Humidification and Dehumidification at Universities and Higher Education

Q: What decarbonisation strategies are available for humidity control?

The main strategy to reduce the carbon footprint of a humidification system is to ensure it can operate on electricity rather than gas. This allows energy use from sustainable sources only. This typically means replacing gas-fired humidifiers, or cold-water humidifier that work alongside gas pre-heating, with electric steam humidifiers.

Benefits

Humidity control is beneficial in many ways across a university estate

Optimal conditions for research

Humidity control plays a crucial role in maintaining the integrity of materials and processes.

Healthy conditions for students and staff

Proper levels of humidity protect respiratory health and prevent airborne cross-infection.

Ideal atmosphere for preservation

Archives, libraries and museums all contain valuable materials that are sensitve to moisture.

Universities and higher education

Benefits USP Use cases References FAQs

Humidification for universities and higher education

University courses cover a hugely diverse range of industry sectors. So, when the subject being taught deals with materials that are affected by humidity, specialist environmental control is needed.

Medical schools will have MRI scanners that need around 50%RH for accurate imaging. Research labs will need to maintain humidity levels for the processes being undertaken. Veterinary departments will need to maintain humidity in line with the requirements of the animals in question. Photographic facilities need to protect sensitive films and prevent unwanted evaporation of chemicals. Music centres will need to provide environments that protect the integrity of wooden instruments.

Proper humidification in university buildings supports flexible academic use and meets the diverse needs of various faculties. Condair provides advice and engineering support to universities of all sizes to help them maintain the ideal humidity levels no matter what process is being undertaken.

Dehumidification and dehumidifiers for university estates

Excess humidity can cause mould and mildew, which can damage a building’s fabric, make conditions unhealthy for occupants or harm materials and furniture. A university estate often has historic buildings where it can be difficult to control the internal humidity. Archives and storage areas often need proactive dehumidification to preserve historic or valuable assets.

Many fields of study involve materials or processes that need consistently low humidity. These include food or life sciences, electronics, and art conservation and museum studies.

Dehumidification can be applied locally with the use of in-room dehumidifiers or centrally in an air handling unit that treats the air across a building. Condair offers a range of dehumidifiers across condensing or desiccant technologies to help the university facility manager maintain the ideal humidity for any application.

Humidity for human health

The ideal indoor humidity for human health is 40-60%RH. At this level the human respiratory system combats airborne infection more easily and fewer infectious viruses remain airborne. This not only ensures a healthy environment for students but will reduce staff absenteeism and improve operational efficiency.

Lecture halls and office environments bring people together in close proximity so maintaining an environment that mitigates airborne respiratory infection is vital.

A mid-range humidity also helps prevent issues with dry eyes, itchy skin and dehydration, which can all impact an individual’s concentration levels and ability to learn.

Use cases

Discover Condair in action

Projects and references

Hochschule HFF

Condair hybrid humidifiers deliver precise, hygienic humidity control at Munich‚the HFF University of Television and Film, ensuring comfort and ideal indoor conditions.

The Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH), Switzerland

The Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich is probably the best-known university in Switzerland and secures one of the top positions in the global ranking of universities on a regular basis. Founded in 1855 as the Swiss Federal Polytechnic, ETH is primarily dedicated to the technical, mathematical and scientific fields. Condair steam humidifiers ensure healthy and comfortable air humidity in the labs and classrooms.

Cern, Meyrin (Geneva), Switzerland

CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, is a leading institution in modern physics and nuclear research. It attracts international scientists and engineers to explore the fundamental properties of the universe, notably through its Large Hadron Collider, where atoms are accelerated to nearly the speed of light and collide.

Visitors to CERN can gain engaging insights into particle physics at the Globe of Science and Innovation. This interactive exhibit offers a deeper understanding of CERN's fascinating research projects, while our Condair RS steam humidifiers ensure optimal air moisture levels for a comfortable experience.

Harvard University

Harvard University is a private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, established 1636. Its history, influence and wealth have made it one of the most prestigious universities in the world.Condair RS steam humidifiers are helping maintain the ideal indoor humidity at Harvard University.

Cambridge University, UK

The University of Cambridge was founded in 1209 and is the world's third-oldest university in continous operation. The university includes 31 semi-autonomous constituent colleges and over 150 academic departments, faculties, and other institutions organised into six schools. Condair humidification systems are used in many buildings at The University of Cambridge across research, healthcare and heritage areas, as well as for animal and human health purposes.

University of Edinburgh

The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1582, is the sixth oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's ancient universities. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city of Edinburgh, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university.Condair is proud to be supporting the University of Edinburgh across various facilities with electric steam and evaporative humidifiers.

Ashland University

Ashland University is a mid-sized, private, non-profit university in Ashland, Ohio, United States. The university consists of a 135-acre main campus and several off-campus centers throughout central and northern Ohio.

Australia Antarctic Division

The Australian Antarctic Division's headquarters near Hobart houses Australia's national Antarctic program research efforts. The Program is highly collaborative, with partnerships across government and more than 150 national and international research institutions. These agencies employ more than 800 scientists and technical staff, making Hobart the world's largest centre of cold climate expertise and research. These institutions also support the development of approximately 150 postgraduate students, who will become the next generation of Antarctic scientific researchers.

National Art School

The National Art School, is a tertiary level art school based in Sydney, Australia. The School is an accredited Higher Education Provider offering specialised study in studio arts practice with study offered at a range of levels in various studio disciplines. The Condair CP3 steam humidifier is helping to maintain the ideal internal humidity in the school.

The University of Adelaide

The University of Adelaide is a public university in Adelaide, South Australia. Established in 1874, it is the third oldest university in Australia.

The University of Queensland

The University of Queensland, commonly referred to as UQ, is an Australian public research university primarily located in Queensland's capital city, Brisbane. Condair humidification systems are helping maintain the humidity in one of Australia's oldest, most selective and comprehensive university.

California State University

California State University, Chico, often known as Chico State, is the second-oldest campus in the 23 campus California State University system. It is located in Chico, California, about ninety miles north of Sacramento. As of the Fall 2014 semester, the university had a total enrollment of 17,287 students.

Adams State College

Adams State University is a small, state-supported liberal arts university in Alamosa, Colorado, U.S., in the San Luis Valley, home to the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve.

Frequently asked questions

How can humidifier energy use across a university estate be minimised?

Energy use can be minimised through the use of lower energy systems, such as cold water humidifiers, particularly if waste heat can be used for pre-heating. Alternatively, hours of operation can be reviewed to ensure humidity is only applied when needed. Seasonal variation of set-points can also help, so humidity levels are allowed to drop lower during the winter than the summer. Lastly humidity recovery units can reduce the overall load or the use of more accurate humidifiers can reduce operating times.

What decarbonisation strategies are available for humidity control?

Which dehumidifier has the lowest energy consumption?

As a general rule-of-thumb, condensing dehumidifiers will consume around 0.5-1.5kW of electricity to remove 1kg of moisture. A desiccant dehumidifier will need 1-3kW of electricity per kg of moisture. However, if effective heat recovery systems are used on the desiccant unit, it can deliver dehumidification at around the same level of energy than a condensing dehumidifier.

Humidity control systems often used in universities