Quanten S1, Van Brecht A, Berckmans D.Author information1Department of Bio-systems, Division Measure, Model & Manage Bio-responses (M3-Biores), K.U.Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 30, 3001 Leuven, Belgium.AbstractThe performance of climate control systems in vehicles becomes more and more important, especially against the background of the important relationship between compartment climate and driver mental condition and, thus, traffic safety. The performance of two different types of climate control systems, an un-air-conditioned heating/cooling device (VW) and an air-conditioning climate control unit (BMW), is compared using modern and practical evaluation techniques quantifying both the dynamic 3-D temperature distribution and the local air refreshment rate. Both systems suffer from considerable temperature gradients: temperature gradients in the U-AC (VW) car up to 8-9 degrees C are encountered, while the AC (BMW) delivers clear improvement resulting in temperature gradients of 5-6 degrees C.

The experiments clearly demonstrate the effect of the presence of even a single passenger on the thermal regime, increasing the existing thermal discrepancies in the compartment with 15% independent of ventilation rate. Furthermore, in terms of air refreshment rates in the vehicle compartment, an air-conditioning unit halves the air refreshment time at all positions in the vehicle cabin, delivering a significant improvement in terms of human comfort. Similarly, extra air inlets in the back compartment of a car deliver progress in terms of cabin refreshment rate (93 s down to 50 s).PMID: 17536774 DOI: 10.1080/00140130601049337 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] MeSH TermsAir Conditioning/instrumentation*Automobile Driving/psychology*Body Temperature*Equipment DesignHeating/instrumentation*HumansMotor Vehicles/standards*Pilot ProjectsFull Text SourcesTaylor & FrancisIngenta plcOther Literature SourcesCOS Scholar UniverseHeating and cooling of a home is done through HVAC systems. The heating and cooling of a home is a complex task that requires the use of HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) equipment to moderate the temperature.

When comparing systems for a residential HVAC system, understand that HVAC systems have universal qualifications regarding the overall heating and cooling of buildings. For the best climate control in your home, look at the direct needs of the residential setting to determine the best results. Efficiency Efficiency ratings are universal and apply to all heating and cooling systems. The newer and more modern the model, the more likely it is to have a higher efficiency rating. This is the government standard for how efficient a unit consumes energy. Always consider the efficiency of a unit before purchasing it. Size of the HVAC Unit The size of the residential HVAC unit is also important in conserving energy and keeping your bills at a minimum. A unit that is too small for the residence will never be able to fully heat or cool a home. That means the engine/motor/fuel/energy is continually going without ever resting because the unit never fully controls the climate. If the unit is too large, there will be an excess, or overkill, of energy output.

Always order a unit that has a number that matches as closely as possible with the square footage of your home. Air Conditioner Types Although air-conditioner units can come as part of a switch-unit that also shares the ventilation with the heater, they also come as stand-alone units. These can be outside of the home or in a basement or furnace room. Window-mounted units are also available, which are more useful for smaller rooms; sizing residential hvac unitswall-mounted units also are available for smaller settings. split unit ac problemAir conditioners do not require gas to operate as they run off electricity. car a/c repair in atlantaFurnace Types Furnaces can be stand alone or part of an overall HVAC unit. They rely on either electricity, wood or natural gas to operate.

Wood-burning furnaces are relatively old-fashioned, while natural gas and electric are more common, modern counterparts. They heat air which is blown through vents or water that is pushed through pipes. The type of energy consumption is usually based on what is most readily available to you, or what is the most affordable in your area. Geothermal Consider geothermal if you are building a new home and have extra money in the budget. While a small HVAC system for a residential home might only cost between $5,000 and $10,000 on average as of 2012, a geothermal unit costs in the tens of thousands. However, the energy consumption is drastically lower than traditional forms of heating as it uses the ground temperature to maintain steady climate year-round. The EPA has shown that geothermal units can save up to 40 percent annually on the cost of heating and cooling a home, but the initial installation costs are significantly more than traditional HVAC systems. : : How To Buy AC & Heating Equipment or Repair Service from HVAC ContractorsEnvironmental Protection Agency: Geothermal Energy Photo Credits Jupiterimages/Creatas/Getty Images Suggest a Correction

How Do I Compare Heating Fuels? When choosing a heating system for a new home or replacing an existing system, consumers often want to compare the cost of heating fuels. Because fuels are measured and sold in different units such as gallons of oil, therms of natural gas, or kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity, comparing the price of dissimilar units is not useful. A more useful comparison is the fuel cost per amount of heat produced. EIA's Heating Fuel Comparison Calculator (Excel) helps you make this comparison. It factors in the relative price based on the fuel heat content and the heating appliance's efficiency. The Comparison Calculator provides step-by-step instructions, including how to find cost and efficiency data to use with the Calculator. (The Calculatoris a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet. You can use it online or save it to your hard drive and then open it in Excel.) In choosing a heating system, don't rely solely on cost. Numerous factors will determine the heating system that best meets your needs.