The operation of laboratory fume hoods accounts for most of the energy used in research facilities. The energy is consumed by the fan systems and conditioning of the makeup air. While these energy consumers are not different from other air-handling systems, the constraints associated with a fume system present difficult problems. The significant constraints are worker safety, precipitation, dispersion, corrosion, and reliability. The evolution of fume hood systems has seen constant-volume systems give way to variable-volume systems having heat recovery systems and refined control strategies. Described here is an energy-conserving system that has been placed in operation and a discussion of how it has met the design constraints and how it contrasts with other popular designs.

Units: I-P