Discover the gold mine: HVAC system upgrades for building renovation

Given that its occupancy is directly related to instruction times and holiday times, the energy consumption of a school building should match its load profile. With an average occupancy of 7 hours/day when school is in session, these buildings could reduce energy consumption and the correlating costs by 30% by curtailing usage between 6pm - 8am when the building is not being used at full capacity. By coordinating energy usage with occupancy levels both in regard to timing and specific area usage (classrooms, gym, library, etc.), students can be more comfortable with greater potential for concentration thanks to monitored and controlled air quality. Further, more efficient energy consumption can have a positive impact on publicly funded institutions and their tax obligations. 

The proportionate energy consumption of school buildings depends on the building's age, size, geographical location, and type of equipment used. In school buildings, heating, ventilation, air conditioning systems and domestic hot water (DHW) account for approximately 80% of energy consumption.

In hospitals, energy supply is required 24/7. Moreover, there needs to be a significant amount of flexibility for heating, cooling, and ventilation, as well as dynamic balancing capabilities to supply the appropriate amount of heating or cooling for each building area.

Different building types experience different degrees of energy usage according to the nature of their function. Air conditioning, heating and domestic hot water (DHW) account for approximately 73% of energy consumption in hospitals.

Given that office buildings are occupied only during business hours, their energy consumption should be optimised with respect to operating hours, in particular. With an average occupancy of 9.3 hours/day, these buildings are able to reduce energy consumption and the correlating costs by 30% by curtailing usage between 8pm and 6am when the building is not being used at full capacity. This means that no heating or cooling power needs to be provided for an empty building, thus reducing both energy costs and emissions. Dynamic balancing ensures comfort even when occupancies change.

In office buildings, air conditioning, heating, and domestic hot water account for approximately 56% of energy consumption. 

Like offices and schools, hotels are not occupied at full capacity throughout the entire day. However, they are generally at their highest occupancy in the later hours of the day and at night when guests sleep. Providing guests with a comfortable stay is a top priority. Ensuring good air quality, unobtrusive noise levels, and a hygienic environment are also essential in this context.

In hotels, air conditioning, heating, and warm water account for approximately 58% of energy consumption.

Shopping centres, sports venues, airports, and cultural centres – while the functions of these buildings are different, they share some things in common: fluctuating occupant traffic and a need to maintain high comfort and dynamic balancing to ensure high availability of cooling and heating energy. The existing system must be flexible, given that the requirements are subject to constant change in order to meet the demands of changes in space planning. Moreover, as these buildings often house multiple tenants, providing each space with certified energy billing within the individual cost centers must be considered.

The proportionate energy consumption of mixed-use buildings is very distinct. The energy consumption patterns depend on many factors, such as the building's purpose, age, size, geographical location, and type of equipment used. In mixed-use buildings, HVAC systems account for the largest proportion of energy consumption.