The Role of AHU Refurbishment in Green Building Initiatives
Contents |
[edit] Background to Air Handling Units and green buildings
As the world embraces the urgent need for sustainable practices, green building initiatives have emerged as a powerful solution to reduce the environmental impact of construction and operation. One crucial aspect of green building is the refurbishment of Air Handling Units (AHUs). AHU refurbishment plays a pivotal role in aligning buildings with green certifications and achieving sustainability goals. In this article, we will explore the significance of AHU refurbishment in green building initiatives and how it contributes to improving indoor air quality and overall environmental sustainability.
[edit] AHU Refurbishment and Green Building Certifications
Green building certifications, such as LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) and BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method), have become widely recognised standards for measuring a building's environmental performance. AHU refurbishment significantly impacts a building's eligibility for these certifications in the following ways:
- Energy Efficiency: Refurbishing outdated AHUs with modern, energy-efficient models reduces energy consumption and lowers greenhouse gas emissions. This aligns with the energy performance criteria of green building certifications, which encourage the use of energy-saving technologies.
- Indoor Air Quality (IAQ): AHU refurbishment addresses IAQ concerns by eliminating dust, allergens, and other pollutants that accumulate in older systems. Improving IAQ is essential for achieving green building certifications, as it contributes to occupant health and well-being.
- Resource Conservation: AHU refurbishment promotes sustainability by extending the lifespan of existing equipment. Rather than disposing of old units, refurbishment reduces waste and conserves valuable resources, a key consideration for green certifications.
[edit] Contributions to Sustainability Goals
AHU refurbishment directly contributes to the sustainability goals of green building initiatives through the following means:
- Reduced Carbon Footprint: Upgrading AHUs to more energy-efficient models leads to reduced energy consumption. This, in turn, lowers the building's carbon footprint and helps combat climate change.
- Operational Cost Savings: Energy-efficient AHUs result in lower operational costs for the building. The savings from reduced energy consumption can be reinvested in further sustainability measures, making the building more financially sustainable as well.
- Enhanced Building Performance: Refurbished AHUs optimise heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems, leading to better temperature control and increased comfort for occupants. This can positively impact productivity and well-being, aligning with the broader sustainability goal of creating healthy environments.
- Support for Circular Economy: AHU refurbishment exemplifies the principles of the circular economy by extending the useful life of equipment and minimising waste. This shift away from a linear, "take-make-dispose" approach fosters more sustainable resource management.
[edit] Conclusion
In the pursuit of a greener and more sustainable future, green building initiatives have become integral to modern construction practices. Air Handling Unit refurbishment plays a crucial role in aligning buildings with green building certifications and sustainability goals. By enhancing energy efficiency, improving indoor air quality, and promoting resource conservation, AHU refurbishment helps create environmentally responsible buildings that benefit both occupants and the planet.
Building owners, facility managers, and construction professionals must recognise the significance of AHU refurbishment in achieving green building certifications and driving overall sustainability. Embracing AHU refurbishment as a vital component of green building initiatives is a significant step towards a more sustainable built environment for generations to come.
--Building Ventilation Solutions
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
- Air conditioning inspection.
- Alteration work.
- Chiller unit.
- Cooling systems for buildings.
- Constant air volume.
- Ductwork.
- Energy efficiency retrofit training videos.
- Face velocity.
- Green building.
- Heat load
- How to Use Your Air Conditioning Energy Assessments to Reduce Energy Costs.
- Heating ventilation and air conditioning HVAC.
- Mechanical ventilation.
- Natural ventilation.
- National Refurbishment Centre.
- Point Cloud modeling considerations for M&E in refurbishment projects.
- Remedial works.
- Renovation v refurbishment v retrofit.
- Restoration.
- Thermal comfort.
- Upgrade.
- Utilising life cycle costing and life cycle assessment.
- Variable air volume VAV.
- Variable refrigerant flow VRF.
- Ventilation.
- Air handling unit AHU.
Featured articles and news
HBPT and BEAMS Jubilees. Book review.
Does the first Labour budget deliver for the built environment?
What does the UK Budget mean for electrical contractors?
Mixed response as business pays, are there silver linings?
A brownfield housing boost for Liverpool
A 56 million investment from Homes England now approved.
Fostering a future-ready workforce through collaboration
Collaborative Futures: Competence, Capability and Capacity, published and available for download.
Considerate Constructors Scheme acquires Building A Safer Future
Acquisition defines a new era for safety in construction.
AT Awards evening 2024; the winners and finalists
Recognising professionals with outstanding achievements.
Reactions to the Autumn Budget announcement
And key elements of the quoted budget to rebuild Britain.
Chancellor of the Exchequer delivers Budget
Repairing, fixing, rebuilding, protecting and strengthening.
Expectation management in building design
Interest, management, occupant satisfaction and the performance gap.
Connecting conservation research and practice with IHBC
State of the art heritage research & practice and guidance.
Innovative Silica Safety Toolkit
Receives funding boost in memory of construction visionary.
Gentle density and the current context of planning changes
How should designers deliver it now as it appears in NPPF.
Sustainable Futures. Redefining Retrofit for Net Zero Living
More speakers confirmed for BSRIA Briefing 2024.
Making the most of urban land: Brownfield Passports
Policy paper in brief with industry responses welcomed.
The boundaries and networks of the Magonsæte.