About - Energy Savings Of Evaporative Cooler Vent Covers
The UC Davis greenhouses at Orchard Park are functional but outdated. The most notable failing is the lack of covers for the evaporative cooler pads, which results in large-scale infiltration of cold air during periods of heating. Students combined an economic analysis with a theoretical air flow model, IR imaging, and literature review to determine the feasibility of vent cover installation at all Orchard Park greenhouses. Results show an annual energy savings of $109,000 compared to a total project cost of $233,000 – a payback period of 2.1 years. If the vent covers remain in place for 10 years, a net savings of $860,000 could be expected.