1. Laborator Energy Conservation
for Green Drinks Shanghai
Victor Neuman, PE, MSME
9th August 2012

2. Speaker Biography
• Victor Neuman, Professional Engineer.
for Schneider Electric,
China
• Master’s of Science, Engineering,
SDSU and also CPGS, Cambridge
University
• Lab Building Designer with Earl Walls
Assoc., 100+ lab buildings designed

3. Safety Is our First Concern
• Energy and the Environment were my first priorities
when I became a lab designer in 1983. Safety of
building occupants became my first concern with cost
reduction second.
• What if we don’t do it right? Widow of lab worker at
Firestone of Texas receives $11 million in 1990.
• At University of California campus, engineering firm
goes broke when 7’ tall fume exhaust fans blow toxic
chemical vapors back into air handlers.

5. Energy of One hood = 3 houses
(courtesy of Dale Sartor, Lawrence
Berkeley National Lab, USA)
=

6. Example of Costs and Savings
• Base Case: 50 hoods at 1200 cfm each, $3/
cfm per year = $180,000 per yr.
total
• Low Flow Hoods: 50 hoods at 720 cfm each
at $3/cfm per year = $108,000. Payback:
1.25 yrs
• VAV hoods: 1200 cfm for 50 hoods for 1000
hours per yr., 600 cfm for 1000 hrs/yr, 300
cfm for 6,760 hours /yr = $67,000 per year.
Payback: 2.65 years

7. The Three Curves of Lab
Airflow
AC/HR
20
Fume Exh.
16
12
8
Cooling CFM
4
Min.Vent
Midnight Noon Midnight
24 Hour Cycle

8. VAV Lab Control Diagram

9. Advanced Low Flow Fume Hoods
• Safe at face velocities
of .3 m/s
• Tracer Gas Tested
– ASHRAE 110

10. Lower Volumes of Exhaust May
Cause Re-Entry of Fumes
Even when the hazard is down wind, the
chemicals can still spread to the intakes.

11. EF-1 through 5
Constant Volume
Stepped CV
Active VAV
Passive VAV
Annual Energy Costs
Stepped Passive Active
CV CV VAV CV
$112,758 $68,470 $55,051 $55,051

12. Lab Design References
• Labs21st Century Guidelines
• California Title 8, Section 5154.1
• Lab Design Newsletter/ R& D
Magazine Annual Reference Guide
• ANSI/AIHA Z9.5 “Lab Ventilation”
• ASHRAE 110 & Handbook
• US NRC, “Prudent Practices for
Handling Chemicals”
• US OSHA 29 CFR 1910.1450
• NFPA 45: Fire Protection for Labs

13. Questions and Discussion?
For Further Information, please contact:
Victor.Neuman@schneider-electric.com