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Why Energy Efficiency Is Becoming the Real Currency

As global power demand surges from AI and renewables reshape the grid, businesses must turn to energy efficiency to cut costs, reduce risk, and stay resilient.

Ava Montini

Oct 20, 2025

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For the first time in history, renewables have overtaken coal as the world’s largest source of electricity, making up 34.3% of global power generation in the first half of 2025. (The Guardian) Wind and solar are leading the charge, but the global energy landscape is entering a new and more complex era — one defined not just by how we produce power, but by how much we use.


And lately, usage is spiking.


The AI Boom Is Rewriting the Energy Equation

From data centers to chip foundries, the AI boom has ignited a new kind of industrial revolution. Major tech firms (such as Nvidia, Microsoft and others) are no longer waiting for the U.S. grid to catch up; they’re building their own power plants. In fact, one analysis finds that electricity costs in some regions near large AI data centre installations have surged up to 267% compared with five years ago. (Bloomberg)



It’s not just abstract. In the U.S., wholesale electricity prices that would have been modest in 2020 are now far higher in data-centre hotspots. (Sandbox)


Why is this relevant?

  • These high-demand loads strain the grid, making the cost of electricity (and grid services) higher for everyone.

  • The more power-hungry the infrastructure becomes, the greater the business risk for enterprises that rely on stable, affordable energy.

  • As grid infrastructure lags behind demand, companies and organizations have to ask: What control do we have over our energy consumption?


When Power Becomes a Premium

Every kilowatt-hour now carries more weight, especially for companies operating large buildings or complex HVAC systems (sound familiar?). Efficiency isn’t just an ESG metric anymore; it’s a business imperative tied directly to cost-control and resilience.



We’re now at a moment where:

  • Renewables are expanding fast, but demand is rising even faster in some tech/industrial sectors. For example, the International Energy Agency (IEA) projects that electricity demand from data centres will more than double by 2030 to around 945 TWh — “more than four times faster than the growth of total electricity consumption from all other sectors”. (IEA)

  • Some regions are seeing localized shortages, transmission constraints and higher wholesale power prices. In the U.S., wholesale electricity prices in several markets were up by 40-80 % in 2025 compared with 2024. (Construction Physics)

  • Organizations that wait for the “grid fix” may find themselves paying a premium (or exposed to reliability risk) in the meantime.


Put simply: If you can’t fully control your energy supply, you must control your energy use. Efficiency becomes the operational hedge.


The Efficiency Imperative

Here’s where the story turns from macro trends into actionable insight. The good news: The same technologies driving smarter AI are also enabling smarter buildings and systems. Intelligent filtration, automation, low-pressure HVAC systems, demand-response strategies — these are the tools to control the energy side of the business.


Here are three reasons why now is the time to focus on performance and efficiency:

  1. Cost Avoidance Becomes Value Creation

    With energy prices under pressure and demand growth uncertain, reducing consumption becomes a direct cost-mitigation strategy.– Efficiency improvements often pay back faster when baseline energy costs are rising.


  2. Grid Risk = Business Risk

    Relying solely on external supply (even if green) is a vulnerability; the more you rely on the grid, the more you’re exposed to spikes, shortages or regulatory premium pricing.– Being energy-efficient gives you more independence and control.


  3. Sustainability Meets Differentiation

    With the global pivot to renewables (for example, the projection that global renewable capacity additions between 2025-2030 will be ~4,600 GW) IEA — the organisations that get ahead now won’t just be “green” — they’ll be efficient green. That matters for brand, operations, risk profile.


When you think about building automation, indoor air quality and HVAC systems, you’re often dealing with the largest energy loads after lighting in a built environment. By focusing on filtration, optimization and smart control, you’re reducing both the peak load and the total energy used, which in the current climate is exactly the kind of strategic leverage organizations need.


  • Yes: the news about renewables overtaking coal is encouraging — that shift shows progress. But it also hides a key truth: demand is increasing fast, thanks in part to data, AI, buildings and more.

  • That means supply-side improvements alone aren’t enough. They must be matched by demand-side discipline (i.e., efficiency).

  • Organizations that act now to optimize their energy consumption will be better positioned, from cost, risk and sustainability standpoints, in the years ahead.


So whether you’re managing a campus, commercial building or industrial facility: don’t wait for the grid to “catch up.” Focus on what you control. Because in this new power era, efficiency is the real currency.



MORE INFORMATION

  • To explore available energy-efficient upgrades and funding programs supporting sustainable building projects, visit our Energy Grants page.


  • Learn how our Pro Filter's are helping organizations reduce energy use and operating costs while improving air quality across their facilities.

Do Air Purifiers Remove Smells?

  • Writer: Jennifer Crowley
    Jennifer Crowley
  • Jul 31, 2023
  • 4 min read

Updated: Jul 9, 2024

Image of an African American man holding his nose with a grimace on his face - he doesn't like what he smells
Air purifiers with activated carbon are better at absorbing unwanted odours, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and organic compounds, creating that crisp, fresh air feel.

Indoor air pollution is a serious concern for commercial and industrial facilities and homeowners. One of the most common complaints about indoor air quality is the presence of unpleasant odours. Whether it’s caused by smoking, cooking, or pets, pungent odours can be a real problem in any indoor space. Many people turn to air purifiers to solve this problem, but do air purifiers reduce odours?


In this blog post, we will explore how air purifiers can help with bad smells and why certain air purifiers are better than others. Specifically, we will discuss how air purifiers with activated carbon are better at absorbing unwanted odours, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and organic compounds, creating that crisp, fresh air feel.


Whether you’re dealing with industrial chemicals, cigarette smoke, or cooking smells, we’ll help you understand how an air purifier might solve your odour problem. So, let’s dive in!


Common Causes of Indoor Odour

Indoor air can be more polluted than outdoor air, even in large industrial cities. A big reason your indoor space might have a strange smell is the lack of ventilation. When an indoor room isn’t adequately ventilated, contaminants like allergens, VOCs and odours become trapped, and a lack of airflow increases indoor pollution levels and encourages mould and bacteria growth.


Mould and Mildew

Proper identification is crucial when dealing with household fungi due to the different treatment methods required. These fungi emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that produce a musty smell during various stages of growth. Although the spores of these fungi can be toxic, their odour can serve as a helpful indication that there is an issue in your home.


Using various ventilation methods and ensuring adequate airflow indoors is an excellent way of preventing mould and mildew. However, if you come across mould or a musty smell in your home, you must act swiftly after discovering them to avoid any potential health hazards.


Smoke

Instead of covering up foul odours with stronger fragrances, it’s essential to address the root cause of the smell as much as possible. This can include eliminating the source of the odour and regularly cleaning the affected area. An effective air purifier can also play a crucial role in eliminating lingering and unpleasant smells in your home once the source has been removed and cleaning has been done.


Pets

Pets, through the secretion of tiny proteins, oils, and other substances and shedding dander, can create an unpleasant odour in your home. Additionally, dander can pose a significant threat to individuals who suffer from allergies.


Chemical Contaminants

Chemical contaminants can be found in various sources, one of the most common being Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). These organic chemicals containing carbon can evaporate into the air and cause odours. They are commonly found in office and home environments and can be emitted from a wide range of products found in these spaces.


HEPA Air Purifiers Remove Smells

HEPA filters are designed to capture large particles. However, they can only remove odours, chemicals, gases, or VOCs with additional technology. Therefore, they could be more efficient in eliminating odours.


HEPA Air Purifiers with Activated Carbon

With activated carbon filters, air purifiers can effectively absorb unwanted odours, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and other organic compounds, leaving your space smelling fresh and clean. Activated carbon filters work by adsorbing VOCs onto their surface, where they are trapped and neutralized. When used together, HEPA air purifiers and activated carbon filters can effectively remove odours from the air.


Blade HEPA Air Purifier

The Blade HEPA Air Purifier has a comprehensive multi-stage filtration process to ensure a completely clean air environment in any deployed indoor setting. The four stages of air filtration are:

Illustration of the Blade Air HEPA Air Purifier's interior with an outline of each part including the main fan, pre-filter, airflow, HEP Filter, Carbon filter and outflow
Meet the Blade Air HEPA Air Purifier

Stage 1

Large to medium particle pre-filter to initially remove dust, dirt, and debris.

Stage 2

Pulling pre-filtered air through a high-efficiency variable speed fan.

Stage 3

Industry-leading cubic HEPA removes 99.97% of all particles at 0.3 microns in size.

Stage 4

Pleated activated carbon filter for the absorption of odours, gasses and chemicals.


Why is the Blade HEPA Air Purifier the best choice?

The Premium air purifier is a perfect solution to enhance the air quality in any space, regardless of size. Equipped with one cubic foot of HEPA filter that has been certified and independently lab-tested, it can effectively remove 99.97% of airborne particles that are 0.3 microns and smaller. Additionally, it has an active carbon filter that captures odours, VOCs, and organic compounds, perfect for odour control.


Learn more about the Blade HEPA Air Purifier.


Additional tips to remove odour

The most immediate thing you can do to improve indoor odour and air quality is to open windows and doors so that fresh air can circulate. Once you shut them, make sure to run a high-quality air purifier to clean whatever contaminants remain in the air. In addition to an air purifier, ensure your HVAC filters and air ducts are clean and continuously running to control indoor humidity levels and prevent a build-up of contaminants.

Explore expert insights, stay up to date with industry events, and gain a deeper understanding of the cutting-edge developments that are revolutionizing the indoor air quality landscape within Blade Air's comprehensive Insights Hub.

You can also subscribe to our monthly newsletter below for exclusive early access to Blade's Insights content, uncovering tomorrow's air quality advancements before they hit our Hub.

Insights Hub

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