Energy-Saving HVAC On The NREL Horizon

A recent article published by the National Renewal Energy Laboratory (NREL) highlights an amazing technology that may reduce the high costs of running your commercial HVAC system in the summer months. The technology, called Desiccant-Enhanced eVaporative air conditioner or DEVap, is under development by NREL and modifies a former technology from William Carrier’s day to make it adaptable for any climate (a problem with the former application).

DEVap uses 50 to 90 percent less energy than top-of-the-line refrigeration-based air conditioning and promises to be a very green solution in line with Arista’s Blue Sky Initiative. While traditional air conditioners use a lot of electricity to run the refrigeration cycle, the DEVap uses less electricity and utilizes a thermally activated absorption cycle to replace the traditional technology. It can also be powered by natural gas or solar energy. While still in development by NREL, the DEVap system holds a great deal of potential for not only current commercial property owners but also new developers looking to improve their LEED point ratings.

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