Universities are public places where people study, teach, handle administrative tasks, and maintain cleanliness. Ensuring a safe environment in universities is crucial, including proper measures for healthy ventilation and maximum energy efficiency.
HVAC systems are necessary for all public places, including universities. Rather than eliminating them, we can optimize these systems to reduce energy consumption and maximize benefits. The guide below provides detailed insights on how to achieve this optimization.
The impact of HVAC systems on energy consumption and costs
HVAC systems are crucial for managing airflow, temperature, and humidity to create a healthy environment for university occupants. However, these systems are the biggest energy consumers in a building, leading to high energy bills.
Optimizing HVAC for energy efficiency is essential to reduce their environmental impact. By optimizing HVAC systems in universities, we can ensure both healthy occupants and a healthier planet.
The impact of inefficient HVAC systems on university budgets
To maintain efficient operation, HVAC systems in universities require regular maintenance, including timely servicing, mechanical repairs, and filter cleaning. Neglecting maintenance can cause inefficient ventilation, heating, or air conditioning, leading to increased energy consumption and higher bills.
Scheduling is also crucial to match changing space utilization throughout the day. Failure to match heating, cooling, or ventilation with space usage can lead to significant inefficiencies, particularly in universities with a transient population. Proper maintenance and scheduling of HVAC systems can help universities manage their electricity bills effectively.
Potential cost savings with HVAC optimization
In universities, 70-80% of energy costs are due to HVAC systems, which can be optimized to reduce costs. Regular maintenance, filter, and coil cleaning, and servicing can control energy consumption.
Smart HVAC software can monitor performance and adjust for optimal efficiency. Predictive systems that anticipate real-time space utilization provide the biggest savings. Increasing outdoor air can reduce the need for ventilation systems and save energy.
The Effect Of HVAC Systems On Indoor Air Quality And Student Health
Providing a safe environment that promotes good health is essential in universities where students spend most of their day. To achieve this, indoor air quality must be a top priority.
The importance of good indoor air quality for student health
Indoor air quality is vital for the health of students, staff, and visitors in universities. On average, commercial buildings in the UK only have optimal indoor air quality 25-30% of the time, which can cause short-term health impacts like headaches, fatigue, and respiratory issues.
Maximizing the amount of fresh outdoor air entering buildings and counteracting negative changes to indoor air quality can improve health outcomes. To maintain a healthy environment, optimizing HVAC systems in universities is crucial. Poor indoor air quality can also impact attendance and academic performance.
The role of HVAC systems in maintaining good indoor air quality
HVAC systems provide required heating in the winter and air conditioning in the summer season; on the other hand, they are responsible for ensuring proper ventilation.
They act as an air filter that removes the bad air inside the room and brings in good quality air so that when students breathe, they breathe healthy air.
The system works as an exhaust that removes CO2 which builds up in busy rooms and lecture theatres, impacting short-term health. It also provides fresh healthy oxygen-filled air.
The Role Of HVAC Optimization In Meeting Sustainability Goals
There is no doubt that HVAC plays a significant role in ensuring air quality improvements in any place, but at the same time, it is imperative to use them in a way that energy consumption is controlled.
The energy used by HVAC is using up non-renewable resources and leaving a carbon footprint on the overall environment that could be a matter of concern in the future.
Hence, when substantial measures are taken to optimise the use of HVAC efficiently, sustainability goals could also be achieved by consuming less energy and leaving fewer carbon footprints on the environment.
Choosing intelligent HVAC optimisation platforms and installing sensors to identify space utilisation can help optimise heating, cooling, and ventilation needs to ensure optimal sustainability performance without compromising occupier comfort.
Case Studies Of Universities That Have Optimised Their HVAC Systems
The University of Chicago realised the significance of controlling energy consumption by devising a strategy to help them optimise the HVAC systems incorporated in their building.
They wanted to create a new hall and building for their students but simultaneously introduce energy-efficient methods to make it a safe space for their students.
They worked very closely with energy specialists and designed the structure and systems of a new residential hostel for their students in a very efficient way.
They implemented the following strategies to optimise HVAC in their new building:
- They developed a system to record and monitor electricity consumption in the building to exercise control when needed.
- They used window sensors and aligned them with the HVAC systems to ensure that the systems turn off for a room when the windows are detected to be opened.
- They also incorporated the sensors for the ceilings to adjust the temperature according to the weather and current situation of the room, allowing the HVAC systems to be used only when needed and not continuously.
- The HVAC systems they implemented consisted of pipes through which hot and cold water would flow evenly, depending upon the requirement. This eliminated the need to use forced air systems, saving energy.
The benefits they have seen from HVAC optimisation
By choosing this strategy for their hostel, the University of Chicago saw massive control in the energy costs, and it caused a 41 percent reduction in energy consumption.
They not only were able to save on their university’s electricity, but at the same time, they were also able to reduce the carbon dioxide emissions caused by 1920 metric tons, which is excellent.
Closing thoughts
Universities are constantly seeking to increase their financial success and meet environmental objectives — yet sometimes it proves difficult to do so without dedicated technical support within their facilities. For those who don’t have access to a 24/7 HVAC engineering team, some of these goals can seem out of reach.
That’s why we developed CubeOS: a predictive optimisation platform that acts as your 24/7 HVAC optimisation engineer. This drastically reduces energy costs and ensures the highest quality of indoor air in any building with an HVAC system. So if you’re looking for ways your university can achieve maximum efficiency whilst keeping your students and staff happy and healthy, book a call with us today using the booking system below. We’d be happy to share some more best practices and help you take your next steps in HVAC optimisation for your University.
