Which energy-saving technologies will be much more widely adopted five years from now than they are today?

Besides triple-glazed windows and façades that aren’t predominately glass, the most effective energy-saving strategy that is becoming the norm is the separation of ventilation from heating and cooling.

A dedicated outdoor air system (DOAS) is a well-tested and relatively simple system to design and operate. Paired with innovative, high-performance heating/cooling systems like variable refrigerant flow, chilled beams or radiant slabs, a DOAS-based strategy can deliver a superior indoor environment with low operating costs and excellent long-term performance.

Design teams need not venture too far from their technical comfort zone to implement a DOAS strategy. A DOAS, running in parallel with a standard variable air volume (VAV) system that delivers thermal control, will provide significant savings relative to a traditional office mechanical system. In this configuration, ventilation air from the DOAS, which is provided to match occupancy needs, is delivered to the space at a neutral temperature. The VAV system has a more or less traditional design and is controlled by thermostats in each zone.

True, there is a little more ductwork in the ceiling space but the control strategy is simple and allows each zone to receive what it actually needs: fresh air and heating/cooling without one compromising the other. Plus, because most building operators are already well versed in traditional VAV systems, the learning curve to manage a DOAS plus VAV system is fairly gentle.

Braden Kurczak is division head of green buildings at Enermodal Engineering. He is also a member of MMM Group.