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| Commercial service technician John Plath zoning in on a fix. |
Building Automation, Energy Management
"I'm freezing out here!" wails the receptionist. It's a common complaint from this north-facing office. Meanwhile, heat generated by the sun overheats the west wing and workers feel their productivity slip. Down the hall, the conference room is packed for an important meeting. But within minutes the room is stuffy. Everyone feels warm and sluggish.Sound familiar? So many people, so many needs; can you satisfy all of them and keep everyone comfortable and productive? Today you can - in one word - Zoning!
In many area buildings, a single HVAC unit provides the heating and air conditioning. This unit treats the entire building as one zone. With only one thermostat, you'll be overcooling some areas and overheating others, wasting energy needlessly. Someone is sure to be uncomfortable, unproductive and unhappy. Until recently, that was the case.
A commercial zoning system can make a difference! Just ask the folks at Princeton Porsche and Royal Scandinavia, two recent recipients of new zoning systems.
How does it work?
- A low-cost, motorized damper is installed inside supply ductwork to each designated zone, office or area.
- Thermostats are installed in each office or zone for optimum individual control.
- Using a DDC control module, you establish optimum temperature parameters, occupancy schedules and ventilation settings for each zone.
- The system maintains the setpoints you establish by reading from the thermostats. When heating or cooling is required, the control panel activates the motorized dampers to increase or restrict air flow.
- There's even a ventilation setting to ensure adequate fresh air for everyone.
Precise, individualized comfort conditions! Productivity at its best - all with minimum energy usage!
Is your building "out of control"? Email us or call your Hutchinson Mechanical Services representative at 888-777-4501 and get "in the zone."
