A technical study developed by Saint-Gobain reveals that inefficiency in HVAC duct systems can represent substantial energy losses in buildings in Portugal, with direct impact on operating costs and the environmental footprint.
According to the analyzed data, systems with lower tightness classes, such as metal ducts (class B), can exhibit annual energy losses on the order of 7,030 kWh, corresponding to an approximate cost of 1,055 euros per year.
In practice, this means that buildings with less efficient solutions may be wasting more than 1,000 euros per year solely on energy losses in air ducts, in a reference scenario of a 200 m² service building.
In contrast, high-tightness-performance solutions, such as Saint-Gobain’s CLIMAVER system, prove more efficient and reduce these losses to around 330 kWh/year, equivalent to 50 euros per year.
Indeed, the CLIMAVER system was developed to improve the energy efficiency of HVAC systems, through pre-insulated ducts in mineral wool that help reduce energy losses, thermal bridges and air leaks.
In addition to the economic impact, the study also highlights the environmental weight of these losses: adopting more efficient solutions allows a significant reduction in embodied carbon in buildings, with estimated gains of 22.6 kg CO2eq/m² in office buildings. This indicator is particularly relevant in a context of increasing European regulatory requirements and decarbonization targets in the construction sector.
In this scope, the CLIMAVER system contributes to the reduction of embodied carbon in buildings since it is manufactured with recycled glass and helps decrease waste, transport emissions and energy consumption throughout the life cycle.
For Rui Oliveira, Director of Saint-Gobain Solutions in Portugal, “we are facing a dimension of energy inefficiency that is often invisible, but with a very concrete impact on the energy bill of buildings and on the associated emissions. Much of the public and technical debate has ignored the impact of losses in air distribution systems. However, the data show that there is here a very relevant potential for savings.”
The CLIMAVER system also stands out for its contribution to indoor air quality and acoustic comfort, not promoting mold or bacteria growth, meeting low VOC emission requirements and reducing noise propagation in HVAC systems.
On the other hand, it is a non-combustible solution, not contributing to the spread of fire nor emitting toxic fumes, maintaining its thermal, acoustic and fire-protection properties throughout the system’s life cycle.
For Duarte Fernandes, Product Manager at Saint-Gobain Portugal, “the energy efficiency of buildings also depends on the quality and performance of HVAC systems. Reducing losses in the air ducts can have a significant impact on energy costs, user comfort and the reduction of the carbon footprint of buildings, and that is what CLIMAVER ultimately guarantees.”
