The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

A BAHAMIAN green technology provider said yesterday that UV light for air cooling systems could not only improve indoor air quality but ultimately generate energy cost savings of up to 20 per cent.

Euthalie Miller, president and chief executive of Puresscence Company, the local distributor of the Fresh-Aire UV line, said green technology was far more effective and environmentally friendly than traditional cleaning methods.

“Fresh-aire UV, which is an ultra-violet light technology, is used to improve indoor air quality,” she said. “It’s a green technology which, when placed in the air conditioning system, kills mold, viruses, bacteria and allergens, creating a healthier environment.

“Because the system is cleaner it improves the efficiency of the air conditioning systems. You can actually realise up to a 20 per cent savings with the use of this product.”

Ms Miller further explained: “It helps to reduce the maintenance for cleaning frequency, and it also helps to improve the overall health of the office and home, simply because viruses, germs and mold spores are unable to travel through the atmosphere.

“Persons who have allergies, for instance, or asthma, sinuses or respiratory issues, would benefit greatly from this product because all of the bacterium that would irritate those conditions would be killed, giving them more or less a clean room environment.”

Ms Miller said the technology, which has been gaining popularity in commercial and residential usage over the past two decades, can be retrofitted to any size system.

“They can be retrofitted to any size system except the older model box units that persons have had for some time,” she added. “We can size any system from two to 200 tonnes; anything from a commercial central air uni to a PTAC or fan coil unit to the ductless units; to the mini-split units or the five ton units.

“Traditional methods of cleaning air conditioning systems would normally include cleaning filters and cleaning cooling coils with chemicals, which can be a very harsh substance. You run the risk that the chemicals can eat away at the coil itself, damaging the coil, and some persons can have adverse reactions to the the fumes that are left. It doesn’t affect everyone, but some persons are affected.”

Fresh-Aire UV is manufactured by the Florida-based Triatomic Environmental. Ms Miller said the cost of the technology would vary depending on the size of the cooling system or unit.

She added that her company, which was launched in early 2009, has been marketing the technology to local businesses with several product trials and installations thus far.

Ms Miller said her company also performs water treatment for residential, commercial or industrial customers. “Our motto is start clean, stay clean,” she added.