Fume Hood Demand Response Pilot Project

Fume hoods keep laboratories safe and clean by removing unwanted gasses through filters and exhaust fans. But in the process, they consume considerable electricity. One laboratory fume hood uses as much electricity as three homes and produces the greenhouse gas emission equivalent of six cars, and there are approximately 28,000 fume hoods in PG&E\\\'s service territory. In this study, PG&E sent automatic email alerts to lab operators during simulated high demand events, reminding them to close their fume hood sashes as low as possible. Results indicate an average demand savings of 422.5 Watts per fume hood per event and a maximum savings of 589 Watts per fume hood. Additional energy savings were realized from reduced exhaust airflows during the night hours immediately following an event.

For more information, please contact the sponsoring organization.

Download Project Report