Sustainable pre-insulated air duct

Non-metallic HVAC ductwork systems with high energy savings.
Climate Change Mitigation Resource Use Advancing Net Zero

Problem Addressed

The built environment relies on high energy consumption and products with high embodied CO2 emissions. It is an industry in which rigorous new standards and higher consumer demands are rapidly emerging, with very few innovative, compliant and cost-effective solutions.

In the HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning) sector most ductwork is metal – galvanised sheet steel – that has a very high embodied energy content, and this, together with the insulation and the metal hanging systems, adds significantly to the carbon footprint of any property.

Furthermore, rectangular metal ductwork is also very airflow inefficient, leaks badly and generally has sub-optimal performance. As a result, the energy consumption of any HVAC system with metal ductwork is very high, and this can account for a significant part of the energy used in any building.

These metal ductworks have poor performance, high energy use requirements and high carbon footprints – hence the need for an innovative non-metallic pre-insulated ductwork system with technology that disrupts the traditional market.

Solution Overview

Ecoduct is an innovative UK developed and manufactured, non-metallic pre-insulated air duct that has multiple technical, sustainability and environmental advantages over traditional GSS ducts with insulation and delivers optimal thermal and airflow efficiency. Ecoduct offers a reduction in the use of high CO2 products, a reduction in energy consumption, an increased use of recycled material and a reduction in site wastage. It also saves costs and time on site while maximising off-site fabrication. The ductwork is available in circular, flat oval, and rectangular shapes as well as FCU plenums and grille boxes. It comes in all shapes, sizes and dimensions, with any colour or finish effect and an enhanced aesthetic, so ideal in open to view/exposed applications.

Ecoduct’s ductwork products have been developed with 3 clear objectives:

  1. Improve the performance – airflow and thermal efficiency – of air delivery systems.
  2. Reduce the CO2 footprint of HVAC systems
  3. Reduce the energy consumption of HVAC systems (initial tests show a saving of up to 45%).

In addition, it offers weight savings of up to 85% and space savings of up to 30%, which makes the product suitable for both new buildings and refurbishments, particularly where energy and carbon savings are a critical requirement.

The installed cost of Ecoduct should always be less than the equivalent metal ductwork plus insulation, and this cost saving increases as the complexity of the installation and air delivery requirements increase.

Recent research from Rider Levett Bucknall has shown that the installed cost of pre-insulated ductwork fabricated from phenolic insulation panels can be up to 22% lower than traditional insulated metal ductwork

In terms of Whole-of-Life costs, which is possibly the most important metric, this research revealed that the costs savings can be as much as 48.7%, and that no other ductwork product offered such savings.

Critically, this makes Ecoduct one of the very few innovative and sustainable products in the construction sector that also generates immediate and on-going cost savings.

Company name

Ecoduct

UK availability

Yes

Solution launch date

01/04/2022

Links

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Case Study

In a recent installation in a retail outlet in Bromley of arguably the biggest global sportswear company, Nike, the saving was just less than 10%, with additional benefits from a contribution to an improved LEED rating.

As a result of this success, the products are being rolled out across Nike’s stores, including in the UK and the EU.

Facts and Figures

<45 %

Reduction of the energy consumption of HVAC systems.

<85 %

Weight savings.

<30 %

Space savings.

<48.7 %

Cost savings.

This page presents data, evidence, and solutions that are provided by our partners and members and should therefore not be attributed to UKGBC. While we showcase these solutions for inspiration, to build consensus, and create momentum for climate action, UKGBC does not offer commercial endorsement of individual solutions. If you would like to quote something from this page, or more information, please contact our Communications team at media@ukgbc.org.

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