Switching to Clean Air Solution, Arena Cuts Energy, Labor, and Disposal Costs

Energy efficiency is a goal that knows no boundaries. It has become a priority in nearly every region, sector, and type of business -- and for good reason: Reducing energy consumption doesn’t just save natural resources but costs, no small thing in today’s economy. So when the Verizon Wireless Arena -- New England’s premiere indoor sports and entertainment venue -- set out to boost the energy efficiency of its air filtration system, the move wasn’t surprising. Switching to a more sustainable, efficient air filter was both the economically responsible and socially responsible thing to do.

For SMG, the arena’s management company, getting the air filtration system right was particularly important, as the facility intakes large amounts of outside air, and flow demands during operating hours are high. Certain events, like monster truck shows and other motocross events, mean especially high filter loading.

Normal procedure at the arena was to change its standard capacity pleated filters twice a year and its MERV 13 final filters annually. Reducing the frequency of filter changes could go a long way toward savings, since it reduces labor, disposal, and landfill costs, as well. Those savings, combined with the decreased energy consumption of a higher efficiency clean air solution, could lower HVAC expenses considerably. Yet savings weren’t the only consideration: Whatever air filtration system the arena used had to deliver top-flight indoor air quality. That was non-negotiable.

To help it hone in on the right solution, SMG turned to Camfil Farr, the world’s leading provider of clean air solutions. Camfil has been an industry leading in sustainability, championing two approaches to improving energy efficiency: designing cutting-edge, sustainable filters, and creating tools that enable businesses -- including hospitals, manufacturing companies, biotechnology firms, property managers, and educational institutions -- to better understand the long-term impact different air filtration products have, both on energy use and costs.

One of the most crucial of these tools is Camfil’s Life Cycle Cost (LCC) software. Using this technology, SMG and Camfil were able to establish a baseline total cost of ownership for the arena’s existing air filtration system. An alternative approach -- using a Hi-Flo ES MERV 13 bag filter that could operate without a prefilter -- was then modeled. LCC results indicated that a 12-month service life could be guaranteed using the Hi-Flo ES. The analysis also concluded that even as it maintained the same level of particle removal efficiency as the previous solution, the Hi-Flo ES would produce a 45 percent annual cost savings for the arena.

On-site testing confirmed the projections. Indeed, after six months of use, the Hi-Flo ES was still performing at peak efficiency -- in marked contrast to more traditional commercial air filters, which tend to quickly degrade in use. Based on that performance, Camfil Farr projected that the Hi-Flo ES would last well past the guaranteed 12 months, and likely would last up to a year and a half.

With fewer air filter change-outs required, and less power needed to provide the same level of indoor air quality, the energy savings per filter was over $30 -- or approximately $5,500 annually. Moreover, disposal and landfill costs were reduced by 75 percent. The arena was able to meet its goal for the project: lower costs without lowering quality.

Sustainability, as the Verizon Wireless Arena and other air filter users have found, can be a win-win proposition with the right products. By switching to Camfil Farr’s high-efficiency air filters, many customers have already achieved HVAC fan energy savings of between 25 and 50 percent. By using tools like Camfil’s LCC software, they are able to compare lifetime costs for various air filters, zeroing in on the products that give them the greatest savings while giving them the highest quality indoor air.

Camfil Farr customers go green without ever sacrificing performance. For more information, visit us online at http://www.camfilfarr.us, or call us toll-free at 888.599.6620.