Eurovent, the European Committee of Air Handling and Refrigeration Equipment Manufacturers, has issued a document highlighting its position on the energy saving potential of efficient air filtration and duct systems.
The position paper Eurovent's Position on energy saving potentials by using efficient air filtration and leak tightness ducts (systems)states: 'Air filters are related to high consumption of energy by the fans in the ventilation systems. There is a potential saving by using the most efficient air filter, in terms of low pressure drop and efficiency according to European filter standards.

A duct system is the conveyer system of treated air from one location to defined destinations in buildings and it is important that all the air arrives at the destination point/outlet, this means leak tightness ducts.'

Based on a top-down calculation Eurovent concluded that for air filtration the energy saving potential is 3,150 GWh/year and for ducts 29,550 GWh/year so totally nearly 33,000 GWh/year. Based on 600g CO₂/kWh, the 'energy saving potential' is equal to 1,900,000 tonnes of CO₂/year.

Air filtration equipment manufacturer Camfil Farr recently became the first manufacturing company in the UK to be awarded international Energy Management Standard ISO 50001 and the Energy Reduction Verification (ERV) Kitemark.

Bill Wilkinson, Camfil managing director, has welcomed the position statement. He said: 'This new air filtration positioning document from Eurovent gives clear guidance to the EU Commission and recommends air filtration systems should be regarded as energy related products in the sense of the ERP Directive. Let's hope that the concept of short payback times and financial and energy efficiency start to be given a higher priority by those responsible for spending public money.'