Right-Sizing Airconditioning Systems [Moller, CSIRO] 2002-051-B

Overview

Over designed environmental control systems indicate inefficient use of capital in terms of initial cost, increased outgoings to purchase energy for heating, cooling and ventilation over the life of the building, and increased maintenance costs. These outcomes have economic impacts on developers, owners and occupants. Tenants may have to pay excessive energy bills; suffer increased thermal discomfort, and consequent drop in productivity.

At a societal level there are also increased environmental impacts, such as unnecessary consumption of resources to generate energy (eg., coal), excessive air pollution (including) greenhouse gas emissions, and solid waste at power plants. The research outcomes would take a big step forward in solving these issues by identifying drivers of over specification, estimating the life cycle cost penalty of over design, and proposing improved interaction between all stakeholders to reduce over specification of environmental control systems leading to reduced capital, maintenance and energy costs.