Smart Air Conditioning : A breath of fresh air in the office

Air-conditioning is becoming an increasingly important issue when we talk of a smart office of present day. Some studies have found that working in hot, humid conditions can affect the performance by up to 40 percent. Lack of concentration, headaches and irritability are just some of the problems. People also make mistakes more easily, tempers fray more quickly, and simple tasks take longer to complete.

Air-conditioning systems have, quite rightly, been described as the lungs of the building. The air-conditioning system draws in outside air, filters it, heats, cools or humidifies it, circulates it around the building, then expels a portion of it to the outside environment.

By definition, air-conditioning is the control of the different properties including temperature, humidity, air speed and the freshness of the air. Air-conditioning systems help in three different ways. They help maintain the thermal comfort of a building, provide fresh air, operating as ventilation systems, and remove contaminants from the air.Air-conditioning is essential in modern day office environment so much so that unless a building is designed from a blank piece of paper, correctly orientated to minimise solar glare, triple glazing, shades and blinds, it is highly impossible that air-conditioning will not be needed in that office building.

With the prices of office space going sky high, there is a need to accommodate more workers in less space. All of these people essentially need to use computers, printers, photocopiers, faxes and other such heat emitting equipment. The paperless office, unfortunately, still remains a far-flung idea!

Some studies have found that working in hot, humid conditions can affect the performance by up to 40 percent. Lack of concentration, headaches and irritability are just some of the problems. People also make mistakes more easily, tempers fray more quickly, and simple tasks take longer to complete. However, cooling to reduce the temperature and humidity is not the only benefit of air-conditioning. In today's sealed buildings, unless there is a provision to regularly introduce fresh air, by the end of the day the air may be cool but it will have high concentrations of CO2, which again can cause headaches and nausea.

Efficient air-conditioning adds to efficiency

Indoor air quality is a problem that affects the office workers on a daily basis. The employers must provide comfortable working conditions. Indoor air quality has become the subject of much discussion, as providing good quality air is almost a given in any office environment.

In modern day office environment, simply heating or cooling an office is not enough to ensure a pleasant atmosphere. If air is simply filtered, its temperature adjusted and the air is then recycled it loses oxygen over a period of time and becomes stale. Stink can become apparent and workers can suffer from headaches and other problems. The constant introduction of up to 10 percent of filtered, fresh air into an air-conditioning system will ensure that the oxygen is replenished and the air remains fresh throughout the office.

Air-conditioning is becoming an increasingly important issue when we talk of the smart office of present day. Energy efficiency should be one of the main criteria when installing or upgrading air-conditioning systems. It is equally essential to maintain the energy efficiency of a building and its compliance with pre-determined ratings.

At least refrigerants should no longer be an issue, as CFCs and HCFCs have been phased out. Today, the choice of refrigerant should only be linked to the efficiency of the air-conditioning system. The idea behind Building Automation Systems (BAS) is of a complete and intelligent system that is designed to link all systems within a building to a central control source. Many of the latest BAS system permit complete management of a building, not simply of air-conditioning but also all other technical elements including lights, boilers, shutters, safety parameters and alarms.

Zoning is in

The concept of zoning is an important one, especially for people working in open-plan offices, as it allows everyone to control their own space. Building automation allows everyone to have control of their own space. A zoning system gives the same kind of flexibility in controlling heating and cooling that exists with light switches. With zoning you can basically do the same thing with heating and cooling - increasing your comfort tremendously and enjoying huge savings on energy bills. Zoning is also beneficial if certain rooms or areas that are always warmer or cooler than the rest of the building. The system automatically provides more heating or cooling to that area without wasting energy to heat or cool an entire office. Proper zoning can result in operating cost savings of as much as 30 percent.

Maintenance is the key

No air conditioning system can be efficient and if it is not properly maintained. Most companies offer a service including maintenance contracts. Having installed an energy efficient air conditioning system, it should be maintained to ensure the efficiency. Small things as dirty air and water filters can increase the power used by the motors. This is where a correctly designed, installed and maintained air-conditioning system can provide a sustainable comfort, provide good indoor air quality, and yet be sufficiently discreet and quiet. On the contrary, a badly maintained air-conditioning system can become less efficient and will consume more power. Lack of maintenance can even cause the additional strain on the components to suffer a complete failure. It is pointless installing a fresh air and filtration system if the filters are not regularly cleaned. Most central systems include some ductwork in the system and dust and grime can accumulate in the ductwork if not regularly inspected and cleaned, giving rise to odors and leaving unpleasant dust marks on the ceilings and grilles. A regular maintenance contract can ensure that all the systems are working at their best when needed.