HVAC stands for heating, ventilation and air conditioning, and is the collective name given to the mechanical systems that ensure occupant comfort. While every effort is put into creating a comfortable building without the use of HVAC, most buildings require some mechanical intervention. Large savings are available through selecting appropriate system types and sizes, and applying intelligent scheduling and operation of these systems in order to reduce peak energy loads, while minimizing overall energy use. Detailed models of the building and HVAC system allow multiple solutions to be tested and optimized, and potential savings can be quantified.

 

Indoor CFD - Computational Fluid Dynamics can be used to determine airflows within a building, which can be very useful for evaluating occupant comfort. In this image, a less conventional method of cool air delivery is being tested.