Personalised Air Conditioning to Boost Energy Efficiency

US scientists have put forward the notion of personal climate control technologies in offices and other working environments, which would work in a similar way to car air conditioners.  According to research they have carried out, individual air conditioning facilities have the potential to reduce a typical office building’s energy consumption by 50 per cent.  While costs would exceed standard air conditioning costs (and this is a factor that has, historically, precluded the technology being widely rolled-out), the environmental benefits make it an idea that should be considered. 

This is according to a team of University of California researchers, spearheaded by Stefano Schiavon. 

Air Conditioning Energy Efficiency

These researchers set up a scenario involving a sultry, humid office building in a country such as Singapore, in which constant air conditioning use would be the norm.  The results of this indicated that, when it was available on a personal level, air conditioning energy efficiency was boosted considerably.  This is because rather than fill an entire room, the air needed only to be directed to one desk. 

What’s more, empty desks would not need to be supplied, meaning that the conditioner wouldn’t need to be running at full capacity unless the office was 100 per cent full.

“In an environment like Singapore, it's pretty clear that these systems would pay for themselves in energy savings”, Schiavon explained.  The majority of electricity consumption in South-East Asia is due to air conditioning use, which is also the reason why many office buildings there consume electricity in high amounts.

Personalised Air Conditioning

While the advent of personalised air conditioning as a readily-available office feature might be some way off, UK electricity generating firm British Energy already provides online guidance into how to operate air conditioners in order to maximise energy efficiency.  Among its recommendations are making sure all windows are shut when the air conditioner is in operation, ensuring offices are effectively sealed to prevent loss of air, and exercising appropriate temperature control over the device.