HVAC is important for every commercial building, and owners and facility managers need to keep on top of it for a variety of reasons, including:
- Heating alone accounts for one-quarter of energy use in commercial buildings, ventilation is 10 percent and cooling accounts for 9 percent, according to the most recent Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey.
- The system plays a role in indoor environmental quality, from cleaner air to fewer noise distractions from the system. This can contribute to tenant satisfaction, health and productivity.
- System technology and features are changing. Artificial Intelligence and the Internet of Things can work together to provide various benefits, including occupant comfort and financial savings.
If your HVAC is well taken care of and maintained, and a schedule is in place, it can be one less thing you and your tenants have to think about on a daily basis.
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HVAC Trends and Renovation Options
To address these HVAC issues and concerns, we take a look at how a century-old building used displacement ventilation to improve indoor air quality and thermal comfort, including technologies that will help you save money while being more efficient.
Scott Janssen, energy engineering manager at mechanical contractor JW Danforth, notes that HVAC technology is becoming more sophisticated and able to use data better. He suggests that facilities managers “resist the urge to override some of the controls” and trust the program they’re using to see success with their HVAC setup.
The five trends we look at are:
- Smart controls
- Geothermal systems
- Integration
- Variable speed controls
- Variable Refrigerant Flow systems
We feature a fascinating look at how a century-old building used displacement ventilation to improve indoor air quality and thermal comfort. The article tells how and why architecture firm HKS chose it for its new Chicago offices.
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Displacement ventilation has provided better thermal comfort for the office and employees because the right air is in the right thermal zone, explains Tommy Zakrzewski, director of integrative energy engineering for HKS.
Read Making Displacement Ventilation Work in a Historic Building to learn more about what displacement ventilation is, benefits and best practices, and if it’s a fit for your space.
BUILDINGS Education HVAC Content
BUILDINGS media is regularly offering content through our channels to provide information on a variety of HVAC topics. We’ve had a variety of HVAC BUILDINGS educational sessions that offer you continuing education credits and provide information.
