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Heat recovery is becoming popular with both industry and households as not only does it help to reduce greenhouse emissions but it can also have financial benefits too. Today of course industry and households are being urged and in some cases made to comply with more efficient use of fuels which are considered to be harmful to the environment.

Legislation in many countries is being changed to ensure that industry comply with certain emission levels and whilst this may be good for the environment on the whole, it can in some cases cause extra expense to those industries.

Solution: Heat recovery though is said to be the solution to this dilemma as not only does it reduce emission levels but also reduces heating costs, sometimes as much as up to 15% to 20%. Obviously the amount of savings will depend on the type of heating and ventilation system which is currently fitted but in most instances the cost of alterations to make heat recovery possible, is usually recouped within two years, after which of course, real savings are made.

Converting your buildings to heat recovery systems does not require the replacement of the current system, only additions to that system. Some of the more experienced companies, like Exodraft, a world leader in their field with clients in over 40 countries, that provide heat recovery systems will be able to recommend an appropriate system which will be compatible with your current ventilation system.

The recommendation should also take account of space as many of the recovery systems additions can be placed in empty spaces in ceilings or in existing cupboard spaces.

Health: As a heat recovery system uses heat which would otherwise have been expelled into the atmosphere to heat new air, some people think that no recycling of air takes place which can of course cause problems with allergies and other health issues.

However, the more advanced heat recovery systems do not heat the existing air in a building as they suck in outside air which they then heat from the outgoing air, maintaining constant temperatures without the need to use as much new energy.

Global Warming: Although we are supposed to be experiencing global warming it does not mean that we can reduce our heating needs in a household let alone in industry and yet we are all expected to make some contribution towards the health of our planet and so, just as recycling of materials can help, so can the recycling of heat.

When heat is recycled by way of a heat recovery system though, unlike the recycling of materials, the person doing the recycling can actually get some financial benefit from it. In many instances as much as 80% to 90% of all heat produced, is sent into the atmosphere via venting ducts and so is lost in terms of efficiency.

A heat recovery system however, capturers that discarded heat and uses it to reheat whatever is needed.

Maintenance: A good quality heat recovery system needs minimal maintenance but even the best systems will need cleaning from time to time. To facilitate the cleaning of a heat exchange unit, some of the better heat recovery system providers, like Exodraft, will allow a second heat exchanger to be ordered so as not to disrupt the system whilst routine maintenance cleaning takes place.

Budgeting Heating Expenses: Most industrial businesses find that one of their largest expenses is heating either for their buildings or for their industrial processes and their annual budgets have to allow for this. Once a heat recovery system has been installed though and is up and running, once the initial cost has been recouped, allowances in the budget for heating costs can be reduced, providing more cash in hand for more constructive ventures.

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