Radiant cooling systems and mixed mode cooling applications are being used where appropriate.Ĭontrols ensure occupant comfort, provide safe operation of the equipment, and in a modern HVAC control system enable judicious use of energy resources. Evaporative humidification also cools the air. In dry climates, humidification may be required for comfort instead of dehumidification. Air is dehumidified by condensing its moisture on a cold surface (such as a cooling coil), or by removing the moisture through absorption (desiccant dehumidification). Cool air is not comfortable if it is too humid. Heat can also be rejected to the ground using geothermal exchange. Room air is cooled by transferring heat between spaces, such as with a water loop heat pump system, or by rejecting it to the outside air via air-cooled or water-cooled equipment. Sensible cooling involves the control of air temperature while latent cooling involves the control of air humidity. Ventilation can be accomplished passively through natural ventilation, or actively through mechanical distribution systems powered by fans.Īir-conditioning refers to the sensible and latent cooling of air. "Clean" air helps keep occupants healthy and productive. not too much CO 2), controls odors, and removes contaminants from occupied spaces. Ventilating maintains an adequate mixture of gases in the air we breath (e.g. floor/ceiling/wall radiation or radiant panels). supply air systems, perimeter fin-tube "radiators"), or by heating the occupants directly by radiation (e.g. Heating can be accomplished by heating the air within a space (e.g. Controls determine how HVAC systems operate to meet the design goals of comfort, safety, and cost-effective operation. A fourth discipline, Controls, pervades the entire HVAC field. The term HVAC refers to the three disciplines of Heating, Ventilating, and Air-Conditioning. The integrated design process can provide the means to facilitate early consideration of wind loading, vibration, blast and seismic considerations pertaining to rooftop HVAC equipment. There are also considerable opportunities for significant energy savings through efficient, integrated design, especially at the building envelope.Īn integrated and efficient building envelope with appropriate window and glazing design can not only reduce the energy and operating costs of a facility, but can also reduce the size and cost of the HVAC system needed to maintain adequate building pressurization, good indoor air quality and a comfortable thermal environment for building occupants.Īn often overlooked component of the building envelope is the relationship of the roofing system with the large HVAC equipment that is often mounted on the roof. Consequently, almost any business or government agency has the potential to realize significant savings by improving its control of HVAC operations and improving the efficiency of the system it uses. Heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems account for nearly 40% of the energy used in commercial buildings in the United States.
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