Annual Cooling Cost by Factory Size
500 m² | 1 × HVLS V200i · or AC if sealed
| Save $5K+/yr
|
1,000 m² | 1 × HVLS V300i · payback 14 mo
| Save $11K/yr
|
2,000 m² | 1 × HVLS V300i · payback 12–18 mo
| Save $23K/yr ★
|
5,000 m² | 2–3 × HVLS + BAS · payback 12 mo
| Save $49K/yr
|
10,000 m²+ | Multi-unit system · custom layout
| Save $100K+/yr
|
01 — The Core Insight
There Is a Size Where Air Conditioning Stops Making Economic Sense. It's 2,000m².
Below that threshold, with the right conditions, AC is viable. Above it, the physics of large-space cooling make AC unsustainable — regardless of the brand, efficiency rating, or installation quality.
What you pay with HVLS at 2,000m²
HERO-5 V300i (7.3m)
$900
per year — total. Energy only. Near-zero maintenance.
One Hamilton Air HERO-5 V300i at 7.3m diameter covers your entire 2,000m² floor. 3 kW versus 80–120 kW. The energy ratio is 27 to 1.
- 3.0 kW — full speed operation
- ~$0/yr maintenance — no gearbox, no refrigerant
- 50,000+ hour motor life — no major overhauls
- Unaffected when loading doors open
- Uniform floor-level coverage — no hot zones
What you're paying with AC at 2,000m²
Rooftop packaged units
$32,000
per year — energy + maintenance + refrigerant
And that number goes up every year as electricity tariffs rise, refrigerants phase out, and compressors age toward their next overhaul cycle.
- 80–120 kW running continuously 10 hrs/day
- $8,000–$12,000/yr maintenance + refrigerant
- $15,000–$40,000 compressor overhaul every 7–10 yrs
- Loses 40–60% effectiveness when loading doors open
- Temperature uneven — hot zones between vents
The number most facility managers haven't calculated: not the cost of switching — but the ongoing cost of not switching. At 2,000m², every 12 months of delay is approximately $31,000 of additional cost compared to a facility that has already transitioned. The installation pays for itself inside 18 months. After that, it's pure saving — for 15+ years.
The energy ratio
27×
HVLS fans consume 3 kW to cover 2,000m². The equivalent AC system draws 80–120 kW. That ratio — 27 to 1 — does not change with brand, model, or inverter technology.
Year 1 net positive
+$23K
A single Hamilton Air HERO-5 V300i at 7.3m diameter covers 2,000–2,500m² with 15% overlap margin. No second unit required. No complex layout design needed.
One unit. Full coverage.
1fan
A single Hamilton Air HERO-5 V300i at 7.3m diameter covers 2,000–2,500m² with 15% overlap margin. No second unit required. No complex layout design needed.
Month-by-Month Payback — 2,000m² HVLS Installation
M0
Installation complete
M1
First bill 85% lower
M3
$5,500 recovered
M6
$11,000 recovered
M12-18
Full capital back
Y2-15
$23K+ pure saving/yr
What a 2,000m² Factory Actually Needs
For the vast majority of 2,000m² production floors and warehouses in Vietnam, the answer is straightforward: one Hamilton Air HERO-5 V300i covering the main floor, paired with 1–2 existing split AC units retained for enclosed offices and meeting rooms.
The HERO-5 V300i at 7.3m diameter creates a column of air 7.3 meters across at ceiling level. As it reaches floor level, this column spreads to cover approximately 2,000–2,500m² with airflow consistently above 0.5 m/s — the threshold for effective evaporative cooling of the human body. Workers at 33°C ambient with 0.5 m/s airflow report equivalent thermal comfort to workers at 27°C with no air movement.
The fan mounts to the structural roof with a certified drop rod. Installation takes 1–2 working days. No production shutdown is required. The BigFans.vn installation team works bay by bay — fans are operational before the crew moves to the adjacent section. Most customers receive their first electricity bill reduction within 30 days of commissioning.
For facilities with specific hot spots — near furnaces, large presses, or loading dock zones — adding 1–2 evaporative coolers in those zones brings perceived cooling down an additional 4–8°C, creating a combined system that approaches AC-level comfort at roughly 8% of AC energy cost.
HERO-5 V300i Full Technical Specifications
Complete engineering specifications for the V300i Series. Available in three blade configurations: 18 ft, 20 ft, 22 ft ftand 24 ft diameter.
|
Specification |
VF30X-D7300 (24ft) | VF30X-D6700 (22ft) | VF30X-D6100 (20ft) | VF30X-D5500 (18ft) |
| Diameter | 7300 mm (24 ft) | 6700 mm (22 ft) | 6100 mm (20 ft) | 5500 mm (18 ft) |
| Blades Quantity | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Weight | 115 kg | 110 kg | 105 kg | 100 kg |
| Power | 1.35 kW | 1.3 kW | 1.0 kW | 0.85 kW |
| Max Speed | 50 rpm | 55 rpm | 60 rpm | 65 rpm |
| Max Air Volume | 14515 m³/min | 12560 m³/min | 10747 m³/min | 8040 m³/min |
| Power Supply (1 Phase) | 220 V | 220 V | 220 V | 220 V |
| Rated Input Current | 10.5 A | 10.0 A | 8.0 A | 7.0 A |
| Rated Output Current | 3.8 A | 3.5 A | 2.5 A | 2.2 A |
| Noise Level | < 39 dB | < 39 dB | < 39 dB | < 39 dB |
| Wind Coverage | Ø38–Ø43 m | Ø35–Ø40 m | Ø32–Ø37 m | Ø30–Ø32 m |
03 - Options
Three Options for 2,000m² — Ranked Honestly
Exception If your 2,000m² facility is a pharmaceutical production area, food cold chain hub, or precision electronics cleanroom requiring ±2°C temperature precision and humidity control — full AC is mandatory for those zones. HVLS serves as a supplementary air circulation tool in this configuration. Contact BigFans.vn for a hybrid specification.
✦ Recommended
1 × HVLS V300i + Retain Spot AC for Offices
Single HERO-5 V300i covers the production floor completely. Keep 1–2 existing split AC units for enclosed offices. Lowest lifetime cost, best floor-level comfort, ESG-ready energy data built in.
$8,000–$14,000 installed · Payback 12–18 months · $900/yr thereafter
✓ Enhanced Comfort
HVLS + Evaporative Coolers in High-Heat Zones
Add 2–3 evaporative coolers near machinery, ovens, or loading docks where radiant heat is highest. Combined perceived cooling effect reaches –10 to –14°C in those zones. Ideal for extreme summer heat conditions.
+$4,000–$8,000 for coolers · Maximum comfort, still 92% cheaper than AC
✗ Avoid at This Size
Full Industrial AC System
At 2,000m², requires 4–6 rooftop units consuming 80–120 kW. Loses 40–60% effectiveness when loading doors open. Annual operating cost exceeds the entire HVLS installation cost every 5–6 months. Not economically justifiable.
$30,000–$55,000 Year 1 total · $32,000+/yr ongoing · No payback
The Most Common Questions About Factory Cooling by Size
For a standard 2,000m² factory with ceiling height above 5m, one Hamilton Air HERO-5 V300i HVLS fan (7.3m diameter) covering the production floor plus 1–2 spot AC units for enclosed offices is the optimal solution. The HERO-5 V300i covers 2,000–2,500m² consuming 3 kW versus 80–120 kW for equivalent AC coverage. Annual energy saving: approximately $23,000. Full capital payback: 12–18 months at current Vietnamese electricity tariffs. After payback, the system generates pure saving for 15+ years with near-zero maintenance.
One Hamilton Air HERO-5 V300i at 7.3m diameter is sufficient for a standard 2,000m² open-plan warehouse with ceiling height 5–12m and no major structural obstructions. The fan covers 2,000–2,500m² with 15% overlap margin. If the layout has significant dividing walls or the ceiling exceeds 14m, two units positioned with overlapping coverage zones provide better uniformity. BigFans.vn includes a free fan placement layout design with every project inquiry — this takes ceiling height, structural layout, and heat load positions into account.
At 2,000m², two things happen simultaneously: the number of AC units needed crosses the threshold where collective startup current spikes trigger significant industrial peak demand charges, and one HVLS fan at 7.3m diameter can cover the entire floor in a single unit. The energy ratio is 27:1 in HVLS's favor. A facility running full industrial AC for 2,000m² pays approximately $32,000 per year in energy and maintenance. The equivalent HVLS system costs $900 per year to operate. The installation pays back in 12–18 months — after which the $31,000 annual saving is permanent for the system's 15+ year lifespan.
Not necessarily — ceiling height and door activity are more important than floor area at this scale. For a 500–1,000m² facility with ceiling height above 5m and loading dock activity, one smaller HVLS model (HERO-5 V200i, 3.1–5.5m diameter) typically outperforms AC on 3-year total cost. The key: if your space has frequent door openings, AC efficiency collapses regardless of size, while HVLS is completely unaffected. For truly sealed spaces under 300m² with ceilings below 4m, split AC may be more economical. A free site assessment from BigFans.vn will give you the specific numbers for your layout.
At 5,000m²+, full AC is economically indefensible in any facility with regular loading dock operations. The standard specification is 2–3 Hamilton Air HERO-5 V300i units covering the production floor, consuming 6–9 kW total versus 120–160 kW for AC. Annual energy saving: $45,000–$65,000. Payback: 10–16 months. BAS integration (BACnet/Modbus) adds an additional 10–15% saving through adaptive operation. For mixed environments, HVLS covers the production floor while spot AC handles enclosed offices and any precision manufacturing zones.
Figuring out your airflow needs can be a pain in the ass—especially on your own. Get in touch and let our airflow experts guide the way.
Contact Office & Showroom
📍 Address: 304-306 Truong Van Bang Street, Cat Lai, Ho Chi Minh City
📧 Email: bigfans@hamiltonair.vn
📞 Hotline (24/7 Support): +84 909 899 367
📞 Residential Ceiling Fan Consultation: +84 915 123 860
📞 HVLS Large Fan Consultation: +84 913 123 860
