1. Question: how does the Everclean Green system function?
Answer: The process uses invisible energy fields called “broadband” electromagnetic energy. This “broad” band of electromagnetic wavelengths is not only destructive to microorganisms, toxins and house dust, but, in the presence of a catalyst, certain wavelengths will convert airborne moisture into a very powerful hydroxide molecule, which, in turn, breaks down contaminates and debris into a benign gas.
2. Question: By replacing the filter with the Everclean Green system, what happens to dust and/or debris circulating through the heating and cooling system?
Answer: Much like water changes states from a liquid to a gas when exposed to heat (evaporation), organic debris circulating within the HVAC system can be converted to a benign gas when exposed to sufficient amounts of certain wavelengths of energy. This is what occurs with the Everclean Green system. By eliminating the filter and installing the energy force field, organic debris (germs, house dust, toxins, etc.) circulating in the air handling system, is exposed to broadband electromagnetic energy, thereby changing the toxin to a new state – from a solid to a benign gas such as CO2 and/or water vapor (H2O).
3. Question: Can the Everclean Green Force-Field be seen?
Answer: No, the force-field itself cannot be seen. The workings of the process are invisible, much like the energy involved in microwave, radio waves, and other energy wavelengths. This means that, unlike before, there is no barrier (such as a filter) in the airflow of the HVAC system; yet, the system does have the ability to clean the air (convert particles into water droplets and benign gas) down to the smallest virus and bacteria, which conventional filters cannot do. And finally, by installing the Everclean Green, the HVAC system can be converted into a self-cleaning unit (much like a self-clean oven or self defrost refrigerator).
4. Question: Is the Everclean Green system just an ultraviolet (UV) light?
Answer: No. The Everclean Green uses a two-pronged approach to clean the air and kill common germs. Yes, the Everclean Green system does use an ultraviolet lamp in its process; however, this UV lamp is a specialized broadband device that gives off multiple wavelengths and bandwidths (electromagnetic energy). This broadband energy is the engine that runs the entire process. Certain levels (or bands) of this energy act to directly destroy different levels of contaminates, while other wavelengths (in the presence of a catalyst) can cause the formation of hydroxide out of airborne water. Hydroxide is very destructive to germs, airborne toxins and house dust.
5. Question: Doesn’t there need to be a filter in the HVAC system to prevent airborne particles from harming sensitive system parts and to help keep the indoor air clean?
Answer: The filter has never prevented debris from collecting on sensitive parts. As a mater of fact, filters add to the debris through the ‘bionesting’ growth (microbial debris, metabolic toxic gases, allergens and pathogens) that occurs on the filter. In addition, the powerful system fan pulls off the debris growing and collecting on the filter further into the system and out into the breathable space.
6. Question: Is it true that the growth of debris on the filter and A/C evaporative coil contribute in a large way to the pollution indoors?
Answer: True. The filter & A/C coil are among the biggest sources of indoor contaminates due to the ‘bionesting’ of germs and allergens that occurs. Indoor air is now more polluted than it was in the 1940’s. In fact, the EPA ranks indoor pollution among the top four environmental risks to public heath. The dirty filter and AC coil are two of the largest reasons why indoor pollution have increased to such dangerous levels.
7. Question: Does the presence of the filter affect the efficiency of the HVAC system?
Answer: Yes. Both the filter and dirty A/C coil are the main reasons the airflow in HVAC systems are restricted to dangerously low levels. For example, the A/C coil needs 400 cubic feet per minute (CFM) of air per ton to operate effectively, yet the nation’s 89 million HVAC systems operate at only about 265 CFM per ton. This in turn, causes the nation systems to oprate at approximently 34% below their efficiency ratings, wasting approximately 212 billion kWh of electricity annually. This waste represents the amount of energy that could operate 17.2 million homes for one year!
8. Question: Is there any advantage to using a filter in an HVAC system?
Answer: Using a system filter has advantages and many disadvantages. See below for a breakdown:
Advantage
The filter is effective at what it was designed to do – that is, to capture a certain amount of airborne particles. If one is concerned only about the collection of a very small quantity of the total amount of debris saturating the indoor air, then the filter is probably the appropriate tool.
Disadvantages
The filter is only able to clean a small percentage of the total particulates. There is approximately 16,000 cubic feet of air in a 2000 sq. ft. home that is pulled through an operating HVAC system every 8-12 minutes. A standard 1 inch filter cannot clean the entire volume of air in such a short period. At most the filter can only deal with about 5% - 10% of the total debris. But further, it adds to the debris problem.
The filter only has the ability to collect debris down to .03 microns. Most viruses, bacteria, toxins and the smallest of particles are smaller – this represents the unseen 90 percent of airborne contaminates. This means the most dangerous of contaminates are not being managed in any way.
The filter is not effective at reducing the amount of dangerous microbial contaminates. In fact, the filter’s presence promotes the growth of such toxins. Most indoor contaminates are based upon organic compounds, which become food source for microorganisms. What the filter does collect becomes nourishment for microorganisms present in the filter mesh. As a result, explosive microbial growth is common in these areas. The result is microbial contamination throughout the home. In addition, the metabolic gases given off by these contaminates are associated with the formaldehyde and benzene family of gases, and are generally rather toxic.
Filters starve the HVAC system of needed airflow, reducing the system’s efficiency and wasting energy. Most filters are rated by the standard of “Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value” (MERV rating). This rating indicates the ability of a filter to capture particles. There is a high propensity to “upgrade” HVAC systems to filters with higher MERV ratings – thinking this is in some way better for the system. However, this is simply not the case -- the higher the MERV rating, the larger the starvation of air and, thus, the greater the energy loss.
Most system filters are poorly maintained. Simply put, the filter is ‘out of sight, out of mind’. The result is that a large majority of filters are not replaced or cleaned on a timely basis. Less than 12% of the nation’s homeowners adequately care for filters because of the inconvenience of doing so. Thus, most systems commonly operate with debris-laden filters that severely restrict airflow and increase energy consumption.
Dirty and high efficiency filters lead to additional system contamination. As mentioned, many of today’s systems operate with dirty or highly restrictive filters, many times restricting the system of up to 50% of needed airflow. The system fan is forced to seek make-up air from elsewhere in the system. It then pulls air through cracks and holes in the ducts and fan housing beyond the restricting filter, pulling with it dust and debris. This additional debris not only coats system parts but is redirected back into the breathable air.
One of the biggest problems for airflow in HVAC is something termed “undersized return” – or undersized return air duct. In the majority of cases the cause of this is simply the filter. With a highly restrictive (i.e.: MERV rated) and/or debris-laden filter, insufficient air makes it through the return duct (where the filter is located) to properly feed the HVAC system. The result of this is that the system must work harder to properly function -- thus, accelerating energy consumption. By removing the filter, perhaps up to 90% of undersized return air ducts can be corrected.
9. Question: Is it true that the air conditioning evaporative coil is perhaps the largest source of indoor airborne mold?
Answer: In most cases, yes. The dark, damp condition at the e-coil is ideal for the growth of many types of molds. The e-coil may be the single largest source for producing molds in an average home. In addition, mold growth at the e-coil and in the waste pan produces mycelium enzymes. These enzyme byproducts tend to be very sticky. It is often referred to as “green (or black) slime” in drip pans. The slime from the mold growth accumulating on the e-coil fins accelerates the collection of house dust and other organic materials on the metal fins. This organic dust and slime become nutrients for the growing molds and bacteria. This sticky enzyme material flows across the surface of the e-coil and between the fins, building to a point where airflow is limited. The enzyme stems produced here, caught in the passing air, go airborne, becoming some of the world’s most aggressive allergens. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates between 60 – 80 percent of the primary causes for allergies and asthmas are molds.
10. Question: Does the debris growing and collecting on the coil effect the energy efficiency of the HVAC systems?
Answer: Yes. When the A/C evaporator coil becomes loaded with debris (from microbial growth and airborne collection) it severely compounds the energy-waste problem. There are two reasons for this: (a) the debris coating the fins restricts airflow through the fins, preventing effective evaporation of the refrigerant and, in turn, cooling; and (b) in order to have an effective heat exchange between the airflow and the metal fins, the fins need to be clean. As debris coats the fins, it acts as insulation, preventing direct contact of air to fins – the heat exchange ratio collapses, cooling efficiency drops. The Environmental Protection Agency has reported that a debris buildup of .042 inches (about the thickness of plastic wrap) on the e-coil can result in an efficiency decrease of 21 percent.
11. Question: In addition to eliminating the HVAC filter, can the Everclean Green also help to keep the evaporative coil clean?
Answer: Yes. One of the objectives of the Everclean Green Force-Field is to convert any system to “self-cleaning,” and that is primarily focused upon the coil zone.
12. Question: Can the Everclean Green Force Field be used in existing older HVAC systems as well newly installed units?
Answer: Yes. The key for gaining system efficiency is to get 400 CFM per ton of airflow through the A/C. Currently, the nation’s 89-million HVAC systems average about 265 CFM -- caused by starved airflow from dirty, restrictive filters, and loaded A/C coils. By keeping the coil clean and eliminating the restrictive filter, the system (old or newly installed) can get 400 CFM per ton, causing a big jump in energy efficiency on a continuous basis. With an adjustment in fan speed and refrigerant charge (lower for both), the system (old or new) can get a big drop in energy use, perhaps up to 35% less energy needed.
13. Question: is there a relationship between a dirty, contaminated HVAC system and unit efficiency?
Answer: Yes. A dirty system is never efficient. In addition, there is more wear and tear on system components in a dirty system. There is a direct relationship between trying to control debris within the unit and efficiency of the system. Many times, a restrictive filter is used to try to prevent a dirty system; however, it doesn’t really clean the system or the air and causes an acceleration in energy use. In much the same way, a dirty coil restricts air, promotes microbial growth, and hinders efficient cooling ratio.
14. Question: What do we mean when we say that we can help to ‘green the home’ with the use of Everclean Green?
To most people, pollution and energy consumption are tied together. The reduction of the use of petroleum for energy has as the primary reason of reducing our “carbon footprint.” Thus, when one is able to reduce indoor contamination and energy use, one takes a major step forward in the ‘greening of the home.’ And since the HVAC system is the largest single energy waster and the biggest source of indoor contamination, true ‘home greening’ can take place by installing an Everclean Green system and eliminating these problems within the HVAC system.