Print this page HVAC Tips for Green Buildings
A. Bhatia, B.E.
Course Outline
Green HVAC design means improving a facility’s indoor air quality (IAQ) and energy consumption as much as possible. Like many other appliances, the cost of your indoor comfort system includes not only its initial price, but also the ongoing costs of operation and maintenance. This means that the cooling and heating equipment and controls that you select today will continue to impact your finances for as long as you occupy the building. That's why investing in a high efficiency comfort system and maintaining your comfort system makes sense.
This 10 - hour course discusses the role of HVAC for ensuring high performance sustainable buildings in design and operation. The design concepts for effective green HVAC systems are explained and the new emerging HVAC technologies for green buildings are described. It is hoped that HVAC designers and other building professionals could develop a better understanding of green buildings and apply effective strategies and techniques for meeting the goal.
This course includes a multiple-choice quiz at the end, which is designed to enhance the understanding of the course materials.
The course focuses on energy efficiency of HVAC equipment and technologies and includes following topics:
- Green Tip #1 Building Siting & Architectural Features;
- Green Tip #2 Building Envelope;
- Green Tip #3 Materials that Control Air & Vapor Infiltration;
- Green Tip #4 Lighting & Appliances;
- Green Tip #5 Packaged & Ductless Split HVAC Systems (DX);
- Green Tip #6 Central Cooling Plants (Chillers);
- Green Tip #7 Absorption Chillers;
- Green Tip #8 Refrigerants;
- Green Tip #9 Cooling Towers;
- Green Tip #10 Cooling Water Treatment;
- Green Tip #11 Heat Recovery from Condenser Water;
- Green Tip #12 Pumping System;
- Green Tip #13 Variable Speed Pumping Systems;
- Green Tip #14 Chilled Water Distribution Schemes;
- Green Tip #15 Chilled Water & Condenser Water Piping;
- Green Tip #16 Air Handling Systems;
- Green Tip #17 Variable Air Volume (VAV) Systems;
- Green Tip #18 Dedicated Outdoor Air Handling Systems;
- Green Tip #19 Optimal Air Distribution;
- Green Tip #20 Ductwork;
- Green Tip #21 Airside Economizers;
- Green Tip #22 Waterside Economizers;
- Green Tip #23 Night Pre-cooling;
- Green Tip #24 Desiccant Dehumidification;
- Green Tip #25 Enthalpy & Heat Wheels;
- Green Tip #26 Heat Pipe Systems;
- Green Tip #27 Run-around Systems;
- Green Tip #28 Evaporative Cooling;
- Green Tip #29 Demand Control Ventilation using CO2 Sensors;
- Green Tip #30 Displacement Ventilation;
- Green Tip #31 Hybrid Ventilation;
- Green Tip #32 Radiant Cooling;
- Green Tip #33 Space Heating – Electric & Heat Pumps;
- Green Tip #34 Space Heating Thru Combustion of Fossil Fuels;
- Green Tip #35 Boiler Controls & Auxiliaries;
- Green Tip #36 Boiler Waste Heat Recovery;
- Green Tip #37 Radiant Slab Heating Systems;
- Green Tip #38 Radiant Panel Heating Systems;
- Green Tip #39 Combination Space Water Heaters;
- Green Tip #40 Thermal Energy Storage;
- Green Tip #41 Energy Management Systems;
- Green Tip #42 Testing, Adjusting and Balancing; and
- Green Tip #43 HVAC Commissioning.
Intended Audience
Architects, realtors, building owners, facility managers, HVAC designers, consulting engineers, interior designers, building contractors, energy auditors, LEED professionals, lenders and educators will benefit from this course.
Benefit to Attendees
Attendee of this course will learn the HVAC requirements deemed necessary for sustainability and design the buildings that are energy and resource efficient, non-wasteful and non-polluting, highly flexible and adaptable for long-term functionality, easy to operate and maintain, and are supportive of the productivity and well being of the occupants.
Course Introduction
HVAC systems may damage the environment by unnecessary use of energy which results in depletion of non-renewable energy resources, principally fossil fuels, either by the generation of electricity or thermal energy, both of which contribute to environmental pollution. Environmental damage by HVAC systems may also be caused by appearance or noise, and by the discharge of contaminated water and air containing chemicals, lubricating oils, refrigerants, heat transfer fluids, particulate or gaseous matter, or microbiological organisms. In most situations, HVAC systems will significantly impact how “green” a building is.
This course describes the basic concepts of green building and discusses the role of heating, ventilating and air-conditioning (HVAC) for ensuring high performance green buildings in design and operation. The design tips for effective and green HVAC systems are explained and the new emerging HVAC technologies for green buildings are described.
Course Content
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Course Summary
Green building approach enables building owners and managers to reduce energy consumption, improve the work environment, and reduce the environmental impacts of building operations. If the building can reduce operating costs, increase occupant productivity, and decrease health complaints, as well as be environmentally responsible, it is a green building. To ensure this, HVAC systems have an important role to play since many of the green building factors are directly or indirectly affected by the performance of the HVAC systems. An integrated and holistic design process beginning at a project’s inception is required to optimize the HVAC design and operation for green buildings.
A few new HVAC technologies have been used or considered at present. Currently, these technologies are being used successfully in some niche applications, and performance improvements will continue to drive down system costs and accelerate integration of the new systems within conventional HVAC systems. If green means happier tenants and healthier occupancy rates, more building owners would want to incorporate these technologies to gain a powerful market advantage.
HVAC and building designers are responsible for bringing this into reality and contributing to the green revolution.
Quiz
Once you finish studying the above course content, you need to take a quiz to obtain the PDH credits.
DISCLAIMER: The materials contained in the online course are not intended as a representation or warranty on the part of PDH Center or any other person/organization named herein. The materials are for general information only. They are not a substitute for competent professional advice. Application of this information to a specific project should be reviewed by a registered architect and/or professional engineer/surveyor. Anyone making use of the information set forth herein does so at their own risk and assumes any and all resulting liability arising therefrom.
