Test Site: Westminster City Hall, London
![case-study](https://www.airsolutioncompany.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/case-study.jpg)
1. Overview / Methodology
It has previously been documented and is self-evident, that the installation of Cottonwood Filter Screens prevents pollen, cottonwood seed, leaves, insects, construction debris and other airborne matter from entering Air Handling Units, delivering both the building owner and the maintenance provider a range of labor- reducing and cost-saving benefits, mainly through fewer and shorter PM’s and by extending internal filter replacement intervals. Air Solution Company’s UK Distributor, ECEX and their facilities services client, Amey plc, conducted an independent controlled, field test to accurately measure maintenance and energy savings and ROI from using Cottonwood Filter Screens in a typical air handling unit application. To perform the study, Mr. Bill McConnell of BMC Energy Services Ltd was retained to set-up the testing methodology and perform the testing. Mr. McConnell’s background includes 40 years of HVAC Industry experience including 25 years with Carrier; additionally, he worked with the Energy division of Greater London Council and British Telecom – energy sector. Refer to About the Author at the end of this report for more information.When reading this study, please keep in mind that the US dollars reflected are a direct conversion from the British Pound, hence the dollars reflected are slightly higher than would be here in the US on the basis of higher energy cost in the UK ($.019 vs. $.012 National. Avg. in the US) Therefore, it is helpful to also look at the percentage variations rather than just the actual dollars to best understand the variance since the US enjoys lower overall energy rates than in the UK.
![]() Primary Pleated Filters in Rack | ![]() Filter Screens in front of Primary Filters | ![]() Cottonwood Seed Load on Filter Screens |
The test site: Westminster City Hall
The 20-story Westminster City Hall building on Victoria St, London SE1, providing 53,318 sq. ft. (16,160 sq. m) of office space including a restaurant, conference rooms & wedding reception facilities is typical of many downtown sites in both London and in major US cities in terms of both location and type of mechanical equipment used. The two AHU’s (Southwest & Northeast) were chosen for this field trial – they run 24 hours / Day, 7 days / week and supply air to each side of the building.During the two phase trial period, which ran between May 24th and Oct. 24th, a major construction project was underway on the southwest end of the building, which caused dust and construction materials to become airborne and get drawn into the Southwest AHU.
Monitoring equipment was installed for the duration of the trial on the supply fan motors (the inverters are fixed at 50Hz) on each of the AHU’s, with pre-heat, supply air temperature and outside air temperatures also being monitored 24/7. Static pressure across the filter screens were extraordinarily low below 1/10” wg.
The maintenance staff change both primary and secondary filters within their normal monthly PM Cycles.
Facility Services for the building are provided by AMEY Facilities Management who have full time on-site facility engineers.
All floors are fully air conditioned by fan coil units with fresh air provided from Air Handling Units throughout the building.
The 19th floor has recently undergone a renovation of its air handling units and replacement of air cooled chillers. The AHU’s for the North East & South West wings are housed in the 19th floor with each unit having the following components:
Primary-Filters (Pleated Type). Secondary Filters (Bag Type). Pre-Heat Coil.
Cooling Coil. Re-Heat Coil.
Supply Fan Motor, Belt Driven.
The monitoring equipment was installed on the following components of the North East and South West AHU’s:
- Supply Fan Motor Power.
- Pre-Cooling Coil Air Temperature.
- Supply Air Temperature.
On completion of the installation of the monitoring equipment, the two AHU’s were left to operate as they would normally, under the supervision of the maintenance staff. We would return to site each month to down load the monitored information and confirm that the equipment was operating normally.
Filter Status Time Line
![Filter-Status-Time-Line](https://www.airsolutioncompany.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Filter-Status-Time-Line.jpg)
Phase I Testing
The AHU’s were monitored in the first phase of testing without Cottonwood Filter Screens to establish a running baseline under normal operating conditions; the power consumed during each 24hr period was logged over 31 days beginning May 21st 2014 and ending June 20th 2014
Phase II Testing
The primary and secondary internal filters were replaced on both AHU’s then the Cottonwood Filter Screens were installed across the intake opening on both AHU’s.
The AHU’s ran 24 hours, 7 days / week under normal conditions; the power consumed during each 24hr monitored period was again logged over the 31 days beginning Sept. 24th 2014 and ending October 24th 2014.
The Cottonwood Filter Screens were periodically cleaned by the maintenance staff during Phase II – Cleaning took just a few minutes and was performed only when the visible debris load warranted removal. The Outside Air and Humidity was also monitored.
On completion of the installation of the monitoring equipment, the two AHU’s were left to operate as they would normally, under the supervision of the maintenance staff. Each month, information from the monitoring devices was downloaded for analysis and the equipment was inspected to ensure it was operating normally.
Findings / Conclusion:
The information from the monitored data was analysed from both AHU’s which provided approximately 180,000 bits of data.South West Unit
The South West AHU with the fine mesh Air Intake Screen installed (phase II) provided a 4.9% energy savings vs. the 31 Day period with no Air Intake Screen installed (phase I)
With a cost of $0.19 per kWh (£ 12. 5) and the operational parameters being the same, we saw an energy saving of
$1,270 (£820.09) per year for this AHU giving payback in 13 months on energy alone. By adding in the reduction in costly filter replacement intervals (here the Client reports that replacement has been reduced by half at a saving of
$3,067 (£1,980.00) per year, then the ROI on the installation of Cottonwood Filter Screens on the South West Unit reduces to under 4 months!
North East Unit
The North East AHU with the HD Commercial Grade Cottonwood Filter Screen installed (phase II) provided a 2.54% energy savings vs. the 31 Day period with no Air Intake Screen installed (phase I)
With a cost of $0.19 per kWh (£ 12. 5) and the operational parameters being the same as the South West unit we saw an energy saving of $611.80 (£394.97) per year for this AHU giving payback in 2.1 yrs on energy alone. By adding in the reduction in costly filter replacement intervals (here the Client reports that replacement has been reduced by half at a saving of $3,067 (£1,980.00) per year, then the ROI on the installation of Cottonwood Filter Screens on the South West Unit reduces to under 4 months!
Co2 Emission Reductions (Reducing Green House Gasses)
Commercial buildings use large amounts of energy for heating, cooling, lighting, and other functions. “Green building” techniques and retrofits can allow new and existing buildings to use less energy to accomplish the same functions, leading to lower greenhouse gas emissions. By reducing the energy used by HVAC systems, appliances, lighting etc. less fossil fuel generated electricity is required thus contributing to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. Use of Cottonwood Filter Screens in our study show an overall 7.49% reduction in Co2 emissions as a function of the reduction in kWh of operation on just these two air handling units. 4.95% reduction on SW unit and 2.54% on the NE side.
Reminder, US Dollars shown are a direct conversion of the British Pound which reflects higher energy rates in the UK than here in the US – however, it is the payback periods and the percentage variance that you should take note of as they are relevant here in North America and show how using Cottonwood Filter Screens can help improve operational efficiencies.
South West AHU – ROI / Payback & CO2 analysis
![analysis](https://www.airsolutioncompany.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/analysis1.jpg)
North East AHU – ROI / Payback & CO2 analysis
![North-East-AHU](https://www.airsolutioncompany.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/North-East-AHU.jpg)
Site Photos
![Primary Pleated Filters Southwest Zone](https://www.airsolutioncompany.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Primary-Pleated-Filters-Southwest-Zone.jpg)
Figure 1 Primary Pleated Filters Southwest Zone
![Figure 2 Primary Pleated Filters North East Zone](https://www.airsolutioncompany.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Primary-Pleated-Filters-North-East-Zone.jpg)
Figure 2 Primary Pleated Filters North East Zone
![Figure 3 Secondary Bag Filters](https://www.airsolutioncompany.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Secondary-Bag-Filters.jpg)
Figure 3 Secondary Bag Filters
![Figure 5 Supply Fan Air Intake](https://www.airsolutioncompany.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Supply-Fan-Air-Intake.jpg)
Figure 5 Supply Fan Air Intake
![Figure 6 Supply Fan Belt Driven Motor](https://www.airsolutioncompany.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Supply-Fan-Belt-Driven-Motor.jpg)
Figure 6 Supply Fan Belt Driven Motor
![Figure 7 Clean vs. Dirty Filters](https://www.airsolutioncompany.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Clean-vs.-Dirty-Filters.jpg)
Figure 7 Clean vs. Dirty Filters
![Figure 8 Dirty Cottonwood Filter Screen](https://www.airsolutioncompany.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Dirty-Cottonwood-Filter-Screen.jpg)
Figure 8 Dirty Cottonwood Filter Screen
About The Author
Bill McConnell: Energy Efficiency Consultant at BMC Energy Services Ltd.Over 40 years of HVAC Industry experience including 25 years with Carrier; additionally, worked with the Energy division of Greater London Council and British Telecom – energy sector.
With significant facility & building system experience, Mr. McConnell provides independent energy services as a LEED* (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Accredited Professional, consultant engineer working on building services systems such as Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems, Plant Controls & Lighting with the aim of providing a working building with negative environmental impact.
*(LEED Accredited Professionals have the expertise required to design a building to LEED standards and to coordinate the documentation process that is necessary for LEED certification).