Technologies

Demand-controlled Filtration -- Cleanroom ventilation rates are only a rough proxy for the desired cleanliness levels. These rates needn't be held constant in order to maintain or exceed desired standards. Work underway at LBNL is integrating particle-detection/control strategies, so that ventilation rates can be tuned to minimum energy use without jeopardizing process control.

Efficient Fan Filter Units -- Increasingly popular in cleanrooms, fan filters have significant energy use. The lack of a uniform test standards impede consumer choice and utility provision of incentives for performance. LBNL is developing a test procedure, in collaboration with industry.

High-Performance Fume Hoods -- Laboratory fume hoods typically consume 3- to 4-times as much energy as a typical home, and drive the sizing of HVAC systems in labs. The Berkeley Hood promises 50-75% energy savings while maintaining or improving safety levels.

Minienvironments -- Cleanrooms are increasingly making use of minienvironments to isolate sensitive manufacturing processes. Industry does not always take advantage of the fact that air-cleanliness standards in the surrounding cleanroom spaces can be relaxed. LBNL is analyzing the potential for energy savings in this area.

Efficient Power Supplies -- Power supplies in Data centers are significant energy users. LBNL is exploring energy savings opportunities in this technology area.

Efficient UPS -- Uninterruptible power supplies are common in data centers, as they help minimize the risk of business interruptions if power delivery from the grid is disrupted. LBNL benchmarking studies show that UPS' efficiency varies widely, and suggest ways to optimize these systems for performance, reliability, and energy savings.