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HVAC – Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning

An HVAC system, otherwise known as a climate control system that regulates Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC), is the primary source for temperature and humidity regulation within large industrial and office buildings. HVAC systems are also necessary in specialty buildings such as aquariums where humidity and temperature are primary concerns. In buildings with a Refrigeration system installed, the system may be referred to as HVAC&R or HVACR. If the ventilation system is disabled or dropped, the acronym may change to HACR.

The HVAC system is dependant upon heat transfer techniques and air movement through a series of installed pipes and ducts. The purpose of HVAC is to provide proper indoor air quality, ventilation, and to provide temperature control and thermal comfort.

Larger buildings may have more than one HVAC system to maximize efficiency and to provide tailored climate control to specified areas.

Heating

The Heating component of HVAC systems provides either central or localized heating to the building. Central heating refers to a building or home that has one furnace, boiler, or heat pump that creates hot air, steam or water and circulates it throughout the building. Ductwork and vents are necessary for distributing hot air throughout a building where pipes and radiators are essential for hot water.

Heating systems with hot air can utilize the same ductwork that transfers cold, conditioned air during warmer months. This type of system also allows air to be pumped through an air cleaner or purifier to remove airborne particles, dust, and allergens from the air.

Radiators in this context refer to coiled exposed piping where the heat of the water can be transferred to the air of a given space. Although some radiators are on the wall, others can be buried in the floor.

Small room units sometimes use electrical heat where a filament or coil heats as electricity passes through it. Some portable heaters and baseboard heaters use this same technology.

Ventilation

Ventilation refers to the replacement of air within a given space. It usually refers to a means by which to remove odors, heat, smoke, and airborne particles from a room or area. Although many people refer to ventilation as the exchange of indoor air with air from the outdoors, ventilation can also refer to the transfer of air within the system. Ventilation can be broken down into two categories:

  • Mechanical/Forced ventilation – This type of air replacement is designed to control indoor air quality and remove excess humidity and odors. Forced ventilation is the type of systems found in kitchens and bathrooms where humid air is forced out of the room through a vent using a fan.
  • Natural Ventilation – Fans or other mechanical devices are used to circulate outside air through a building or home. Open windows and doors can be considered part of a natural ventilation system as well. In many cases, warm air is allowed to rise out of the buildings through openings while being replaced with cooler, heavier air towards ground level.

Although fans can help keep a room comfortable, they are not considered ventilation.

Air Conditioning

Air Conditioning within the HVAC system refers to the removal of heat from a room or building in order to cool the air to a desired temperature. The heat transfer process works through mediums like ice, air, water, and chemicals that are naturally cooler than the air in the room. The air conditioning system also controls humidity levels within the building and cools the air through a process of condensing and evaporating a desired liquid through a series of coils, much like a refrigerator.

Central air conditioning systems that cool entire buildings can work through the same ductwork as some central heating systems. The air is forced through the ductwork and back to the air conditioner where it is cooled and sent back through the system. Central cooling systems often incorporate an evaporator that collects the condensation from the cooling coils and therefore dehumidifies the air. The resulting condensation can then be manually removed or drained outside.

Efficiency

Although most HVAC systems utilize the same ductwork for both heating and cooling, forced-air ventilation is not necessarily the most energy efficient. By creating “zones” central heating and cooling units can be better utilized through a variety of thermostats that regulate heat and air when needed. With zones, rooms that require heat and air can maintain comfortable while unused areas can minimize temperature control and save energy.

The most energy efficient form of heating is geothermal heating, a method of using natural heat sources to warm buildings.

Air conditioning uses significantly more energy as a large percentage of its energy use is lost through heat. The Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) compares the energy of cooling a room against watt-hours needed over the same period of time. Most current models of air conditioners come with a SEER rating of either 9 or higher. With SEER, the higher rating means better efficiency.

Although using HVAC systems help save some cost and energy through the use of proper air flow and thermodynamics, the best way to maximize the efficiency of an HVAC system is to install it in a properly designed building. Buildings need to be designed around the potential benefits of solar energy and passive heating and cooling opportunities. Without proper architecture, HVAC systems work harder and waste energy.