WASHINGTON, DC — A recently released Department of Energy (DOE) report states that energy consumption by auxiliary equipment in commercial hvac systems is much larger than previously thought, about 1.5 quadrillion Btu, equivalent to the energy used by 23 million cars each year.

This energy is used mainly to operate equipment, such as fans and pumps, that supports the primary hvac equipment, distributes heating and cooling, and provides ventilation for buildings and offices.

The findings reveal that the energy used by auxiliary hvac equipment is equal to about 10% of all the energy used by commercial buildings in the United States. Indoor air quality concerns, added filtration, and increasing ventilation rates have increased the energy used for air movement in buildings.