NC State Fairgrounds Installs NPBI Technology for Safer Air

Businesses all over the Southeast and the country are adding equipment to their existing HVAC systems to help improve indoor air quality. Keeping building occupants safe is a primary concern for building owners and they’re looking for ways to use federal funds for COVID-19 relief.

Recently, the North Carolina State Agriculture Department worked with consulting engineers at Stanford White, a Salas O’Brien Company, to find appropriate technology that could potentially decrease pathogens, viruses, and other contaminants in the air. The team from the Ag Department learned about needlepoint bipolar ionization (NPBI) technology from Global Plasma Solutions based in Charlotte, NC. Contractors from Watco Corporation were able to install the new technology in HVAC systems in seven buildings on the NC State Fairgrounds.   Recently, WNCN in Raleigh shared the story.

Simple Explanation of How NPBI Technology Works

NPBI generates ions similar to the naturally occurring outdoor ions which work constantly to clean the air. Using the existing HVAC system to deliver the ions into the air, these ions disperse in the space and then seek out and form bonds with particles in the air. These particles could be pollutants, dust, dander, pollen, smoke and pathogens like mold, viruses, and bacteria. As the ions form bonds with the particles, it creates a snowball effect where the particle clusters become larger and larger. Then, the larger clusters become easier to safely filter out of the air.

These ions are generated without producing ozone or other harmful byproducts. Best of all, independent testing confirms that the technology fights pathogens and limits the spread of viruses. (Click on the hyperlink for testing results and disclaimers.)  

The NC State Fairgrounds was able to purchase their GPS system with federal funds for COVID-19 relief. While many smaller businesses and institutions don’t have the same access to federal funds to boost indoor air quality, there are a variety of ways that businesses, schools, and universities can fund HVAC upgrades.

2020 Tax Benefits Available through the March 2020 CARES Act

Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act in March of 2020. The overall goal was to provide relief to businesses and individual impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Under Section 168 of the tax code the cost of all equipment and components of the “heating, ventilating, and air conditioning system” can be fully deducted for tax purposes in the first year it is placed in service versus over a 39-year period.
• Tax deductions can be taken for the full amount of equipment and labor costs for improvements to a commercial building.
• There is no limitation on equipment costs.
• There is a retroactive portion of the CARES act that allows for a 100% bonus depreciation for qualified property purchased and in service after September 27, 2017 and before January 1, 2023.

Safer air is possible for all commercial buildings. It’s a great time to take advantage of federal funding, like the NC State Agriculture Department did and also to take advantage of the tax benefits offered by the 2020 CARES Act. If you want to upgrade your HVAC system to help improve the indoor air quality for your building occupants, talk to your local rep to find out more about what options are available for you.