Air Filter Comparison Online Tool

Save thousands of dollars per year by selecting the most cost effective air filters. One facility found that th
about $63/year/filter on their final filters and $12/year/filter on their pleated filters. Approximate savings are
plus 288 filters x $12) = $21,600/year.

Background: In recent years, air filters have undergone substantial improvements. They capture more dir
less opposition to airflow. Unfortunately, absent some easy means of determining the value of changing fr
system air filters to more appropriate filters, owners keep replacing air filters in kind. This tool can help ow
designers select the lowest TCO air filters. It might also be used to justify the purchase of air filters with a
but a lower TCO.

Common results from using this tool in 2008 (these results will of course change as air filters are improved):

The traditional 2” deep pleated air filter costs about $2.50 to purchase and about $120/year to use including energy
these can be directly replaced with a 4” deep extended surface air filter that costs about $6.00 to purchase and abo

One 12” deep rigid “final filter” has the lowest TCO when compared to all other 12” deep bag and rigid filters but 22”
filters are always less expensive to use than rigid filters.
 BETTERBRICKS AIR FILTER COMPARISON CALCULATOR

Better Bricks Online Tool - Air Filter Comparison 4.0

This tool is intended to help compare RELATIVE cost effectiveness of various similar pupose air filters. We have provided for two baseline filters with 3 comparisons each.
It may help "cost justify" purchasing more expensive filters. It may help select between rigid or bag filters. It may help determine which brand and media to use. It may suggest that a different filter depth is better.

Compare information from multiple manufacturers because different manufacturers produce different products and they keep "leap frogging" eachother with improved products.

This estimator will NOT tell you how much energy your fan systems will use or suggest your air filter MERV requirement.

WARNING: Installing air filters with lower resistance to airflow will only save energy if the fan has effective capacity control such as VFDs or inlet vanes that control CFM or air pressure after the filters.

ENERGY/COST REQUIRED TO OVERCOME AIR FILTER AIRFLOW RESISANCE:

HORSEPOWER = (CFM X AVERAGE PRESSURE DROP)/(6356 X FAN EFF. X MOTOR EFF. X DRIVE EFF.)
Killowatt (KW) = HP X .746

Capacity
FAN EFF 80% MOTOR EFF 94% Control Eff 96% Cost/KWH $ 0.11
Default Values: 80% 94% 96%

Filter Descriptions: Baseline 1

1A
1B
1C

Baseline 2
2A
2B
2C

Cost to Annual Cost

ANNUAL Cost to Change and
COMPARE AVERAGE FACE INCHES Initial Final Media AVERAGE SYSTEM HOURS of ANNUAL ANNUAL Months of Purchase 1 Dispose of 1 of
FILTERS VELOCITY (FPM) WIDE INCHES HIGH CFM Resistance Resistance Sq Ft Resistance CONSTANT Efficiency HP KW OPERATION KWH ENERGY COST Filter Life Filter Filter Ownership

1 500 24 24 2000 0.00 6356 0.722 0.000 0.000 8760 0 $0.00 #DIV/0!
1A 500 24 24 2000 0.00 6356 0.722 0.000 0.000 8760 0 $0.00 #DIV/0! #DIV/0!
1B 500 24 24 2000 0.00 6356 0.722 0.000 0.000 8760 0 $0.00 #DIV/0! #DIV/0!
1C 500 24 24 2000 0.00 6356 0.722 0.000 0.000 8760 0 $0.00 #DIV/0! #DIV/0!

2 500 24 24 2000 0.00 6356 0.722 0.000 0.000 8760 0 $0.00 #DIV/0!
2A 500 24 24 2000 0.00 6356 0.722 0.000 0.000 8760 0 $0.00 #DIV/0! #DIV/0!
2B 500 24 24 2000 0.00 6356 0.722 0.000 0.000 8760 0 $0.00 #DIV/0! #DIV/0!
2C 500 24 24 2000 0.00 6356 0.722 0.000 0.000 8760 0 $0.00 #DIV/0! #DIV/0!

INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE: Maximum Filter Life in Months

Insert your own values in the yellow highlited cells. You can compare two baseline filters with 3 comparisons at one time.
Comments are included in several locations. Move your curser to a cell with a red triangle to get more information.

Rainey Draft 7-15-07

 Conservation Catalysts Simple Estimator - Air Filter
This tool is intended to help compare RELATIVE cost effectiveness of various similar pupose air filters. We h
It may help "cost justify" purchasing more expensive filters. It may help select between rigid or bag filters. It may help determine

Compare information from multiple manufacturers because different manufacturers produce different products

This estimator will NOT tell you how much energy your fan systems will use or sugg

WARNING: Installing air filters with lower resistance to airflow will only save energy if the fan has effective capacity contro

ENERGY/COST REQUIRED TO OVERCOME AIR FILTER AIRFLOW RESISANCE:

HORSEPOWER = (CFM X AVERAGE PRESSURE DROP)/(6356 X FAN EFF. X MOTOR EFF. X DRIVE EFF.)
Killowatt (KW) = HP X .746

Capacity
FAN EFF 80% MOTOR EFF 94% Control Eff 96%
Default Values: 80% 94% 96%

Filter Descriptions: Baseline 1 2" deep MERV 8 11.7 sqft

1A 2" deep MERV 8 extended surface pleated filter 17.9 sqft
1B 2" deep electrostatic MERV 11 extended surface pleated filter 17.8 sqft
1C 4" deep MERV 8 22.4 sqft

Baseline 2 4" deep electrostatic MERV 8 extended surface pleated filter 27.4 sqft
2A 4" deep electrostatic MERV 11 extended surface pleated filter 27.2 sqft
2B 2" deep electrostatic MERV 8 extended surface pleated filter 17.6 sqft
2C 4" deep electrostatic MERV 8 extended surface pleated filter 28 sqft

COMPARE AVERAGE FACE INCHES Initial Final Media AVERAGE

FILTERS VELOCITY (FPM) WIDE INCHES HIGH CFM Resistance Resistance Sq Ft Resistance CONSTANT

1 500 24 24 2000 0.29 0.8 11.7 0.46 6356

1A 500 24 24 2000 0.26 0.8 17.9 0.44 6356
1B 500 24 24 2000 0.39 0.8 17.8 0.53 6356
1C 500 24 24 2000 0.2 0.8 22.4 0.40 6356

2 500 24 24 2000 0.21 0.8 27.4 0.41 6356

2A 500 24 24 2000 0.31 0.8 27.2 0.47 6356
2B 500 24 24 2000 0.26 0.8 17.6 0.44 6356
2C 500 24 24 2000 0.19 0.8 28 0.39 6356

INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE:

Insert your own values in the yellow highlited cells. You can compare two baseline filters with 3 comparisons at one time.
Comments are included in several locations. Move your curser to a cell with a red triangle to get more information.
e Estimator - Air Filter Comparison Tool 4.0
s similar pupose air filters. We have provided for two baseline filters with 3 comparisons each.
ag filters. It may help determine which brand and media to use. It may suggest that a different filter depth is better.

urers produce different products and they keep "leap frogging" eachother with improved products.

your fan systems will use or suggest your air filter MERV requirement.

fan has effective capacity control such as VFDs or inlet vanes that control CFM or air pressure after the filters.

Cost/KWH $ 0.06

Cost to Cost to
Annual Cost
SYSTEM ANNUAL ANNUAL Months of Purchase 1 Change 1 of
Efficiency HP KW KWH ENERGY COST Filter Life Filter Filter Ownership

0.722 0.201 0.150 1,310 $78.62 3 $ 2.20 $ 2.00 $ 95.42

0.722 0.192 0.143 1,253 $75.20 5 $ 2.70 $ 2.00 $ 87.49
0.722 0.230 0.171 1,500 $90.01 5 $ 4.00 $ 2.00 $ 105.78
0.722 0.174 0.130 1,139 $68.36 6 $ 5.00 $ 3.00 $ 85.08

0.722 0.177 0.132 1,158 $69.50 6 $ 6.00 $ 3.00 $ 87.50

0.722 0.206 0.154 1,348 $80.89 6 $ 8.00 $ 3.00 $ 103.06
0.722 0.192 0.143 1,253 $75.20 4 $ 2.70 $ 2.00 $ 89.83
0.722 0.171 0.128 1,120 $67.22 6 $ 6.00 $ 3.00 $ 84.84

48 Maximum Filter Life in Months

comparisons at one time.

t more information.