An Innovative Approach to High Efficiency Cooling
 |
How refreshing it is to step inside a comfortably cool space on a sweltering hot day. Achieving this ideal indoor environment while minimizing energy use is more complex than you might imagine. To optimize thermal comfort and energy use, hybrid HVAC solutions integrating hydronic radiant cooling and downsized forced-air systems are quickly gaining popularity in the building technology community.
Improved Air Quality, No Drafts, No Hot Spots
Typically designed in conjunction with radiant heating, radiant cooling systems circulate cooled water through the same network of pipes where warm water circulates during the heating season. This network of pipes can turn the floors, walls and ceilings of a conditioned space into cooled surfaces that evenly absorb heat energy.
Hybrid radiant-forced air cooling systems are ideally suited to a broad range of commercial applications and achieve best results when combined with other energy efficient solutions in tight building structures. Although early adopters were located primarily in arid regions, advances in system design and control capabilities have led to successful radiant cooling installations throughout North America.
Radiant cooling may handle the entire cooling load or be used to cover the base loads in traditional cooling applications. Since radiant cooling solutions can improve air quality, they are ideal in buildings such as hospitals and nursing homes where air quality is critical.
