Energy Use and Savings Potential for Laboratory Fume Hoods

Fume hoods are critical energy end-use devices, typically relied upon as the primary source of ventilation in laboratory-type facilities while providing for safe conditions in areas where experiments are being conducted, Fume hoods create large amounts of airflow, which drives the overall HVAC sizing and energy requirements of the buildings in which they are located. For standard two-meter (six-foot) hoods, per-hood energy costs range from $4,600 for moderate climates such as Los Angeles, USA to $9,300/year for extreme cooling climates such as Singapore. With an estimated 750,000 hoods in use in the U.S., the aggregate energy use and savings potential is significant. We estimate the annual operating cost of U.S. fume hoods at approximately $4.2 billion, with a corresponding peak electrical demand of 5,100 megawatts. There are various strategies for saving energy, each with its limitations. With emerging technologies, per-hood savings of 50 percent to 75 percent can be safely and cost-effectively achieved while addressing the limitations of existing strategies.