HVAC Design and Operation for Green Buildings

The term “green building” is used to describe buildings that are designed, constructed, and operated, to have a minimum impact on the environment, both indoor and outdoor. Most discussions of green buildings refer to the importance of providing an acceptable, if not exceptional, indoor environment for the building occupants. This paper describes the basic concepts of green building and discusses the role of HVAC for ensuring high-performance sustainable buildings in design and operation. The design strategies for effective and green HVAC systems are explained, and the new emerging HVAC technologies for green buildings are described. It is hoped that HVAC designers and other building professionals could develop a better understanding of green buildings and apply effective strategies and techniques for meeting the goal.