Cushman & Wakefield of Texas has been a long-time AAF customer. When they wanted to improve the building efficiency of 777 Main Street — and earn a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification for the building — AAF was there to provide proven filtration solution options.
At the time, the building used MERV 8 PerfectPleat ULTRA filters. LEED Goldcertification would require an upgrade in the filtration systems.
Rising energy costs and economic fluctuations have increased the pressure on commercial buildings to cut energy costs and improve sustainability. The LEED Green Building Rating System, administered by the U.S. Green Building Council, is the nationally accepted benchmark for designing and sustaining green buildings.
LEED provides third-party verification that a building is designed and built using strategies aimed at improving performance across the metrics that matter most: energy savings, water efficiency, CO2 emissions reduction, improved indoor environmental quality, stewardship of resources and reduction of waste.
The LEED system also provides building owners and operators with a framework for identifying and implementing practical and measurable design, construction, operations and maintenance solutions. Proper air filtration strategies can contribute credits toward certification. These strategies involve increasing the efficiency of the air filtration and reducing the distribution of particulates.
AAF conducted a survey to help uncover economical solutions that would improve the current filtration system’s efficiency without making a significant impact on the budget.
MERV 13 VariCel M-Pak filters were recommended for large recirculation units inside the building. The VariCel M-Pak has a dual-density media design, allowing it to use the full filtering potential of the media. The VariCel was also designed to maximize dust holding to extend the life of the filter and minimize operating costs.
AAF’s Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) report compared the overall costs of using the VariCel M-Pak filter alone versus combining it with the PerfectPleat ULTRA filter. The most economical outcome was to install VariCel M-Pak filters without the prefilters. No costly fan modifications were required with this choice, and energy savings would be greater.
Additionally, AAF recommended MERV 14 filters, because they won’t block off airflow if they get wet.
In commercial office buildings, Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) is a primary concern. Indoor air can be up to five times higher than outdoor levels, and poor IAQ ranks as one of the top five environmental risks to public health. Air filtration systems in these facilities must handle relatively large volumes of air as well. Approximately 50% of a building’s energy consumption goes to the heating, cooling, and moving of air. Let us offer the best solutions with a full audit.
These filters are antimicrobial and designed specifically to improve Indoor Air Quality. With the same media area as the traditional 12″-deep filter in a 6″-deep design, the VariCel M-Pak delivers comparable efficiency, pressure drop, and overall performance in a much smaller package. This filter can withstand exposure to free moisture in the atmosphere, making it ideal for installation in applications where moisture is an issue.
Targeted to your HVAC total cost of ownership, TCO Diagnostic provides clear insight to find the best filtration options and tailor to your specific needs for a comprehensive clean air solution – improving air quality, energy savings, and operational flexibility while reducing your life cycle costs.
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