HVAC - What the future holds (maybe!)
White Paper
Bryon Price B.Eng. MAIRAH. FIEAust
October, 2005
The provision of Heating Ventilation and Air-Conditioning to buildings, or simply air conditioning as it has become generally referred to, has become a complex business since its widespread introduction began after World War 2. Simple systems to provide heating and ventilation have evolved into a sophisticated technology that controls the indoor environment maintaining temperature, humidity and air quality.
What of the future of HVAC? Whilst predicting the future is always a risky endeavour, particularly with anything to do with technology, there is always something to be gained from analysing current drivers of change and trends and speculating over how they may affect matters. At the very least you gain a better insight into why things are the way they are and at best you are enabled to successfully prepare yourself for future changes.
So let's take a quick look at some of the drivers of change in commercial buildings and speculate on how these may affect air conditioning.
About the Author
Bryon Price B.Eng. MAIRAH. FIEAust is Business Development Manager for the A.G. Coombs Group of companies. Bryon is also responsible for A.G.Coombs Advisory, which provides technical advice and services to facility owners and managers. He a Mechanical Engineer and his early work was in guided weapons and defence systems design. Prior to joining A.G.Coombs Bryon had a 20 year career in engineering consultancy ranging from industrial and transport design through to major project building services design and a range of large scale innovative and award winning energy and building asset management projects. Bryon currently sits on the Property Council of Australia's National Regulation Review Committee and is Chair of the Property Councils National Energy and Utilities Committee. Bryon is also the Chair of the Facility Management Association's Building Services Special Interest Group. He is a Fellow of the Institution of Engineers and a Registered Building Practitioner in Victoria.