Filtration vs. "The Solution to Pollution is Dilution"
Karl Aveard, LEED® AP, Erlab
When energy was inexpensive and the environment was young, little thought was given to taking air polluted with toxic chemicals and dumping it in massive quantities outside the buildings we worked in. After all, it's a big world, and we and our actions are so insignificant by comparison, how could man possibly have any effect on the planet? Well we may. I say may. But I do not want to be remembered by future generations as that generation that ignored the opportunity to do things better.
Personally, I would prefer to take the lower risk option and not gamble on whether the doomsday crowd is wrong or their opposition is right. The logical next step in laboratory ventilation is filtration by means of molecular adsorption. It is the logical next step for several reasons. First is cost: the technology to filter costs less than the mechanical infrastructure supporting the ducted option. Second is operating costs: in most cases, the cost for replacement filtration media is lower than the energy consumed by ducted hoods. Third is the subject of environmental consciousness: ducted fume hoods do nothing to protect the atmosphere. This presentation is about the science behind filtration and why you can trust the latest in filtration media.
Biography:
Karl Aveard has 35 years experience in laboratory design and construction He has been published in R&D Magazine, the R&D Newsletter, and contributed to the Labs21 Best Practice Guide for Fume Hoods. Mr. Aveard is a frequent speaker, a LEED Accredited Professional, and served as the committee co-chair for the USGBC LEED-AGL (Architectural Guidelines for Laboratories).
As a longtime member of ASHRAE, Mr. Aveard has served on the SPC-110 and TC9.10 committees. The 110 committee was formed to rewrite ASHRAE-110-1995; "A Method of Testing Laboratory Fume Hoods." At the Scientific Equipment & Furniture Association (SEFA), Mr. Aveard worked on the subcommittee for low velocity fume hoods.
Mr. Aveard joined Erlab in January 2009 to champion its GreenFumehood Technology in the United States.