An unfired makeup air system replaces the air your exhaust fans remove — without burning fuel to heat it.
Here's how. In a heated industrial building in winter, ceiling temperatures often exceed 100°F while the floor sits near 70°F. That heat is already paid for, and it's going to waste at the roof deck. Energy Jet brings fresh air in through a fabric duct at ceiling level, mixes it with that stratified heat, and delivers it to the floor at a velocity personnel cannot feel. Ceiling and floor temperatures equalize. In most applications, heating costs do not go up when the system is added — and in many buildings, fuel use goes down.
A conventional makeup air unit works differently. It burns gas to heat incoming air to a setpoint, which adds load every hour it runs. Energy Jet uses heat the building already produced.
Choosing a system
Unfired makeup air fits where a building already has real ceiling stratification — high-bay industrial space with an existing heating system — and where exhaust volumes are moderate.
Fired makeup air still makes sense where very large volumes of cold air must be tempered to a specific setpoint, or where there's no stratified heat to recover. The deciding factors are building height, existing heat source, exhaust CFM, and required supply temperature.
Energy Jet delivers air up to 500 feet into a plant and can be fitted to existing supply fans — a practical retrofit where a fired unit would need new gas service and venting. The fabric duct routes around obstructions, so ceiling congestion usually isn't a constraint.
Send us building dimensions, exhaust CFM, and your current heating system. We'll produce the layout, blower selection, and a fuel comparison against a fired unit. For mechanical contractors, that design work comes at no charge.
Exclusive regional supplier
Radiant Energy Systems is the exclusive supplier of Energy Jet unfired makeup air systems in Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana. Unfired makeup air is an uncommon approach in this region — most makeup air here is fired — so if you are evaluating it for a project, there likely isn't a competing quote to compare against.
Frequently asked questions
What is unfired makeup air?
Unfired makeup air replaces exhausted air without burning fuel to heat it. Rather than firing a burner, the system introduces outside air at ceiling level and mixes it with stratified heat already present in the building, delivering tempered air to the occupied space.
How is Energy Jet different from a direct-fired makeup air unit?
A direct-fired unit burns gas to raise incoming air to a setpoint, adding heating load whenever it operates. Energy Jet uses heat the building has already produced and stratified at the ceiling. In most applications, adding Energy Jet does not increase heating costs, and often reduces fuel consumption.
Will Energy Jet increase my heating bill?
In most cases, no. Because the system recovers stratified ceiling heat rather than generating new heat, energy costs typically stay flat or decrease. A fired makeup air unit of the same capacity adds fuel cost every hour it runs.
When should I use unfired makeup air instead of a fired unit?
Unfired makeup air is a strong fit where the building already has significant ceiling stratification and where exhaust volumes are moderate. Fired makeup air remains appropriate where very large volumes of cold outside air must be tempered to a specific setpoint, or where the building lacks stratified heat to recover.
How far can Energy Jet distribute air?
Up to 500 feet into a plant, depending on blower selection and duct configuration.
Who installs Energy Jet in Michigan?
Energy Jet is installed by mechanical contractors. Radiant Energy Systems supplies the system and produces the design. If you're a facility manager without a contractor for the work, contact us and we'll size the system and connect you with a contractor in your area.
We carry replacement parts to get your system back up and running as soon as possible.
We've compiled answers to the most commonly asked questions. If you need help, start here.
Send us a project and we'll produce the equipment layout, specifications, and energy comparison you need. No design fee for mechanical contractors.
