Building occupants expect heat or cool air - and comfort

Journal Article · Mon Aug 16 04:00:00 EDT 1982 · Energy User News; (United States)

OSTI ID:6775007

Kurtz, L F

Building occupants expect and demand thermal comfort from their heating and cooling systems. Standardized residential comfort systems already exist, but maintaining comfort in commercial buildings is more complex. To keep occupants unaware of temperature, drafts, humidity, ventilation, or sound levels is a relative goal since variations in metabolism and activity will affect comfort levels. The 1981 ASHRAE Fundamentals Handbook lists acceptable comfort levels at several combinations of temperature and relative humidity. The effects that rate of air movement and evaporation have must also be considered by building engineers who base their systems on convection patterns and zoning. Economy as well as comfort favors hydronics in commercial and public buildings because it introduces heat at a low level and cooled air at a high level. (DCK)

• Research Organization: Better Heating-Cooling Council, Berkeley Heights, NJ
• OSTI ID: 6775007
• Journal Information: Energy User News; (United States), Journal Name: Energy User News; (United States) Vol. 7:33; ISSN EUSND
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
291000 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Conservation
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
320100* -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Buildings
BUILDINGS
COOLING SYSTEMS
DESIGN
ENERGY SYSTEMS
HEATING SYSTEMS
HUMAN FACTORS
THERMAL COMFORT
VENTILATION SYSTEMS