Camfil introduced filter life-cycle costing software in the early nineties. It has evolved over the years to include data from hundreds of filters, both Camfil and competitive. The latest version, Camfil LCC Green, considers filter efficiency, filter life, filter change labor, filter cost, disposal costs and allows for varied inputs for all of these factors plus the largest filter expense, energy usage. The program data is based upon real life data collected at facilities around the world for real world results as opposed to theoretical calculations.
Although behind the scenes calculations are intricate the inputs are relatively simple. They include filter efficiency (with selection choices based upon recommendations from cognizant authorities) and cost parameters for the filter, labor, energy and disposal costs. There is even input criteria with guidance to input the specific air quality parameters for a geographic area base upon data from cognizant authorities such as the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Calculation example:
In the first example below we have selected a MERV 13, MERV-A 13, air filter as typically used in an industrialized urban area. We selected 4000 annual operating hours with an airflow of 2000 cfm. In the second example we used the same filter efficiency, but selected another filter with less filtering media and a slightly higher pressure drop; 0.08” w.g.
The consequence in just energy use is staggering, $25.62 per year, per filter. Additional costs that are often overlooked are also presented in the data. Contact your local Camfil Distributor for an analysis of your total cost of ownership for the air filters in your system.
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