VAV boxes provide cooling in harmony with heating coils, with both functions controlled by a single thermostat. In many systems, the VAV box minimum airflow is set at approximately twice the airflow required for ventilation. This unnecessary airflow increases energy consumption by requiring additional heating and cooling. This video explains the cause of the problem and outlines a practical solution.
The Retrofit That Made Things Worse
Induction units were already not winning any efficiency awards. Then came the BAS upgrades — and two mistakes that made a flawed system perform even worse. We found them in the field. This is what we saw.