Controls
Controls offer good opportunities for savings. Consider:
- Time controls – useful to reflect building occupancy and eliminate unnecessary operation
- Temperature controls – help to avoid overheating, creating a better working environment
Time controls
- Set simple time controls. Don’t over-complicate things, but ensure ventilation is not left on unnecessarily.
- Use seven-day timers. Where occupancy varies throughout the week, seven-day timers can ensure ventilation does not come on when the space is unoccupied.
Temperature controls
- Some ventilation systems respond to internal temperatures and increase ventilation rates when temperatures reach pre-set levels.
- Place thermostats carefully. Ensure they are situated away from draughts, direct sunlight and heat sources such as radiators and office equipment
- Buildings that control ventilation and heating systems with separate thermostats will suffer from excessive ventilation. Install control interlocks to prevent the heating working when the ventilation system is operating at anything higher than minimum levels.
Zoning
Different areas in your building will have different ventilation requirements. Splitting these areas and providing separate control to each zone ensures ventilation supply is matched to the demand.
If carried out correctly, zoning saves money and enhances the internal environment.
Linking control to internal condition
Ventilation can be used to control the internal environment. Common methods of achieving this are:
- Fitting carbon dioxide sensors, which control ventilation rates to match occupancy or smoke levels
- Fitting humidity sensors in swimming pool halls, listed buildings and museums to protect the building fabric or valuable contents from damp or condensation damage
- Linking ventilation to other equipment or services. For instance, lighting and ventilation can be controlled together in bathrooms, while equipment and ventilation can be controlled together in industrial processes.
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