Comments on: Global air conditioning http://www.melstarrs.com/elemental/2008/06/20/global-air-conditioning/ Communicating sustainable solutions for the built environment Tue, 16 Mar 2010 13:25:40 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Lesley LEED AP http://www.melstarrs.com/elemental/2008/06/20/global-air-conditioning/comment-page-1/#comment-2748 Lesley LEED AP Wed, 25 Nov 2009 18:51:51 +0000 http://www.melstarrs.com/elemental/?p=610#comment-2748 What about the energy inefficiency of having so many small units vs one centralized chiller for the building? Is there any movement afoot for standards on building orientation, window quality, insulation quality and effectiveness. You are absolutely right that no matter how much carbon we save, 3 billion people adding air conditioners is going to significantly increase our carbon emissions. What about the energy inefficiency of having so many small units vs one centralized chiller for the building? Is there any movement afoot for standards on building orientation, window quality, insulation quality and effectiveness. You are absolutely right that no matter how much carbon we save, 3 billion people adding air conditioners is going to significantly increase our carbon emissions.

]]> By: Matt Robinson http://www.melstarrs.com/elemental/2008/06/20/global-air-conditioning/comment-page-1/#comment-301 Matt Robinson Mon, 23 Jun 2008 15:18:05 +0000 http://www.melstarrs.com/elemental/?p=610#comment-301 There are some UK examples related to this - it seems we have relied on cooling / heating / technology to mitigate poor design. I blogged about the story below before - for all the shortcomings of the building, this is an example of how good (passive) building design that Mel highlights being able to massively reduce the heating, cooling and lighting demands of a building - and bear in mind that this was built before the advent of CAD, solar and thermal modelling etc... http://www.building.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=583&storycode=3088489 Surely we can do better? I have had regular heated discussions with architects, many of whom have no idea of the effect that their basic design choices can have on a buildings performance, and occupants comfort/health. Again, M&E often is responsible for suggesting costly, complex solutions, rather than simple, passive changes. Joined up thinking time.... There are some UK examples related to this – it seems we have relied on cooling / heating / technology to mitigate poor design. I blogged about the story below before – for all the shortcomings of the building, this is an example of how good (passive) building design that Mel highlights being able to massively reduce the heating, cooling and lighting demands of a building – and bear in mind that this was built before the advent of CAD, solar and thermal modelling etc…

http://www.building.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=583&storycode=3088489

Surely we can do better? I have had regular heated discussions with architects, many of whom have no idea of the effect that their basic design choices can have on a buildings performance, and occupants comfort/health. Again, M&E often is responsible for suggesting costly, complex solutions, rather than simple, passive changes.

Joined up thinking time….

]]> By: isite radar and roundup monday 23rd june « isite http://www.melstarrs.com/elemental/2008/06/20/global-air-conditioning/comment-page-1/#comment-300 isite radar and roundup monday 23rd june « isite Mon, 23 Jun 2008 08:21:15 +0000 http://www.melstarrs.com/elemental/?p=610#comment-300 [...] blogs, Mel’s excellent article over at Elemental on Global air conditioning while Phil at ZeroChampion has an interesting post on Should we carbonize interest rates? and Pam [...] [...] blogs, Mel’s excellent article over at Elemental on Global air conditioning while Phil at ZeroChampion has an interesting post on Should we carbonize interest rates? and Pam [...]

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