Modern Office Design Cooling and Heating Strategies

The old office design involved private offices along the perimeter and cubicles lining the middle of the floor. Companies have realized that an open office plan will allow everyone access to more natural light, so the modern office space design has changed.

Now, instead of worker-bee cubicles, offices have specific spaces for different activities. There are more private pods for concentration, as well as lounges for collaborative efforts. With all these changes, other designs are bound to change too, including HVAC system design for better indoor air quality and comfort.

To improve the HVAC system design of your modern, open office space, below are some suggestions. Note that designing your HVAC system should take place in the early planning phase of your renovation or construction.

Design for Efficiency

Did you know that the HVAC system of a building consumes more energy than everything else? To improve cooling and heating efficiency, follow these tips:

• Improve your wall insulation
• Add floor insulation
• Use energy-efficient windows with Low-E glass
• Consider adding more daylight to reduce heating requirements during winter
• To avoid too much solar heat gain, add anti-UV window tint
• Use cool artificial lighting

Simulate for Size

The size and power of your HVAC system should be exactly right for the space. A bigger system does not equate to a better system. Use computer simulation tools to account not only for the square footage, but also for other factors, such as artificial lights, natural light, activity patterns in the space, the presence of water heaters, computers, etc.

Control Zones

Multiple independently controlled cooling and heating zones can make your HVAC more efficient. These are the factors that make zones matter:

• Temperatures in the perimeter are more affected by the weather
• Some areas have different temperature and humidity control needs than the rest of the space, such as computer server setups
• Some areas are not always occupied, such as conference rooms

Use Sensors

Sensors can control lights in a specific zone, so they can adjust brightness relative to the amount of daylight at any given time. Sensors can also adjust temperatures in an area depending on the number of people. Take advantage of this tech to ensure better energy use.

Cardinal Heating & Air can help you design your HVAC system for better energy efficiency and occupant comfort. We also offer air conditioning repair and air quality improvement. Give us a call at (425) 827-9997 or request an estimate through our contact form.