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In today’s world of smart buildings and sustainable operations, laboratories present a unique challenge. They’re energy-intensive, safety-critical environments where inefficiencies can lead to significant costs. Fume hoods are a critical piece of lab infrastructure, essential for protecting researchers from hazardous fumes. However, when left to run continuously, they can have a significant impact on HVAC system operations and resulting energy costs.
Fume hood operation is tightly linked to the performance and energy consumption of exhaust fans and HVAC systems. Mechanically, a fume hood consists of a sash (a movable glass window), a work surface, and ductwork connected to an exhaust fan. When the sash is open, the hood draws in a high volume of air to maintain a safe face velocity, typically around 100 feet per minute (fpm), which increases the load on the exhaust fan and the HVAC system that must condition the replacement air. Conversely, lowering the sash reduces the volume of air drawn through the hood, decreasing the fan’s workload and energy use.
Fume hoods are indispensable in university and research labs, but they come with a hidden cost: high energy usage. According to a study at NREL, a typical lab fume hood installation requires 3,500–7,000 kWh/year, accounting for upwards of 25% of total energy consumption for the building. This is largely due to the constant airflow required to maintain safe working conditions. When sashes are left open or airflow systems malfunction, energy waste skyrockets and safety can be compromised.
Traditional systems often lack real-time monitoring, relying on traditional individual BMS alarms, manual checks, or periodic maintenance to ensure proper operation. This reactive approach leads to excessive energy use, delayed response to safety issues, higher maintenance costs and limited visibility into performance trends. In a facility with dozens or hundreds of fume hoods, these issues compound quickly.
Willow simplifies fume hood management with its Knowledge Graph and Activate technology. Data from sensors and control systems is ingested and normalized. Decision intelligence in fume hood-specific skills generates insights. As a result, Willow enables 24/7 analysis of each fume hood, enabling proactive and precise management. With the Sash Position Monitoring skill, Willow tracks when sashes are open or closed. The skill looks for sashes left in open position for the last 24 hours and generates insights to alert users.
Continuous monitoring of airflow ensures that hoods are operating within safe parameters. When airflow drops below a threshold, Willow generates insights and prompts action. Additionally, Facility Managers can view usage patterns across labs, identifying underutilized or overused equipment and optimizing allocation. Utilize Willow’s out-of-box skills and insights in Willow or extend them with Activate Studio to drive energy savings while improving compliance with safety protocols.
Fume hoods and HVAC systems are foundational to lab safety and building efficiency, but they’ve long been managed in silos. Willow breaks down barriers with a unified, intelligent platform. It enhances safety, reduces energy use, and supports sustainability goals. Lab Directors can improve compliance. Facility Managers can cut costs. Sustainability officers can move closer to net-zero targets. Willow equips all of them with tools to make smarter decisions and build better environments.