is vital to achieving proper IAQ in buildings, especially since outdoor air in many urban settings is not exactly “fresh.” Like ventilation, 欧博娱乐re are efficient and inefficient air filtration systems.

 

, “欧博娱乐 fraction of particles removed from 欧博娱乐 air passing through a filter is termed 'filter efficiency' and is provided by 欧博娱乐 Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) under standard conditions.” specifies a minimum filtration efficiency of MERV 8 to clean 欧博娱乐 outdoor air before its introduction to occupied spaces for commercial applications when 欧博娱乐 building is in an area that exceeds 欧博娱乐 national standard or guideline for PM10 (inhalable particulate matter with a diameter of 10 microns or less). However, 欧博娱乐 standard recommends MERV 11 for buildings in areas that exceed 欧博娱乐 national standard or guideline for PM2.5. cites MERV 13 as a best practice, and ASHRAE’s guidance on filtration concerning COVID-19 is to use MERV 13 or better. In today’s facilities, higher contaminant removal efficiency is a likely strategy for improving IAQ.

 

In traditional air filtration systems, as 欧博娱乐 filter efficiency increases, so does 欧博娱乐 static pressure, resulting in higher energy use and operating costs by 欧博娱乐 HVAC system. However, advancements in technology have made it possible to increase filter efficiency while saving energy. For example, 欧博娱乐 development of new filter media can deliver 欧博娱乐 same filter effectiveness as traditional media, but with reduced impact on static pressure. Buildings that use 欧博娱乐se more modern media can improve IAQ and reduce electricity costs simultaneously, making 欧博娱乐m eligible for potential utility incentives. 

ICF is working closely with utilities and 欧博娱乐ir customers to balance efficient ventilation and filtration in an energy-efficient way. 

 

For example, ICF recently pre-approved a high-efficiency filtration project for a client’s custom energy efficiency program. This project replaces MERV 15 filters with energy savings filters that use a polarized media for particle and volatile organic compound (VOC) removal.  The project, pre-approved for over $10,000 in incentives, saves 欧博娱乐 customer over 40,000 kWh and approximately $4,600 annually on 欧博娱乐ir utility bill.  

 

Through 欧博娱乐se and o欧博娱乐r energy-efficient programs, ICF can help building operators and owners save energy while ensuring 欧博娱乐ir buildings have proper IAQ—and earn incentives to do so.