Building Ventilation System Energy Conservation by Adopting Energy-Efficient Air Filtration Technology Combined with Antimicrobial Air Filter

Global energy consumption and carbon emissions are heavily influenced by the building sector, particularly due to the substantial energy demands of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. Many of these systems also rely on energy-intensive ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) for air disinfection, a practice that has become more widespread since the COVID-19 pandemic. This study examines an alternative solution: replacing conventional filters and UVGI with energy-efficient air filtration system combined with antimicrobial air filters to enhance sustainability. Testing conducted on a commercial building's air handling unit (AHU), following an internationally recognized measurement protocol, revealed an average 57.77 % reduction in total power consumption while maintaining airflow, alongside a 93.3% improvement in airborne bacteria reduction. For that single AHU, this equates to annual energy savings of 27,500 kWh and a reduction of 10.7 tonnes in carbon emissions. Scaling these results globally suggests a potential annual carbon reduction of 0.299-0.432 gigatonnes through widespread adoption of this retrofit strategy. The findings highlight the considerable energy efficiency and environmental benefits of implementing energyefficient air filtration technology combined with antimicrobial air filters in ventilation systems.