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The ‘ efficiency first ’ imperative
In recent years , there has been a growing consensus among commercial building owners , engineers , and sustainability leaders that an ‘ efficiency first ’ mindset is the necessary starting point for decarbonization . This approach prioritizes energy efficiency measures before deploying other decarbonization strategies like renewable energy and building electrification .
When addressing critical spaces such as a lab or cleanroom , optimizing airflow first provides significant savings on future projects by reducing the building ’ s baseload energy requirement while delivering a quick return on investment ( ROI ). Unlike renewable energy installations , which require significant upfront capital , or emerging technologies like hydrogen fuel , which are still evolving , energy efficiency projects like airflow optimization can provide rapid paybacks that help finance other decarbonization efforts . In fact , in some cases airflow efficiency as an efficiency first method can deliver five dollars in follow-up electrification costs for every one dollar spent .
Energy efficiency : realworld applications
The most recognizable form of energy efficiency – lighting - has already seen widespread adoption , with LED upgrades becoming the norm . However , the next frontier for efficiency is optimizing airflow which offers one of the most impactful opportunities to reduce energy demand . This is because most spaces are over ventilated and some of the most energy intensive buildings , like labs , bring in 100 percent outside air at higher air change rates per hour than necessary based on current IAQ in the space .
The ‘ efficiency first ’ strategy targets both energy demand and future electrification needs , allowing for significant carbon reductions while delivering attractive financial returns . Many life sciences companies and universities , which operate energy-intensive labs and cleanrooms , are already adopting this approach , saving money while reducing their carbon footprints . That is because expensive electrical infrastructure and equipment ( like heat pumps , electric boilers or onsite solar ) can be downsized .
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