Heating & Cooling
HVAC—heating, cooling, and ventilation—is responsible for more than a third of energy use in commercial buildings in the U.S. Smart designs can easily save upwards of 40% of that energy, often with strategies that offer instant or short payback. And good design that focuses on thermal comfort supports healthier, more productive occupants.
Heating & Cooling
Deep Dives
Get up to speed on complex topics. You can also earn CEUs and download PDF Spotlight Reports.
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Passive Survivability: A New Design Criterion for Buildings
Feature Article
Buildings and their occupants are vulnerable to threats ranging from storms and rising sea levels to accidents and terrorism. In this feature article, EBN describes how to design and construct buildings to maintain livable conditions in the event of extended power outages or loss of heating fuel or water.
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In the Pipeline: District Energy and Green Building
Feature Article
Very common in northern Europe, district energy systems use a network of buried, insulated pipes to distribute centrally produced steam, hot water, or chilled water to heat or cool multiple buildings. These systems can make use of waste heat from power generation (combined heat and power) or renewable fuel sources to help reduce the environmental impacts of buildings and communities.
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The Challenge of Existing Homes: Retrofitting for Dramatic Energy Savings
Feature Article
Greenhouse gas emissions associated with residential energy use account for a fifth of all emissions in the U.S. Retrofitting existing houses to achieve a two- to three-fold reduction in energy use is necessary if we are to achieve the emissions reductions scientists say are required for avoiding catastrophic climate change. Here's a look at how it can be done.
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Ductless Mini-Splits and Their Kin: The Revolution in Variable-Refrigerant-Flow Air Conditioning
Feature Article
Ductless split systems using heat pumps and variable refrigerant flow offer an energy-efficient alternative to conventional heating and air-conditioning systems for a variety of settings, from homes to hotels and schools. Three major manufacturers-Daikin, Mitsubishi, and Sanyo-offer the greatest variety of products.
Quick Takes
Jump straight to the essentials with these short explanations of green building concepts.
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Air-to-Balcony-to-Water "Bridging" Heat Exchanger
Infographic
Heat and cool totally go where the arrows point. Always. But before you rely on this detail, check the date we published it.
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How the Sun's Path Can Inform Design
Explainer
Designing a building with the sun in mind can help reduce both heating and cooling loads.
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Evaporative Coolers
Explainer
As water evaporates, it absorbs heat. Direct and indirect evaporative coolers use this property to cool homes efficiently.
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How Blower-Door Tests Measure Airtightness
Explainer
Blower-door tests: what they are, how they work, and understanding airtightness measurements.
Product Guidance
Unbiased information from our product experts helps you separate green from greenwash.
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Climate Energy Brings Combined Heat and Power Home
Product Review
The idea of combining electricity generation with the production of useful heat-referred to as combined heat and power (CHP) or cogeneration-has long been attractive. Now, after many false starts, a viable residential-scale CHP system is about to enter the market.
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Cold Climate Heat Pump Redux
Product Review
The two-stage high-capacity cold-climate heat pump that was introduced in 2004 and then discontinued in 2005 is back, and from more than one company.
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Enertia Double-Envelope Home Still Has Problems
Product Review
Although its passive solar design is sound, the Enertia double-envelope home's energy performance claims may be overstated and its design presents fire risks.
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Coolerado: Evaporative Cooling Without Added Humidity
Product Review
As an indirect evaporative cooler, the Coolerado provides cool air without adding moisture. Its innovative technology also delivers lower temperatures than conventional evaporative coolers, and it's much more efficient than conventional central air-conditioners.
In The News
We break news down to the essentials and provide expert analysis.
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New Program to Cut Outdoor Wood Boiler Emissions
News Analysis
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has announced a new voluntary testing and labeling program for outdoor wood boilers to reduce their particlulate emissions.
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Thermal Energy Storage Units Come Down in Size
News Analysis
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Conserval Introduces Rooftop PV and Thermal Modules
News Analysis
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Coolerado Makes Solar Air Conditioning a Reality
News Analysis
Perspective
Thought-provoking opinions from the most trusted minds in sustainability.
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Questioning Active Chilled Beams
Op-Ed
Energy consultant Andy Shapiro questions the energy benefits of active chilled beams; engineer Peter Rumsey responds.
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Drinking the Heat Pump Kool-Aid
Op-Ed
Reader Thomas McGrath questions the choice of heat pumps over other forms of space heating.
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7 Tips to Get More from Mini-Split Heat Pumps in Colder Climates
Blog Post
Air-to-air heat pumps are getting more popular as a primary heat source in colder climates. Here’s how to get the most from your system.
Learning Resources
Syllabus supplements and CEU content, with automatic reporting for AIA and GBCI.
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IRA Nuts & Bolts with an Energy Tax Expert
Webcast
The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) offers us a once-in-a-generation chance to equitably decarbonize the built environment and prepare communities to weather future climate threats. Will we seize that chance in time? For that to happen, it’s vital that project teams understand the rules well enough to offer and implement the right solutions.
Just For Fun
Something weird happens every April at BuildingGreen...
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Are Ground-Source Heat Pumps So Last Year?
April Fools
GSHPs have gone mainstream, thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act, and the hippest AEC professionals are so over them.