Our odorless vapor can automatically flow through all components of a commercial buildings air distribution system, inactivating bio-film forming bacteria from all the cooling coils and all the inaccessible areas 24/7.

What Are the Alternatives?

 

High-efficiency particulate Air Filtration

(HEPA)

High-efficiency particulate HEPA filtration can be used to filter particles down to only 0.3 microns, however infectious microorganisms can be less than 0.001 micron in size. Because hospital codes call for high efficiency filters to be located downstream of the cooling coils, they become damp & collect contaminates.

Mold spores are large enough to be caught in HEPA filters, but can stay alive on the filter surface. Other particles can accumulate in the filter & start acting as nutrients & allow mold spores to potentially grow on & through the filter membrane & eventually release new spores into the air. So frequent replacement of HEPA filters is critical since pathogens collected on the filter & are re-released into the air distribution system of a building.

Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation Disinfection

(UVGI)

UVGI application can be limited & has the following deficiencies;

  • Effective in limited applications, must have direct contact, distance effects the UV level, light travels only by line of sight

  • Efficacy can be species dependent & has reduced effect on more-resistant bacteria (MRSA) & fungi spores (Am J Infect Control 2010)

  • Efficacy can be significantly reduced >75% humidity - humidity tends to be high in air distribution systems (Am J Infect Control 2010)

  • Efficacy is highly reliant on airflow, air mixing with microbes & has limited effect on infectious spores (Am J Infect Control 2010)

  • UVGI units are located away from occupants, warm air rests high, UVGI has limited effect on the colder air below (Am J Infect Control 2010)

  • UV irradiation classified as a probable human carcinogen, effects eyes & skin & requires special care

  • Reduced effect in Operating Rooms (OR) & ACH rooms, where air changes well above 4-6 ACH

  • UVGI marketing claims on prevention of Hospital Associated Infection (Am J Infect Control 2010

Another potential health effect of UVGI on humans is the form of erythema on shin of painful photokeratitis of eyes. There UVGI lights are kept in deep louver enclosures to prevent overexposure at eye level or excessive reflection from ceilings, but those cases can absorb amounts of the useful UV energy, making it less efficient (Am J Infect Control 2010)

How Green Pure Air can be more energy efficient

Case studies report a commercial buildings HVAC system, can be the largest user of energy (up to 60%). Bio-film buildup on HVAC coils can increase energy consumption by up to 30%, which further increases maintenance costs while reducing the life expectancy of all related components.  

Cooling coils are located within commercial buildings air handlers and tight to access areas like air ducts. Microscopic layer of particulate can reduce the coil surface area and and lead to other system inefficiencies such as:

  • Increasing the static pressure and reducing the airflow velocity leading to increased energy consumption by the fans

  • Decreasing the heat transfer rate

  • Forcing compressors to run longer and work harder than required, increasing energy consumption up to 30% (according to US DOE)

  • Degrading air quality through the spread of mold toxins and biological contaminates.

A coil fouled with biological contaminates reduces the supply of proper heat transfer & results in greater energy consumption. Equipment operating with dirty coils can use up to 30% more energy than those with clean coils.

There are many acid and alkaline based cleaners available to clean coils. These chemicals clean by creating a chemical reaction between the cleaner & the coil surface. This can damage the coils by causing metal loss over time & carry with them an inherent danger to personnel & equipment. The remains of these chemicals can be distributed to the occupants of the building. Once cleaned, the cooling coils can again contaminate within over a certain period of time