C25 -- Optimising Air Handling Systems for Minimal CO2 Footprint: Rethinking Selection & Operation

For HVAC systems, a paradigm shift is in progress. Traditional selection criteria around technical performance in nominal operating points is being revised to address a more critical concern – the environmental impact. For air handling systems the environmental impact is mainly affected by the operation phase. This means there is a need for innovative approaches to HVAC system selection which emphasise the reduction of energy demand and the related CO₂ emissions during a building's operational lifespan. With Life Cycle Cost (LCC) tools one can perform this type of calculation based on weather data, unit configuration and building properties. However, there are challenges that come with this approach because systems are often designed for more than 25 years. During this time, it is possible that the weather may have changed and even more important, the CO₂ emission for the different energies will be significantly different. This means that there is a limit in using the parameters from today to prognosticate the next 25 years. Another crucial aspect is that the air handling systems also operate efficiently after installation. In many cases there is a lack of specialists that ensure right commissioning and continuous energy inspections. Apart from this, the control systems need to be robust in case of changes in operation, building properties or weather. Taking all this into consideration, the control device needs to be as smart as possible and should monitor the systems function and maybe in the future even optimise it. Methods from “machine learning” or artificial intelligence can be helpful instruments.