The Phytofilter Technologies
Institute
Provider #5011197
An Alternative To Mass Ventilation
First Discovered By NASA
Course # PT501119713
Presenter: Martin Mittelmark
September 25, 2013
1
1.5 LU/HSW Credits earned on
completion of this course will be
reported to AIA CES for AIA
members. Certificates of Completion
for both AIA members and non-AIA
members are available upon request.
CES for continuing professional
education. As such, it does not
include content that may be
deemed or construed to be an
approval or endorsement by the
AIA of any material of construction
or any method or manner of
handling, using, distributing, or
dealing in any material or product.
_______________________________________
This course is registered with AIA
Copyright Materials
This presentation is protected by US and International Copyright laws. However
reproduction, distribution, display and use of the presentation is given to attendees
of this course and their firms so that they may show, it, or parts of it, to their clients
and prospective clients as relates to a particular architectural project they have in
mind , and as long as the materials presented have with it the name
The Phytofilter Technologies Institute
as the material’s originator clearly displayed on
the last slide of the presentation along with the
institute’s address and telephone number.
Course
Description
This course talks about the different pollutants within poor indoor air and their
consequences & discusses an alternate strategy, devised by NASA to deal with
them in place of mass ventilation. It is perhaps one of the greatest discoveries of
all time and can well change everything; improve health and save vast quantities
of energy as we heat and cool our buildings.
The course itself provides information on phytofilter technology. It defines what it
is, shows how it works and talks of its many benefits,
Plus it provides information on various government and utility programs which pay
for its installation, so building owners and architects can often have it installed at
no cost; so they can gain additional LEED points, and enhance sustainability,
increase property values and improve the quality of life of building inhabitants.
Learning
Objectives
At the end of the this course,
1.
The participant will be able to describe and apply a technique out
of NASA which will allow the architect to gain in Leed points on a
project . Plus be able to reduce ventilation needs of a building.
2.
It will allow the participant to discuss with an architect or engineer
a method which can reduce or completely eliminate formaldehyde
from indoor air as well as reduce other VOC contamination;
3. Cut
down on biological and ionizing radiation contamination within
an indoor environment; &
4. Incorporate
natural air purification techniques into a building which
are both energy and labor efficient so as to improve worker health
and their quality of life.
I
OUTLINE
1. Why ventilation
2. Different types of contaminants found in indoor
air.
Which ones we do a poor job of dealing with
3. The results of the status quo
4. NASA’s Great Discovery which can eliminate the
need for mass ventilation
5. How this discovery can be placed in buildings
with no up front expense.
6. How installing such a system within a project
can affect as many as 39 LEED Points.
7. What the system looks like
8. Question and Answers
6
• What is the main way we deal with poor indoor
quality air today within structures ?
• Ventilation is it not?
7
• Ventilation is the process of "changing" or
replacing indoor air with out door air in any
space so as to strive to provide for high indoor
air quality.
• Why Do We Use It?
• Because of the build up of pollutants or
poisons within an indoor space which can
adversely effect its inhabitants,
• & to supply those inhabitants with a continual
source of fresh air and an adequate amount of
oxygen.
8
BUT WHY DO WE USE
VENTILATION WHEN IT HAS SO
MANY DRAWBACKS?
• It wastes energy.
• It often brings in contaminated outdoor air
into the interior space.
• It doesn’t remove poisons and pollutants
quickly enough, since we take in a new breath
of air every 3-6 seconds.
9
We Also Use Ventilation
• Because nature’s air purifiers are primarily
found outdoors.
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
And We Also Use It
• Because We have Used it for Thousands of
Years.
• In other words, it’s the Accepted Way to Deal
With Poor Indoor Air Quality
18
19
• Now If There were a Way to Deal With Indoor
Air Pollution Within a Sructure Then We
Wouldn’t have to use ventilation, Or Use It As
Much.
• It is this Excessive Use of Ventilation that we define
as “Mass Ventilation”.
20
• Air Pollution is not caused by a single source
or contaminant.
• Rather it is a combination of different
pollutants.
• And unless you get rid of all the different
pollutants and all the different categories of
pollutants you have to ventilate.
• Why?
21
Why We Use Ventilation
• Air pollution is such, that because of the laws
of physics, airborne contaminants disperse
themselves evenly throughout our entire air
supply, especially in a confined space.
• Thus we have to remove the entire air supply
and replace it if we can’t purify the air
sufficiently.
• And so we mainly rely on ventilation because
we haven’t taken care of all pollutants in
indoor air.
22
Types of Indoor Pollutants
• Particulate Matter,
• *Chemicals or VOCs like formaldehyde,
• *Biologicals—Germs, Viruses, Mold, Dust
Mites, Pet Dander & Pollen;
• *Ionizing Radiation—Radon, Nuclear Reactor
Emissions & Cigarette Smoke;
• Odor &
• Carbon Dioxide & Carbon Monoxide.
23
24
25
• It is continually occurring & unless the air
supply within a building is purified or
revitalized, ventilation is the only alternative
(at least until now).
• Now the contaminant categories we do a poor
job attending to within indoor air are:
– VOCs
– Biologicals, &
– Ionizing Radiation.
26
What are VOCs?
Volatile organic
compounds
(From Oxford English Dictionary)
• Volatile - easily evaporated at normal temperatures
• Organic - relating to or denoting compounds
containing carbon and chiefly or ultimately of
biological origin
• Compounds - substance formed from two or more
elements chemically united in fixed proportions
27
28
VOCs are also Emitted by Thousands of
Products In our Workplaces or Homes
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
paints, lacquers and strippers
cleaning supplies
pesticides
building materials, carpeting and furnishings
office equipment such as copiers and printers,
especially new things
correction fluids and carbonless copy paper
graphics and craft materials including glues and
adhesives, permanent markers
photographic solutions
Fuel
29
Relative Emission Rates
Product
Oil paints
Maximum Emission Rate
(ug/hour/m2)
200 000
Ceiling tile
Wood veneer
Dry cleaning
Water-based paint
12 000
12 000
10 000
9 000
Photocopier
Carpet
Floor wax
7000
6 000
1 000
30
VOC Emissions Vs. Age
(ug/hour/m2 of total VOCs)
Product
1 Hour
1 Day
Adhesives
400
100
<1
0
0
Carpet
600
80
20
10
5
1 000
1 000
900
600
3
3 000 000
200 000
0
0
0
50 000
40 000
20 000
200
20
Wood floor
Oil-based
paints
Water-based
paints
1 Week
1 Month
1 Year
31
• But while some VOCs dissipate quickly, others
emit or off-gas heavy doses of carcinogens or
toxic pollutants for as long as 5 years or more.
32
What are the health effects of
VOC exposure?
• Acute
– Eye irritation /
watering
– Nose irritation
– Throat irritation
– Headaches
– Nausea / Vomiting
– Dizziness
– Asthma
exacerbation
• Chronic
– Cancer
– Liver damage
– Kidney damage
– Central Nervous
System damage
33
Some of the Products in a Structure which Emit
Formaldehyde
34
• Formaldehyde is a substance so toxic that
were it to make up just one part per billion of
air itself, it would have exceeded the lifetime
chronic exposure level, determined by the
EPA,
• as set forth in its draft Toxicological Review of
Formaldehyde Inhalation Assessment Report,
of June 2010
• Yet more than 6 ½ lbs of the material is
manufactured each year for every man,
woman and child on the planet and placed
into thousands of products which off-gas toxic
fumes into the air.
35
36
Ionizing Radiation
• Ionizing radiation is radiation composed of
particles that individually can liberate an
electron from an atom or molecule and
produce ions with a net electric charge.
• They come from electromagnetic radiation
with frequencies in excess of those in visible
light.
– X-rays and gamma rays are examples of
electromagnetic ionizing radiation.
– Alpha and Beta particles, positrons and neutrons
are examples of particulate ionizing radiation.
37
The Main Ionizing Radiation
Sources which Pollute Indoor Air
– Radon,
– Low level radiation emissions from nuclear power
plants, &
– Cigarette Smoke.
38
39
Radon
• Radon is a heavy gas that is produced from the breakdown of uranium,
which is present in soil, rock & water.
• It tends to collect in basements or other low places in structures, but is
dispersed throughout the house via the stack effect and an HVAC sysem.
• It has no color, odor, or taste.
• the Surgeon General of the United States has warned that radon is the
second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States today
.
40
41
42
43
Epithelial change caused by an alpha
particle emission from a radon daughter.
44
• Every Pica Curie per liter of radon within a
structure produces 7 alpha particle impacts
within the average adult’s lungs every second.
So 4 pCl/L would cause 28 such impacts per
second.
• A 4 pCl/L radon level in a structure is the
equivalent of an adult getting 200 chest X
rays every year according to the EPA.
45
46
47
• The EPA postulates that the entire U.S.
population suffers 21,000-45,000 deaths a
year due to radon.
48
• The medical community nationwide only
became aware of the possible extent of
radon being a problem in 1984.
– That year a nuclear plant worker in Pennsylvania
discovered radioactivity on his clothing when
exiting the plant which was set off via the
radiation detectors at the plant
– The source of the radiation was determined to be
radon decay products on his clothing originating
from his home.
49
• Although some regions of the U.S. have higher
levels of radon than others, elevated levels of
radon have been found in homes in all 50
states
• Yet the U.S. does not demand that a building
owner put in radon mitigating equipment, &
• Unlike other countries the U.S. has no
requirements even to test public buildings or
schools for radon.
50
51
52
Low Level Radiation from Nuclear Power
Plants
• Damage from high linear energy transfer (LET) exposure at
low levels over extended periods of time from alpha particles
show the highest rates of thyroid cancer in the country are in
thirteen (13) of 18 counties. Some of which are found in New
York and others in the contiguous states of New Jersey and
Pennsylvania.
• 11 of these counties lie within 90 miles of 40 degrees 20’
north latitude, 75 degrees 20’ west longitude.
– This area has 16 nuclear power reactors, 13 of which are still
operating, at seven plants.
• No area of the U.S. has as great a concentration of reactors.
And while the average in the U.S. of cases per 100,000
population of thyroid cancer is 8.9. These counties have
almost double the amount of cases or more per 100,000 of
population.
53
54
• Living near a nuclear facility increases your
chances of dying from breast cancer by ten
fold.
– A nationwide survey of 268 counties within 50
miles of 51 nuclear reactors, found breast cancer
deaths in these "nuclear counties" to be 10 times
the national rate from 1950 to 1989.9.
55
56
Cigarette Smoke is Laced with Ionizing
Radiation
• Almost 95% of the Lung Cancer caused by
cigarette smoking, or second hand smoke, is
allegedly the result of calcium phosphate
fertilizer used to grow the Tobacco.
• The resulting Cigarettes bear a combination of
local Radon gasses and radioactive Polonium
from the Tobacco leaves.
• These deposit a small dose of radioactive
isotopes directly into a smoker's lungs, or onto
the lungs of others who breathe in second
hand smoke.
57
•
• For the "pack-a-day" smoker, it has
been alleged that this dose would be
the same as if you were forced to
have between 300 and 8000 Chest
X-Rays a year.
58
Biological Airborne
Contaminants
•
•
•
•
•
•
Germs,
Viruses,
Mold,
Dust Mites,
Pet Dander
&Pollen
59
60
61
• Colds and flu are often spread when you inhale
infected droplets in the air when an infected person
coughs or sneezes .
• A cough or sneeze spreads both large & small
infected droplets into the air and while the larger
ones remain airborne for only a few seconds, the
smaller ones can remain airborne for hours or even
days and can be widely dispersed by air currents
within a building or through the HVAC system.
• Further researchers found that in certain indoor
environments a typical cubic metre of air contained
an average of 16,000 particles of flu virus in the
winter, &
• It was found that 1 in 4 people do not cover their
62
mouth or nose when they cough or sneeze.
63
The Number of Colds Each
Person Gets Per Year
• Each adult averages 2-4 colds per
year &
• Each child has 6-10 colds per year,
64
HOW MANY AMERICANS GET THE
FLU EACH YEAR?
• The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) estimates that 35 to 50
million Americans come down with the flu
each flu season.
• Chicken pox, influenza, small pox,
tuberculosis, SARS and whooping cough are
but a few of the conditions that can be
contracted through airborne transmission.
65
The Aerosol Effect from Toilets
• When a toilet is flushed and the water swirls around before
the bowl empties, it creates a fine aerosol mist which remains
for up to two hours after each flush, contaminating
everything in a typical bathroom, including toothbrushes and
drinking glasses.
66
• And during that two hour period after each
flush, there is more than enough time for this
bacterial mist to float about and spread,
infecting an entire building’s air supply;
• with no protection afforded inhabitants, even
if there is a separate ventilator fan, since
people are continually opening the door of
the bathroom area, or leaving it open, and
then passing into other parts of the building.
67
Resulting in these airborne particles entering our
lungs, as we inhale, which could at best cause us
to contract a cough or cold, or at worst infect us
with streptococcus, staphylococcus, E. coli and
shigella bacteria, or even hepatitis A virus.
Which are all common inhabitants of bathrooms-especially public bathrooms.
68
69
How Many People in America Get
Hay Fever?
• There are 23.7 million cases of hay fever
reported annually.
• While 60 million Americans suffer from
allergies and asthma.
70
The Short Comings to Each Method
of Air Purification
• Usually most methods of taking care of poor
indoor quality air only deal with one pollutant
and when we use them they have
consequences which give rise to other
problems,
• Or short comings which can be dangerous in
and of themselves.
71
72
73
Germicidal U.V. Light in Air Ducts
74
The consequences of indoor Air
Pollution
75
76
• Just under one out of every two
men and women in this country
come down with an invasive
form of cancer (41.21%), in good
part due to poor indoor quality
air.
77
78
GOING OUTSIDE THE BOX
• There are technologies in existence which
could remove indoor pollutants that are not
now being used because of their
shortcomings.
79
80
• But they also remove formaldehyde.
• How?
• When formaldehyde comes in contact with
water it forms methylene glycol.
• waterwater it forms methylene glycol
• So if we had a wet scrubber within a building
• So if formaldehyde laden air passes through a
wet scrubber formaldehyde is removed from
the air.
• But unfortunately wet scrubbers also increase
humidity which can give rise to mold.
81
Plants
82
Plants Convert Carbon Dioxide to Oxygen
83
• Plants & Root Microbes digest volatile
organic chemicals,
• Plus plants take in radioactive elements thru
their roots from the soil, mistaking them for
food,
– Where its trapped and encapsulated in root
tissue so harmful alpha and beta particles, that
are emitted, can’t harm humans.
– Plants encapsulate radioactive elements in
concentrations up to 6,000 times that found in
the soil.
– Plants were used to remediate highly radioactive
soil at Chernobyl after the nuclear meltdown.
84
85
86
The Catalyst
• When you have an unsatisfactory status quo,
– As in the case of indoor air remediation;
• When alternate technologies might do the
job better but have shortcomings,
• Usually a catalyst propels a change.
• Which can be an event or a person.
• In the 1980’s it was both.
87
NASA’s Difficulty in the 1980’s
• It was trying to find a way to purify air for long
term habitat in outer space.
• It couldn’t use ventilation since space had no
air,
• And bringing replacement air up in a space
ship was impractical.
88
One of the Key Personal at NASA
• Dr. B. C. Wolverton was a senior scientist at
NASA who was a physicist, chemist and a
biologist all at the same time.
• He had worked with Brownfield remediation,
with toxic spills and been involved in chemical
warfare.
• He saw how nature both remediated air & soil
• In an ongoing process.
89
• So Dr. Wolverton decided he would go back to
basics and see how nature actually purified
air;
• Whether there were certain environments
where most natural air purifiers were absent,
• Which ones remained, &
• If there were environments that closely
resembled an enclosed spaceship or a
building.
90
What Dr. Wolverton Found
• A habitat --the tropical rain forest—which
was:
– Devoid of wind,
– Devoid of direct sunlight,
– Where there was significant soil moisture &
limited nourishment.
– An environment which was hostile & fiercely
competitive for any source of nourishment.
– Where alliances had to be formed to make
survival possible, &
– Where plants and root microbes were found in
abundance which worked together.
91
• He also found that in these environments
plants excreted certain substances root
microbes needed;
• And that root microbes would attack all
predators to the plant including cold germs &
flu virus;
• Would break down leaf matter, destroy mold
spores, kill airborne microbes &
• Use these airborne microbes as a source of
food;
• After which the friendly microbes’ waste
would serve as food for the plants.
92
• He also noticed that plants would take in
airborne toxins through their leaves and
transport them down their stems to their
roots where they would excrete them out so
the soil microbes could digest them.
• Plus he noticed that these plants were
creating a suction effect when they transpired
moisture through their leaves which was
drawing contaminated air down into the soil,
which the root microbes then purified.
93
• And at this point he realized a great truth:
• “That the plants were mainly acting
as a transport mechanism while
the root microbes were performing
most of the air purifying work”.
94
Formulating of His Hypothesis
• If he could grow these same plants in porous
soil and put an induction fan below it, would
he not then be able to get a hundred times
more air down to the root microbes?
• And would not those root microbes multiply
according to their food supply?
• And if this were done then could not one plant
do the work of a hundred?
95
THE FIRST PLANT AIR PURIFIER DESIGNED BY NASA
96
• Dr. Wolverton’s first plant air purifier used
granulated carbon as the filter and regular
potting soil as an additional growing medium,
• But he improved on this by switching to
activated carbon and expand shale or clay
– Which further improved porosity and increased
contaminant removal, while further reducing odor.
97
• With this first prototype Dr. Wolverton had
overcome the space problem, for now only a
few plants could be placed inside a structure
to take care of most of the poor indoor quality
air problems within, while still leaving room
for humans. &
• With that done, other technologies could be
brought in that would overcome each other’s
shortcomings.
• For this he became the “Federal
Environmental Engineer of the Year – 1983”
and was inducted into the NASA Hall of Fame.
98
99
Advantages of the PAP System
Finding from the EPA/NYSERDA $450,000 study
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Total Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) in
indoor air, including formaldehyde, are dealt
with.
There is a high single pass efficiency of 40-70%
for removal of common and harmful volatile
organic chemicals;
The system needs no replacement of its filter
and performs as a fully automated operation;
Each average-sized house plant in a PAP can
service 500 sq. ft. of living space.
1 sq. ft. of filter space takes care of 435 sq. ft. of
a building’s floor space.
It reduces ventilation by 80%;
Saves on energy for heating by 26% &
Provides energy saving of 10-15% on heating
and cooling combined (without added energy
savings that can occur by increasing relative
humidity in the winter in a building with a PAP).
Plus the system improves indoor surroundings
with decorative living house plants.
100
Simulation for an entire year using Energy Plus
with climate date for Syracuse NY
101
Energy Plus Simulation of Link Hall
Syracuse University
102
Energy Plus Simulation of Link Hall
Syracuse University as if in NYC
103
• We talked previously among other things about how
a wet scrubber removed contaminants from the air
and how the phytofilter allowed the wet scrubber to
be used indoors because it takes care of mold, but
we never talked about how the phytofilter’s wet
scrubber--its filter bed-- provides for:
– greater comfort in a building in the winter,
– how it improves the health of its inhabitants during that
season and
– how it allows the thermostat to be set at a lower
temperature and still attain human comfort.
• This section deals with these elements which are
additional advantages of a Phytofilter System.
104
Makes A Building Far more
Comfortable in Winter
• Phytofilters have the ability to increase relative
humidity within a structure.
• Relative humidity:
• The percentage of moisture in the air compared to
the actual amount of moisture that air can hold.
• Looking on the next chart you can see how low the
relative humidity of air in a building becomes,
especially in winter once outside air is brought
inside through mass ventilation & then heated.
105
Temperature
•
•
•
•
(oF)
Saturation Vapor Pressure
(mbar, millibar, mb)
0
1.5
5
1.9
10
2.4
15
3.0
20
3.7
25
4.6
30
5.6
35
6.9
40
8.4
45
10.3
50
12.3
55
14.8
60
17.7
65
21.0
70
25.0
75
29.6
If outside air is fully saturated, in other words it has 100% relative humidity, at 0 degrees F.
& then is taken in through the ventilation duct and heated to 70 degrees F., the relative
humidity of that same air decreases to 6% (1.5/25)
If outside air has 100% relative humidity at 30 degrees F. & is drawn into a building and
heated to 70 degrees, its relative humidity drops down to 22.4% (5.6/25).
Thus indoor air in a building is often lower in winter than what a person would experience if
he were in the Sahara Desert where average relative humidity is 25% .
106
Such a situation does not make for human comfort.
• Most buildings in winter have very dry air:
– because they lack humidifiers,
• Which are high maintenance and give rise to mold; &
– because they take in winter air from outdoors and
simply heat it.
But if a building installs a plant air purifier, relative
humidity can be increased in winter because indoor
air is continually able to pass through the
phytofilter’s moist filter bed, where it picks up
needed moisture without any added danger of
mold.
107
• With indoor air having a necessary level of
moisture or relative humidy which Phytofilters
provide inhabitants are protected from
having:
– Sore Throats
– Dry & Itchy Skin &
– Dried Out Mucus Membranes,
• Which Lead to Increased Susceptibility to Colds and Flu,
& an Increase in Airborne Viruses and Germs
– Further, cold and flu germs and viruses actually
increase When Relative Humidity is Not between
47-60% which a phytofilter system can provide.
108
Plus, Low Relative Humidity, also
Increases the Need to Raise Temperature,
if Inhabitants Are to be Kept
Comfortable.
109
F
•
•
Here, by looking at the chart we see, if we increase relative humidity in an indoor
environment in winter, we can lower the thermostat & save on energy, leaving
people feeling just as comfortable (as this chart from ASHRAE demonstrates).
Increased Relative Humidity in the Winter results in a building owner increasing
his profit, since energy use (for heating) is decreased by about 3% for each
degree F. drop in temperature.
• Thus, A commercial building could save as much as 7 ½ % on heating by
raising the relative humidity from 30-50% , while dropping
temperature by only 2 ½ degrees. Plant Air Purifiers Allow This to Occur.
• And This Savings when added to the 26% On
Heating Which Occurred in the 3 yr. Syracuse
Study Thru Reduced Ventilation Needs, results
in
– A PLANT AIR PURIFIER BEING ABLE TO REDUCE A
BUILDING’S ENERGY USE BY A FULL ONE-THIRD
ON HEATING &
– > 11-16 ½% ON HEATING & COOLING COMBINED
WHEN ADJUSTING RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR
OPTIMUM HUMAN COMFORT.
111
• Plant Air Purifiers Also Provide Hotels And
Resorts With A Dream Come True.
• For People Pay More For A Room That Is
Allergy Free & Plant Air Purifiers Can
Accomplish the Task.
112
• And If You Have Any Doubt About Their
Effectiveness in This Regard, Here Is a Letter
From An Allergy Doctor Who Utilized a
Portable Plant Air Purifier in His Own Home,
Which Is Not Nearly As Effective As a Unit That
Can Take Care Of An Entire Building.
113
114
Additional Benefits of a Phytofilter
System
They Can:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Improve human comfort,
Increase student or worker productivity,
Lower health insurance premiums,
Reduce employee turnover,
Reduce sick days taken,
Or disability occurring.
• Plus they can increase the value of a building,
• Increase its occupancy rate,
• & Lead to higher rents.
• While also increasing the bottom line.
115
• Now in the remaining time I’m going to talk
about what a phytofilter system cost.
• I’m going to show you how a building owner
can often install such a system without laying
out any money;
• Then I’m going to discuss how putting in such
a system will increase the LEED points the
project will obtain;
• Followed by drawings and photographs of
how the phytofilter system can actually look in
a building;
• After which I will answer any questions you
might have.
116
A Phytofilter System’s Cost &
Payback
• Cost of a phytofilter system is approximately $1.00
per sq. ft. of habitable space serviced (on projects
over 10,000 sq. ft.) before rebates
• But after rebates, Cost is approximately 85-87 ½
cents per sq. ft.;
• With payback from energy savings alone averaging
6 ½ years,
• While all the other health benefits are provided for
free.
• & given that employers spend 10 times more on
employee salaries than energy, those other benefits 117
Various Methods of Financing Up Front Costs of
a Phytofilter System Installation
118
Who is investing in Energy Saving Retrofits
which can include Phytofilters
– Businesses Paying Outright to upgrade their
installations,
– Lending Institutions,
– University Endowment Funds,
– Investors,
– Municipalities & Their Authorities &
– Utilities.
• WHY?
– Because the pay back is so rapid. (The Rockefeller foundation and Deutsche
Bank found that improved efficiency of the nation’s pre-1980 building stock of 30%
would result in $1 trillion dollars of energy savings over 10 years with an upfront
investment of just $279 billion dollars, and would generate a simple return on
investment of 358% over a decade
119
Financing Incentives for Energy Saving
Retrofits, Including Installations of
Phytofilter Technology Systems
• Federal Incentives—extra depreciation
allowances under the Energy Efficient Building Tax Deduction (26
USC 179D) up to $1.80 per square ft.
• Depending On The State:
– Utility and Authority Rebates
– Mandates by municipalities that buildings get an
energy rating.
– Credit enhancing mechanisms
• Pace Financing
• Energy Insurance Warranties
120
Length of Loans Where Utilities or
Municipal Authorities are Involved
•
•
•
•
Massachusettes –7 years
New York- 10 years
Connecticut-20 years
While 30 states and the District of Columbia
have instituted PACE which allow for up to a
20 year loan
• And the length of these loans provide for a
positive carry for the building owner.
121
NYSERDA’S Energy Upgrade Program For
Not-For-Profits & Small Business
• NYSERDA & Various Co-operating Lending
Institutions Will Provide Up to $100,000 For Energy
Upgrades to a Building.
• The Energy Savings Along Will Be Able To Pay Off The
Cost Of Installation Over A 10 Year Period.
• Organizations Will Enjoy A Positive Monthly Carry.
• & Under The Program A Free Energy Audit Will Be
Conducted To Tell Them What Type of Energy
Upgrades Are Most Suitable for Their Building.
122
Available Upgrades Can Include
•
•
•
•
•
Plant Air Purification,
High Efficiency Lighting,
Insulation,
HVAC,
Etc.
123
Certain Energy Upgrades Have a Very Short
Payback
• And By Coupling One Or More Of These with
Plant Air Purification
• With
• The Client Is Guaranteed A Positive Carry
124
Plus Plant Air Purifiers Provide you with the
Opportunity to Increase LEED Points for a
Building
• Phytofilter Systems directly or indirectly deal
with categories which effect as many as 39
LEED Points (under LEED 2009 for Existing Buildings: Operations &
Maintenance)
• Our current building stock is dominated by
older, inefficient buildings where as many as
72% of U.S. buildings are over 20 years old.
• Each year 5 billion square feet of existing
buildings are renovated—equal to the yearly
total square footage of new construction.
125
39 Leed Points are considerable
when you consider how many LEED
points are necessary for LEED
certification or for a higher rating
•
•
•
•
Certified 40–49 points
Silver 50–59 points
Gold 60–79 points
Platinum 80 points and above
126
Categories Of LEED Certification Where
Phytofilter Systems Can Make a Difference
•
•
•
•
SS Credit 6: Stormwater Quantity Control
WE Credit 3: Water Efficient Landscaping
EA Credit 1: Optimize Energy Efficiency Performance
EA Credit 2.1: Existing Building Commissioning
– —Investigation and Analysis
• EA Credit 2.2: Existing Building Commissioning
—Implementation
1 point
1–5 points
1–18 points
• EA Credit 6: Emissions Reduction Reporting
• IEQ Credit 1.1: Indoor Air Quality Best Management
Practices—Indoor Air Quality Management Program
• IEQ Credit 2.1: Occupant Comfort—Occupant Survey
• IO Credit 1: Innovation in Operations
• RP Credit 1: Regional Priority
Maximum
1 point
2 points
2 points
1 point
1 point
1–4 points
1–4 Points
39 Points
127
SS Credit 6: Stormwater Quantity Control 1 Point
• “Use Low Impact Development (LID)1 practices to capture and treat
water from 25% of the impervious surfaces for the 95th percentile of
regional or local rainfall events”.
• Potential Technologies & Strategies:
“Non-structural techniques (e.g., rain gardens, vegetated swales)
Use storm water for non potable uses such as landscape irrigation,
toilet and urinal flushing, and custodial uses”.
• Here rainwater can be used to irrigate the Plant Air Purifier’s filter bed
since the plants therein and the root microbes would function better using
a water source without chlorine or chloramines.
128
WE Credit 3: Water Efficient Landscaping
1–5 points
• Intent
– “To limit or eliminate the use of potable water1, or other natural
surface or subsurface resources available on or near the project site,
for landscape irrigation”.
• Requirements
– “Reduce potable water or other natural surface or subsurface resource
consumption for irrigation compared with conventional means of
irrigation.
– For buildings without vegetation or other ecologically appropriate
features on the grounds, points can be earned by reducing the use of
potable water for watering any roof and/or courtyard garden space or
outdoor planters, provided the planters and/or garden space cover at
least 5% of the building site area (including building footprint,
hardscape area, parking footprint, etc). If the planters and/or garden
space cover less than 5% of the building site area, the project is
ineligible for this credit”.
– Here the plant air purifier systems might be used in conjunction with
129
roof gardens to meet the minimum 5%.
EA Credit 1: Optimize Energy Efficiency Performance
1–18 points
• Intent:
– “To achieve increasing levels of operating energy performance
relative to typical buildings of similar type to reduce environmental
and economic impacts associated with excessive energy use”.
• Requirements
– “CASE 1. Projects Eligible for Energy Star Rating
– Achieve energy efficiency performance better than the minimum requirements”;
EPA ENERGY STAR Energy
Performance Rating
71
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
85
87
89
91
93
95
Points
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
– Phytofilters reduce energy consumption for heating & cooling
combined by 11-16 ½%
130
EA Credit 2.1: Existing Building Commissioning
—Investigation and Analysis
2 points
• “OPTION 1. Commissioning Process
– Develop a retrocommissioning, or ongoing commissioning plan for the building’s major
energy-using systems.
– Conduct the investigation and analysis phase.
– Document the breakdown of energy use in the building.
– & in each List the operating problems that affect occupants’ comfort and energy use,
and develop potential operational changes that will solve them & list the identified
capital improvements that will provide cost-effective energy savings and document
the cost-benefit analysis associated with each”.
– Here can be listed how the phytofilter system brings added comfort
in winter by adding relative humidity, removes allergy and asthma
triggers, prevents mold and saves on energy.
131
EA Credit 2.2: Existing Building Commissioning—
Implementation 2 points
• “Potential Technologies & Strategies
• Implement no- and low-cost operational improvements that will
immediately enhance building performance. Develop a capital plan for
the completion of any major retrofits identified through the
investigation and analysis phase”.
• Here you can install the phytofilter system in the building and by getting
a low interest loan with the assistance of a state or municipal authority
or a lending institution, the energy savings will meet the monthly
payment plus leave a positive carry besides, while enhancing building
performance.
132
EA Credit 6: Emissions Reduction Reporting 1 point
•
•
“Intent
To document the emissions reduction benefits of building efficiency measures.
Requirements
– Identify building performance parameters that reduce conventional energy use and
emissions, quantify those reductions and report them to a formal tracking program:
– Track and record emissions reductions delivered by energy efficiency, renewable energy
and other building emissions reduction measures, including reductions from the
purchase of renewable energy credits or carbon offsets.
– Report emissions reductions using one of the following:
•
•
•
A third-party voluntary reporting or certification program such as U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Climate Leaders, ENERGY STAR, the Carbon Disclosure Project or World Resources Institute / World Business
Council for Sustainable Development (WRI/WBCSD) protocols.
International Organization for Standards (ISO) 14064-1:2006 Greenhouse gases, Part 1, Specification, with
guidance at the organization level for quantification and reporting of greenhouse gas emissions and removals.
Potential Technologies & Strategies
–
Address all of the significant types of pollutants reduced by energy efficiency”.
– Phytofilters not only reduce fuel consumption and increase energy
efficiency thus reducing pollutants, but also reduce VOCs such as
133
formaldehyde.
IEQ Credit 1.1: Indoor Air Quality Best Management
Practices—Indoor Air Quality Management Program
1 point
• “Intent
– To enhance indoor air quality (IAQ) by optimizing practices to prevent the
development of indoor air quality problems in buildings, correcting indoor air quality
problems when they occur and maintaining the well-being of the occupants.
• Requirements
– Develop and implement on an ongoing basis an IAQ management program based on the
EPA Indoor Air Quality Building Education and Assessment Model (I-BEAM), EPA
Reference Number 402-C-01-001, December 2002, available at
http://www.epa.gov/iaq/largebldgs/i-beam/index.html.
• Potential Technologies & Strategies
– Operate a program to enhance IAQ by optimizing practices to prevent the development
of IAQ in buildings and maintain the well-being of the occupants. Survey and evaluate
building systems to identify potential IAQ problems and implement an ongoing program
to prevent these problems from occurring and to maintain a high level of IAQ. Include in
the program a plan for preventing moisture accumulation and mold in the building. For
additional information, see the EPA Web site on IAQ,
www.epa.gov/iaq/largebldgs/baqtoc.html.”
– This is a perfect opportunity to show an alternate plan using the
phytofilter technology system developed by NASA (and if not
accepted go for the innovation in operations credit.)
134
IEQ Credit 2.1: Occupant Comfort—Occupant Survey
1 point
• Intent
– To provide for the assessment of building occupants’ comfort as it relates to thermal
comfort, acoustics, indoor air quality (IAQ), lighting levels, building cleanliness and any
other comfort issues.
• Requirements
– Implement an occupant comfort survey and complaint response system to collect
anonymous responses about thermal comfort, acoustics, IAQ, lighting levels, building
cleanliness and other occupant comfort issues. The survey must be collected from a
representative sample of building occupants making up at least 30% of the total
occupants, and it must include an assessment of overall satisfaction with building
performance and identification of any comfort-related problems.
– Document survey results and corrective actions to address comfort issues identified
through the surveys.
– Conduct at least 1 occupant survey during the performance period.
• Potential Technologies & Strategies
– Conducting an occupant survey is a valuable tool for identifying and addressing
occupants’ comfort and building performance issues. Develop a plan for corrective
action to address any identified problems or concerns. Alternative survey ideas are
available in the LEED Reference Guide for Green Building Operations & Maintenance,
2009 Edition.
– Once the phytofilter system is installed with its benefits it should
show excellent responses from building inhabitants.
135
IO Credit 1: Innovation in Operations
1–4 points
• “Intent
– To provide building operations, maintenance and upgrade teams with the opportunity to
achieve additional environmental benefits achieved beyond those already addressed by
the LEED 2009 for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance Rating System.
• Requirements
– Credit can be achieved through any combination of the Innovation in Operations and
Exemplary Performance paths as described below:
– PATH 1. Innovation in Operations (1-4 points)
• Achieve significant, measurable environmental performance using an
operations, maintenance or system upgrade strategy not addressed in
the LEED 2009 for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance Rating
System”.
• The Phytofilter Technologies Strategy & Technology to be followed:
– A phytofilter technologies system will be installed in a building
where it will supply superior energy savings and an improved indoor
air supply with limited ventilation in a manner not addressed in the
LEED 2009 for Existing Buidlings: Operations & Maintenance Rating
136
System..
RP Credit 1: Regional Priority
1–4 Points
• “Intent
– To provide an incentive for the achievement of credits that address
geographically specific environmental priorities:.
• Zone 1: Regional Priorities for 5 counties of New York City to which
Phytofilter Technology would have an application:
• Air: Respiratory Illnesses Related to Air Pollution
• Energy: Building Operations Optimization*
• Energy: Energy Efficient Design*
• Phytofilter Technology provides relief to those suffering from respiratory
illness and increases energy efficiency.
137
Plant Air Purifiers Are What Going
Green Is All About.
138
They Can Be Hooked Into The
Ventilation System,
139
Or Can Be Free Standing.
140
They Can Hang From The Ceiling,
141
Or Can Be Placed Against A Wall.
142
They Can Be Hung From Balconies,
143
Or Installed In Uninhabited Space, As In a
Basement,
144
Or Can Even Be Contained In A Mobile Unit Which Can
Simply Be Driven Up To & Hooked Into A Building’s Air
Supply,
VIA A MOBILE UNIT
145
Or Contained In A Shed Attached
To The Building Itself.
146
They Require Little Maintenance Since They
Have Their Own Irrigation System,
147
• & Require No Filter Replacements Since
Friendly Microbes Within The Filter Bed
Actually Bio-Regenerate The Filter So That It
Can Last Forever.
148
• Plant Air Purifiers are also ideal for:
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
Schools,
Day-care Centers,
Hospitals,
Nursing Homes
Gyms,
Stores,
Office Buildings,
Factories,
Colleges & Universities,
Airports
Government Buildings
Single & Multi Family Homes &
Public and private bathrooms.
149
Summary
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
The Different Types of Indoor Air Pollutants & especially Those which Present Air
Purification Systems Don’t Treat too Well;
Their effects
How Nature Deals with Pollutants
How Man Deals with them Mainly Through Ventilation and that has its own
shortcomings;
A New Discovery to deal with IAQ, NASA Developed, Phytofilter Technology, with
its many advantages
And how by incorporating this new technology within a building you can increase
LEED Credits for Your building projects
We’ve discussed methods to install such a system with no up front cost;
Showed how it might look;
And finally discussed why energy retrofits are the in thing and the many
advantages they, and especially phytofilter systems, offer the property owner,
building inhabitants, and the nation as a whole.
150
This concludes The American Institute of Architects Continuing Education
Systems Course as presented by
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