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kentauros

(29,414 posts)

46. Most HVAC systems in office buildings work by the "brute force" method.

Reply to mahatmakanejeeves (Original post)

Fri Jul 24, 2015, 08:56 PM

Jul 2015

That is, keep the core of the building at arctic temps, and blow the same arctic air on those oven-like sheets of glass on the outer skin. Then it will just "even out" everywhere. Only that never works. The core remains at arctic temps while the offices with windows remain hot. How much energy is being lost by this ineffective method?

My brother was telling me of a system invented to be not only more efficient but to have even temps over entire floors, using laminar-flow principles. It required having a raised floor and then periodic placement of vertical pillars where the cold air would be released. The drawback was that it didn't work with cubicles and separate offices. I would think it could still work with cubes and offices if you put a pillar in every cube and office. That would certainly be better than having to wear winter clothing in August.

This magazine has an article on two alternative forms of cooling (radiant chilling and chilled beams) that could work better, even in humid environments like here in Houston It starts on page 51 (I couldn't link directly to those pages due to their method for making the issue available.)

Net Zero Buildings - March 2015

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Frigid offices, freezing women, oblivious men: An air-conditioning investigation [View all] mahatmakanejeeves Jul 2015 OP

That sounds expensive -- electric bill and all. oldandhappy Jul 2015 #1

In my office I have one associate (Female) who keeps her office nice and warm el_bryanto Jul 2015 #2

They talk up the gender differences, but seem to be attributing it to clothing choices. Erich Bloodaxe BSN Jul 2015 #3

Indeed, men's office fashion is devoid of creativity and variety arcane1 Jul 2015 #6

I'd say men have it better - knowing What To Wear To Work is much simpler, as is buying it . . . . hatrack Jul 2015 #17

Vests need to make a return XemaSab Jul 2015 #49

I have a vest! Telcontar Jul 2015 #80

I like it that way. Igel Jul 2015 #21

Yep. hifiguy Jul 2015 #44

Fuck are you talking about? XemaSab Jul 2015 #50

It's not necessarily choice. drm604 Jul 2015 #26

Walking around is different from sitting in a cubicle Sanity Claws Jul 2015 #77

Sounds like an interesting dilemma. beevul Jul 2015 #4

EXACTLY laundry_queen Jul 2015 #45

I have to wear suit and tie every day. I am HOT all day. Xyzse Jul 2015 #5

And it wasn't a problem when women wore long skirts Warpy Jul 2015 #27

I wish I could wear a summer suit. Xyzse Jul 2015 #32

I know, you must MELT when you have to go outside at the end of the day Warpy Jul 2015 #33

You should see me running in DC with suit and tie... Xyzse Jul 2015 #34

They brought back "seersucker Thursday" on the Hill-not too many takers this year. MADem Jul 2015 #51

I think I would look dapper in that, with my light caramel tone. Xyzse Jul 2015 #71

There are many varieties of seersucker--I guess you have to be a certain age to even remember it as MADem Jul 2015 #72

Oie, all those colors give me a headache. Hehe. Xyzse Jul 2015 #74

Classic!!! And classy, too!!! nt MADem Jul 2015 #75

Air conditioners don't have to run at full Arctic-blast all the time Retrograde Jul 2015 #7

If cold, you can warm up simply by wearing a sweater or drinking coffee taught_me_patience Jul 2015 #8

Thats how I see it. maveric Jul 2015 #12

the problem i've encountered is that it isn't too hot noiretextatique Jul 2015 #15

It may not be too hot for you NutmegYankee Jul 2015 #31

i think that's the point of the article eom noiretextatique Jul 2015 #40

Not really, the article implies men overdress NutmegYankee Jul 2015 #42

perhaps men are required to overdress? noiretextatique Jul 2015 #48

Men do tend to be thicker as well. SolutionisSolidarity Jul 2015 #52

Not quite true. The hands, fingers, face--- all get uncomfortably cold. WinkyDink Jul 2015 #43

It's not just women. By afternoon, my teeth are practically chattering. randome Jul 2015 #9

A lot of times men don't have the same options in clothes Travis_0004 Jul 2015 #10

Often? Good Lord, I hope they're wearing pants! Telcontar Jul 2015 #81

I've always fought back. Daemonaquila Jul 2015 #11

Mr Man-O-Pause! Arugula Latte Jul 2015 #36

I'm always cold...it's the curse of being skinny. MindPilot Jul 2015 #13

A walk in the sun is like a long, hot shower. randome Jul 2015 #18

For me it makes me mythology Jul 2015 #29

Agreed. I love the heat and sun; humidity is my bane. closeupready Jul 2015 #19

i freeze in every office noiretextatique Jul 2015 #14

Well you know what though? As I look at women in Midtown closeupready Jul 2015 #16

i generally where a shirt and jacket noiretextatique Jul 2015 #41

I'm always hot PasadenaTrudy Jul 2015 #20

me too irisblue Jul 2015 #25

another NJCher Jul 2015 #56

When I walk into a col office from 95 F temps I get frozen instantly csziggy Jul 2015 #22

No AC in our office maxsolomon Jul 2015 #23

I'm just amazed that the Washington Post seems to be paying someone to write Cal Carpenter Jul 2015 #24

It's not usually up to the employees alarimer Jul 2015 #28

my office is too cold during the summer but a woman controls the thermostat and adjusts it up Liberal_in_LA Jul 2015 #30

I used to work in an office in DC and I definitely FROZE every summer. Arugula Latte Jul 2015 #35

What do you expect with such disparity in dress code? davidn3600 Jul 2015 #37

Not every office setting requires suits A Little Weird Jul 2015 #53

I lived in newblewtoo Jul 2015 #38

Ever put up with someone who thinks if the AC is set above 72� it's too hot hobbit709 Jul 2015 #39

My uncle would crank the AC like mad and in the winter would have it hot enough to forge steel. TheKentuckian Jul 2015 #47

Most HVAC systems in office buildings work by the "brute force" method. kentauros Jul 2015 #46

Reminds me of an office I worked in where the older women going Cleita Jul 2015 #54

Oh cleita, cwydro Jul 2015 #59

Oh. I'm seventy five and know what they went through. At the time though Cleita Jul 2015 #60

Well, during my symptoms, cwydro Jul 2015 #63

No. The bad thing is each menopause is as different as the woman experiencing it. Cleita Jul 2015 #66

I'm coming out of it finally. cwydro Jul 2015 #69

I once knew a woman who said to me that if men could get pregnant, they would have only one child. Cleita Jul 2015 #70

I was fine until menopause... MerryBlooms Jul 2015 #67

Layering... ljm2002 Jul 2015 #55

I work in quality control krispos42 Jul 2015 #57

Are menopausal women to blame for why it�s so cold in your office? mahatmakanejeeves Jul 2015 #58

I'm rarely cold treestar Jul 2015 #61

I say that people are much better off putting more clothes on than making me take clothes off Thor_MN Jul 2015 #62

PLEASE keep me in the server room. Aerows Jul 2015 #64

I love it cold. LWolf Jul 2015 #65

I'm a woman and prefer the office COLD. WorseBeforeBetter Jul 2015 #68

Where I work a lot of the men wear suits every day. tammywammy Jul 2015 #73

We have one sqweeky wheel at my office who constantly complained of the cold Sedona Jul 2015 #76

I have heard that women have less blood-circulation in the limbs than men. DetlefK Jul 2015 #78

Has anyone posted this yet? Capt. Obvious Jul 2015 #79

A person can deal with too cold, but not too hot Android3.14 Jul 2015 #82

As a trans woman who works out I need it cold. side effect of weight lifting is running hot MillennialDem Jul 2015 #83