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Bi-Polar Ionization as an Energy Saving Strategy

Today’s rising energy costs are causing building engineers and property managers to take a long look at strategies to achieve energy savings. US electrical rates have risen sharply in the past few years, in 2000 the avg. cost was 6.81¢ per kWh. This has risen to 9.18¢ in 2007. The biggest consumer of energy in a commercial building is the building HVAC system. To further add to the situation, modern building design and construction is to build tighter envelopes to keep out hot and cold outside air to lower energy costs. The result has been buildings in which air quality has been degraded because of the build up of contaminants produced by the activities within the building and no natural ventilation to dilute or replace with new air. This has prompted groups like ASHRAE (American Society of Heating Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers) to develop guidelines on minimum amounts of outdoor air that must be mechanically introduced into a building. The problem is that unconditioned outdoor air must be heated or cooled before being introduced into a building in order to maintain comfort. This conditioning can be quite costly. The USEPA and USDOE have determined that adding 10 cfm (cubic feet per minute) per person of outdoor air in a moderately occupied building (10 people per square foot) could result in a 5 to 7% increase in the building’s total energy bill.

Even when faced with these energy costs the majority of buildings are over ventilated with respect to the ASHRAE guideline of 20 cfm of outdoor air per person. The reason is to combat stale odorous air that can result from the build up of contaminants and no natural ventilation. They are literally pouring thousands of dollars out of an exhaust vent.

The answer it to purify the air within the building. By purifying air and stripping it of contaminants, the building’s system can recycle the conditioned air, which is much less costly to condition to comfort levels. The question then is how to go about purifying the air.

Filtration is the most widely used method of air purification. However, filtration does have its limitations. Filters can catch and grab only particles. Particles are but one factor that can degrade air quality. VOC’s (Volatile Organic Compounds) are another significant factor. VOC’s are chemical off gasses commonly produced by the furnishing and activities within the space.

Examples are: carpeting, finishes on office furniture, paints, pesticides, cleaning products, office equipment and also outdoor air introduction which may bring in chemical elements. VOC’s are the main culprit in a condition called Sick Building Syndrome in which occupants of a building experience poor health while in the building and feel relief when they leave.

Also by enhancing filtration energy costs will rise. More efficient filters are denser and make air harder to pass through them. Since it will take more power to squeeze the air through the filter, the HVAC system works harder to condition the space and is more costly to operate.

The answer is bi-polar ionization (BPI) . BPI works by decaying particles and breaking down the chemical structure of VOC’s. It is not then necessary to dilute the space with additional amounts of outdoor air to accomplish VOC control. It is also not necessary to strain the air through airflow restrictive filters. Because you can now accomplish air purification, without a cost penalty the building will achieve purified air and can recycle a larger portion of the total air volume. By not having to condition outdoor air significant energy savings are achieved.

For more details on this topic, see or download our whitepapers on cost savings strategies via BPI at:
SIEMENS Ionization-Energy Savings Case Study.pdf
Cost Saving Applications for Bi-Polar Ionization.pdf