We've been busy!
We’ve just ended a summer of record setting temperatures and persistent wildfires, challenging HVAC energy loads and raising pressing concerns about the climate resilience of buildings when outside air is unsafe. The lessons that we can draw from this summer of extremes is that building owners and managers can not rely on past methods to safely and cost-effectively ventilate their indoor spaces. Cost savings are critically important across the industry, but the need to save on energy and decarbonize our buildings is clearly a pressing priority. These efforts can go hand in and hand, and the good news is the past few months have seen positive developments coming from ASHRAE,?our partners, and from enVerid in several key areas. ?
First,?this month we?launched the?HLR 100C, a new form factor of our award-winning HLR module that allows standard rooftop curbs to be integrated with Sorbent Ventilation Technology?. We are excited to expand the SVT solution set, broadening the applications for our technology. We now have a cost-effective solution for the light commercial market utilizing packaged RTUs. For new construction or equipment replacement retrofits, SVT??is more accessible than ever! Here's the press release, and you can?read the launch coverage in CCN, ACHR News, and Facility Dive on our News page.
Second, last month the USGBC announced a new LEED pilot credit that aligns with the updated IAQ Procedure and makes SVT?eligible to help projects earn up to 9 points.?Check out our new LEED brochure?and?read more about it on our blog.
Third, in June?ASHRAE introduced Standard 241 for Control of Infectious Aerosol?after a massively compressed, rigorous 6-month development process (at the behest of the White House).?This new standard, which is written to be code enforceable, incorporates many important lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic and provides a clear pathway to future-proof buildings for the next pandemic while using the IAQP to achieve energy efficiency, decarbonization, and cost saving goals.?Our own Anurag Goel and Joseph Maser co-authored an article with ASHRAE Distinguished Lecturer Dr. Marwa Zaatari?for the peer-reviewed ASHRAE Journal about complying with the standard while saving energy. Read "Why Equivalent Clean Airflow Doesn't Have to be Expensive"?here.
And finally, the confluence of the industry's - and our planet’s - new realities have also prompted a fresh examination of our own mission, which we have updated to better reflect our priorities. Our new mission is?to reduce the?carbon emissions?and?cost?of heating, ventilating, and air?conditioning buildings while ensuring?healthy indoor environments. We are in the business of enabling decarbonization to help address climate change,?saving our customers money,?and protecting?indoor air?quality.
Thanks for joining us on this journey. We look forward to keeping you posted on more exciting developments.
Christian Weeks CEO, enVerid Systems
P.S. Please follow enVerid Systems on LinkedIn for our latest news as it happens.
New Product: HLR 100C
We have expanded our offerings with a new product, the curb-integrated HLR 100C! ?We are excited to be bringing a cost effective solution for the packaged RTU market. This is a segment that was difficult to cost effectively serve as standard packaged units aren’t customizable to directly integrate SVT inside the unit. Instead, the?HLR 100C is integrated directly inside standard RTU curbs. By including the HLR 100C in RTU selections for new or replacement systems, RTUs can be downsized, saving money, energy, and carbon emissions. And best of all, the 100C is super easy to install without additional ducting. You can find?more information?and?the spec sheet?on our website and you can read the blog post below to learn more.?
From the Blog
Energy Smart Compliance with ASHRAE Standard 241 for Control of Infectious Aerosol
Published 09/26/2023? By Joseph Maser
In May of this year the?Centers for Disease Control and Prevention?(CDC) updated their?ventilation guidance?for pandemics. Then, in June?ASHRAE?published?Standard 241, its new code-enforceable standard for Control of Infectious Aerosols. While the CDC recommends at least 5 air changes per hour (ACH) of clean air and ASHRAE recommends a minimum Equivalent Clean Airflow rate for infection (ECAi) per person, what is notable about both documents is that they reflect a marked shift in emphasis from prior guidance, which recommended more?outside air,?to new guidance focused on minimum amounts of?clean air. Both the CDC and ASHRAE now also clearly state that clean air targets can be achieved through combinations of outside air, filtration, and air cleaning technologies interchangeably and in combination.? ?
Whether you plan to follow CDC guidance or ASHRAE’s new standard, the question you should be asking is, “What is the most energy-efficient and cost-effective way to achieve clean air targets?”? ?
An?article?in the September issue of the ASHRAE Journal answers just this question. The article, which is called “Why Equivalent Clean Airflow Doesn’t Have to be Expensive”, discusses the cost and energy/carbon implications of different ventilation strategies to comply with Standard 241 and the latest CDC guidance. The findings are based on?detailed energy model simulations?that look at the energy and carbon impacts of outdoor air ventilation vs. hybrid strategies that combine outdoor air ventilation with air cleaning to meet Standard 241 ECAi and CDC ACH targets.??
The key takeaway is that, in many climate zones, the lowest cost, most energy-efficient way to comply with Standard 241 and CDC guidance is to use the IAQ Procedure (IAQP) in Standard 62.1 for pre-requisite minimum ventilation rates and then add MERV 13 filters to control particles and pathogens and gas-phase air cleaning like Sorbent Ventilation Technology??(SVT?) to control gaseous contaminants...? Read more on our blog
New LEED Pilot Credit Offers 2-3 Points for Designing a More Efficient Ventilation System using ASHRAE’s IAQ Procedure
Published 08/22/2023? By Ryan Peters
Building owners and operators?are always?looking for opportunities to save?money?on new HVAC systems, improve?energy?efficiency,?and?maintain?indoor?air quality?(IAQ).?Many owners and operators also?look?for ways?to earn?additional?points?under the?U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC)?Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design?(LEED) certification program. With the new?LEED pilot credit EQpc165, all these goals are now possible by simply applying the latest version of ASHRAE’s Indoor Air Quality Procedure (IAQP). ??
To achieve LEED certification, a project earns points by adhering to prerequisites and credits that address carbon, energy, water, waste, transportation, materials, health and indoor environmental quality. Projects go through a verification and review process by?Green Business Certification, Inc.?(GBCI) and are awarded points that correspond to a level of LEED certification: Certified (40-49 points), Silver (50-59 points), Gold (60-79 points) and Platinum (80+ points).? ?
The process of attaining LEED certification can be long and costly, and owners and developers are always looking for a shorter and less costly path to certification. The newest LEED Pilot Credit offers just such a path.??
In July 2023?the USGBC published a?new pilot alternative compliance path (ACP)?that allows project teams to use the updated ASHRAE Standard 62.1 IAQP to earn up to 3 points for LEED v4 and v4.1 BD+C projects. This new ACP is the result of extensive ongoing work by the USGBC over 10 years to establish a viable path for designers to use the IAQP on LEED projects. Lessons learned from two previous pilot credit iterations (EQ pilot credit 68 and EQ pilot credit 124) have helped shape the new pilot ACP...? Read more on our blog
Light Commercial Buildings Can Save on HVAC and Energy Costs
Published 06/26/2023? By Alex Goodwin
enVerid Systems is excited to announce the launch of the HLR 100C, a new sorbent filtration module that fits inside standard roof curbs and works with any rooftop unit (RTU). The HLR 100C is the latest addition to our family of HVAC Load Reduction??(HLR?) air cleaning systems that use Sorbent Ventilation Technology??(SVT?) to capture pollutants from indoor air so that outside air ventilation requirements can be reduced without compromising indoor air quality. By reducing outside air requirements, buildings can save on HVAC equipment and operating costs by using smaller, more energy efficient systems.??
Designed for the packaged RTU market, the HLR 100C offers fast payback periods for a wide array of commercial buildings including schools, offices, restaurants and retail stores. The HLR 100C comes in three different sizes that can pair with any commercially available RTU. Due to the compact size of the module, local curb manufacturers can easily integrate the module into standard RTU curbs. This simple integration drastically reduces installation costs, making low-tonnage RTUs with SVT more cost effective than traditional RTUs.? ?
How SVT Works?
SVT is a patented technology that uses sorbents, which are materials that chemically bind with gaseous pollutants in the air, to remove ozone and a wide range of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) including formaldehyde from indoor air. By doing so, SVT makes it safe to recirculate more indoor air. Use of SVT is fully compliant with ASHRAE Standard 62.1 – Ventilation and Acceptable Indoor Air Quality and the International Mechanical Code (IMC). SVT can also be used to earn additional LEED and WELL credits.?? ?
How the HLR 100C Works?
The HLR 100C works in a side-stream configuration with the curb’s return section: its integral fan diverts a portion of the building’s return air through the SVT filtration section and then returns the cleaned air for conditioning by the RTU. The SVT filters are designed to last two years and can be easily replaced through access doors on the curb once they reach their saturation point.? The HLR 100C was designed specifically to minimize integration costs: in-field installation can be as easy as plugging the module into the RTU’s courtesy outlet. Each module takes a standard 120V power supply and requires very little power: between 190 and 350 W depending on size. Additionally, the module can be turned on and off?automatically, in sync with the RTU, by utilizing the pressure sensor or controlled directly through the dry contact – both provided in the electronics box. Finally, the system includes a speed controller, so balancing the unit is as easy as turning a knob... Read more on our blog
Lessons from NASA and the Navy: How to design buildings to protect us from polluted outside air and emit less carbon
Published 06/07/2023? By Christian Weeks
Over the past few years, I have read a growing number of headlines about wildfires and their impacts on the air we breathe. Yesterday, the headlines about hazardous air quality in the Northeast due to the fires in Canada hit much closer to home when my daughter’s lacrosse practice was cancelled due to poor outdoor air quality. This was a first for many of us living in metro-Boston, and the direct (albeit small) impact on our daily lives was a good reminder of why our work at enVerid Systems?is so important.??
Our mission at enVerid is to reduce the cost and carbon emissions of heating, ventilating, and air conditioning commercial buildings. We also want to make the places in which we learn and work more resilient to polluted outside air, which unfortunately is an issue in many cities regardless of wildfires.???
Building ventilation is the second largest energy use in commercial buildings in the U.S.?The reason we ventilate buildings is “…to provide indoor air quality that is acceptable to humans and minimizes adverse health effects” (ASHRAE Standard 62.1, Ventilation & Acceptable Indoor Air Quality). What indoor pollutants are we worried about? Particles from industrial pollution and wildfires and gases like ozone that enter buildings from the outside as well as gases generated indoors like formaldehyde that come from paints, glues, furniture, cleaning supplies, and other things inside buildings.???
While particles from industrial pollution and wildfires can be controlled with particle filters (think the MERV filters at home or in your office building),?most buildings rely on outside air ventilation to dilute the indoor generated gaseous contaminants like formaldehyde. In fact, under most building codes today a typical office building replaces the full volume of indoor air with outside air ~20 times a day to ensure that indoor generated gaseous contaminants don’t reach unhealthy levels.??
The problem with this “dilution ventilation” approach is multifold.?First, it requires larger and more expensive HVAC systems to move and condition more outside air ventilation. This is especially true in climates with hot and humid summers and/or cold winters. Second, these larger HVAC systems use more energy to condition all this outside air, and more energy use means higher operating costs and more carbon emissions from our buildings, which accelerates climate change. There is also the question of what to do when the outside air is polluted. Using polluted outside air to “clean” indoor air doesn’t make a lot of sense and should be a consideration year-round, not just during “wildfire season”.... Read more on our blog
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Awards
IAQ Category Winner – Daikin Applied Vision Air Handler with Sorbent Ventilation Technology
The Daikin Applied Americas Vision air handler with Sorbent Ventilation Technology?(SVT) from enVerid is a total-air-quality system that combines the benefits of sorbent media with a class-leading, semi-custom air handler. Vision with SVT provides IAQ design flexibility that creates heathier and more sustainable indoor spaces. Sorbent filtration removes volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and carbon dioxide (CO2) while allowing oxygen and water to pass through freely. Right-size building ventilation, energy costs and equipment by applying SVT with the ASHRAE Standard 62.1 IAQ Procedure (IAQP). ?Learn more
Wellness and Sustainability Category Winner – Daikin Vision Air Handler with Sorbent Ventilation Technology
The FacilitiesNet Vision Awards honor innovation and excellence in products contributing to the efficient, profitable operations and management of institutional and commercial buildings in the United States. The 5th annual Vision Awards recognized Daikin Applied Americas Vision Air Handler with enVerid Sorbent Ventilation Technology?. Learn more
In the Media
Several industry publications covered our?launch of the new enVerid HLR 100C module for packaged rooftop units.
Read?our HLR 100C launch press release here?and read coverage in?CCN,?the News,?Facilities Dive?and FacilitiesNet.
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Energy Technology Revolution’s latest piece, titled “Lessons Learned From Smoke Season 2023 About Protecting Indoor Air Quality” asks the question: How do you keep indoor air fresh when the outdoor air is polluted? Here’s one way author Jay Stein answers:
Once high MERV filtration is in place, building operators in places with high levels of ozone pollution may want to take the next step, and clean their indoor air without bringing in much outdoor air. The technology that makes this strategy possible is known as sorbent filtration. Sorbents are materials that gas molecules naturally adhere to on contact, and can be incorporated into filters formulated to absorb carbon dioxide, formaldehyde, and ozone. When sorbent filters are saturated, such that they can no longer absorb any more gas molecules, they are regenerated by forcing hot air through them. The absorbed gas molecules are then released from the sorbent filters and expelled outdoors.
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The News featured enVerid CEO Christian Weeks in a story about addressing the poor indoor air quality caused by wildfire smoke. Here’s an excerpt:
“Commercial building managers should also consider reducing outside air ventilation to bring in less polluted outside air,” said Weeks. “We recommend sorbent filters for gaseous contaminants that are generated indoors — VOCs from paints, furniture, cleaning supplies, etc. — to ensure these contaminants do not reach unhealthy levels when they are not diluted with outside air ventilation.”
Another key IAQ consideration in such circumstances is to reduce reliance on outside air ventilation to maintain good IAQ through dilution ventilation and instead control indoor generated gaseous contaminants directly using sorbent media-based filtration technologies on recirculated indoor air.
According to Weeks, this can be done using ASHRAE’s IAQ Procedure (IAQP) in Standard 62.1, which may be used to permanently set a lower outside air requirement when accounting for the air-cleaning efficiency of a technology like enVerid’s Sorbent Ventilation Technology.
“This approach is in line with the recommendations of the ASHRAE 62.1-2019 user’s manual, which says, ‘If outdoor air is deemed to be unacceptable for general ventilation, consider using air cleaning and the IAQP in lieu of the VRP [ventilation rate procedure] for the ventilation system design,’” said Weeks. “In addition to making buildings more resilient to polluted outside air, this approach has the added benefit of permanently saving energy associated with conditioning outside air without compromising indoor air quality.”
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Recent Events
We've been hitting the road recently, enjoying a mix of education and recreation with our reps and their clients! Here are images of some recent events.?
enVerid, Havtech , Oxygen8 , Daikin Applied Americas , and Engenium Group co-hosted this event in Washington, DC featuring 4 hours of PDH class time, tours, and rooftop networking. ?
Earlier this summer, enVerid CEO Christian Weeks toured Engenium Group's new headquarters in Washington, DC. This cutting-edge MEP firm has set up a best-in-class HVAC system for their office and labeled the key parts to show air flow through the system, making it ideal for a tour. ?
Want to learn more about the project??Watch Christian's Ask the Experts interview with Founder and President Brandon Harwick on our blog.
Upcoming Events
As always,?learn about all upcoming events and?news?on our website at?https://enverid.com/about/news-awards-events/
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November 6-8: NAESCO R3 Conference — Booth 501, New Orleans, LA
October 25-27: Decarbonization Conference for the Built Environment,?Washington, DC
This event is co-organized by The American Institute of Architects (AIA) , APPA, ASHRAE , BOMA, and IFMA .
Don't miss this session! Friday, October 27 from 10:30am-Noon — Decarbonization Driver: A New Hybrid Ventilation Method to Achieve High IAQ, Low Energy, Climate Resilient Buildings
Learn more about the session and the conference here.