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Managing Your Commercial Air Conditioning Controls

Managing Your Commercial Air Conditioning Controls

Managing Commercial Air Conditioning Controls

Installing state of the art air conditioning is a positive step but it can only take you so far.

However good its performance and energy efficiency ratings, you still need to manage it correctly to get the most out of it.

By following these simple steps, you can maximise your comfort and cut down on your energy bills.

Don’t Operate Heating and Cooling Simultaneously

Heating and cooling your building at the same time is hugely counter-productive.

However, it’s a common issue in buildings with separate heating and cooling systems, particularly if they’re operated by different people.

The best way to tackle the problem is to maintain a comfortable ‘dead band’. That means setting a gap of around 4-5°C between the temperatures the heating and cooling systems kick in.

This will stop your systems working against each other, wasting energy and money in the process. It also prevents your air conditioning units running in short cycles, which could cause long term damage.

Set a Timer to Match Your Building’s Occupancy

Setting a timer will make sure your air conditioning only comes on when required.

Most commercial buildings have opening hours that don’t change, making it easy to manage your system around your schedule.

If you use some areas of your building at different times, you can get an advanced controller to heat and cool the required zones individually.

If you don’t have a programmable timer, you can have one retrofitted to your existing system. It’s nearly always worth the investment.

Modern controllers come with seven day timers and remote access, even allowing you to manage your system with your smartphone.

Adjust the Temperature to Suit the Weather

Adjusting your settings for different seasons and weather trends can save you a considerable amount of energy.

While it may seem counterintuitive, the indoor temperature should be slightly cooler when it’s cold outside and warmer when it’s hot.

Think about it. If it’s cold outside, the people who use your building will be wearing warmer clothing. So set the temperature accordingly.

Likewise, in summer, people dress in lighter clothing so they don’t get too hot. Blasting them with cold air is hardly going to make them more comfortable.

Air conditioning also has to work harder in extreme temperatures to heat and cool your building. Trying to create a dramatically different climate to the one outside wastes energy and could damage your system.

Set Temperatures and Leave Them Alone

Air conditioning heats and cools your building at the same rate, no matter how high or low you set the temperature.

If you want to reach 24°C, setting the temperature to 30°C isn’t going to help you get there any faster.

What it will do is cause the temperature to overshoot, meaning your cooling system then has to bring it down again.

Assuming everything is set correctly and in working order, there’s no reason to fiddle with the settings at all.

The temperature you require isn’t likely to change much from day to day, unless you’re doing completely different activities all the time.

Designate managing the controls to one individual and give clear guidance on your company’s policy.