Commercial HVAC Solutions You Might Not Have Thought Of

When you’re planning for your commercial heating and air conditioning needs, it pays to consider every option. You can save money, get better performance and reduce your company’s environmental impact when you make a well-informed heating and air conditioning choice. Here are three system types you may not have considered as well as a few notes about traditional HVAC options.

Geothermal

A geothermal HVAC system is environmentally friendly and can save on energy costs, but installation can be costly. It uses an electric heat pump to move water or refrigerant through a long network of underground pipes. In the summer, this underground loop transfers heat from the air inside a building into the ground. In the winter, the pipes pick up heat from the ground to add to the air inside.

Chilled Beam

Common in Europe and Australia for years, chilled beam systems aren’t well-known in the United States. In this type of system, installers place a convective coil filled with water in the ceiling to transfer heat into and out of a room. A chilled beam system can involve two pipes for cooling only or four pipes to provide both heating and cooling. The primary advantage is lower operating costs. A chilled beam system can be up to 20% more efficient than a traditional system.

Night Sky Cooling

A simple and unusual way to cool a building, night sky radiant cooling has been available for decades but isn’t widely used. Sometimes called nocturnal radiative cooling, it involves pumping fluid warmed inside a building through flat solar panels on the roof. The fluid is cooled by the nighttime temperature and sent back into the building for use in air conditioning. In some areas, it may not get cool enough at night for a night sky system to work for you.

Traditional Commercial HVAC

Even if you ask for a traditional commercial HVAC system, be ready to choose between system types and sizes that you may not have heard of. Traditional commercial HVAC options include simple single-split systems for small offices and complicated multi-split systems with many indoor units for large spaces. Some companies, like Dynamic Strategy Partners, know how helpful these types of systems can be. You may choose from variable or constant air volume systems too.

These aren’t the only choices. Your HVAC company or consultant can help you decide on the best system for your needs while considering your level of environmental concern, building size and other factors. Heating and air conditioning are essential in most areas, and making the right choice is crucial to keeping everyone comfortable and your bills in check.