Individual Comfort Control

Transcription

1 Individual Comfort Control During recent years an increasing amount of attention has been paid to air distribution systems that individually condition the immediate environments of office workers within their workstations. The occupant has control over the speed and direction and in some cases the temperature, of the incoming air supply. Variously called 'task/ambient conditioning,' 'localized thermal distribution,' and 'personalized air conditioning' systems, these systems have been most commonly installed in open-plan office buildings in which they provide supply air and (in some cases) radiant heating directly into workstations. The purpose of this document is to present and discuss engineering and application guidelines and recommendations that encourage the intelligent design, installation, and operations that can provide Individual Comfort Control. 5/26/2011

2 INDIVIDUAL COMFORT CONTROL Providing individual control of thermal comfort systems allows occupants to customise the indoor environment to their own preference. Thermal comfort Chapter 8 in the ASHRAE Handbook of fundamentals, 2001, indicates vast differences between people s needs for the thermal comfort, strongly indicating the need for individual control. This can have a significant benefit for occupants comfort: Increasing Occupant Satisfaction and productivity Lowering occupant complaint level fewer trouble calls for building management Individual control has been shown to widen the range of comfort temperatures. This can provide substantial energy saving in both heating and cooling. In particular it means that a naturally ventilated environment may be possible for increased periods of the year. Age of Air experiments indicate better penetration of the ventilation component than with systems which both supply and return air at the false ceiling. Feedback from building occupants overseas has been positive, because individual personal control of the workstation provides a sense of personal empowerment. Subjective estimates of improved productivity have been noted in a range of 0-10 percent. Requirements for Certification: Provide individual comfort controls for at least 50% of the building occupants. Provide comfort controls for multi-occupant spaces to meet group needs. Successful Strategies: Consider adjustable underfloor air diffusers, or thermostat controlled VAV boxes. Operable windows can be used in lieu of comfort controls for occupants of areas that are 20 feet inside of and 10 feet to either side of the operable part of the window. Perform preliminary temperature/airflow control calculations early in design to determine if more or less thermal comfort controls are required to meet the credit. Helpful Hints: 1. Comfort controls are defined as the provision of control over at least one of the primary factors in the occupant's local environment: thermostats, diffusers, radiant panels, operable windows. 2. Specific types or numbers of controls are not defined by LEED for shared multioccupant spaces. 3. The control strategies cannot rely on average temperature inputs, individual temperature control must be provided. 4. Provide sensors at each operable window so that maintenance staff gets notified when windows are left open after hours. NATSPEC 2 "[Insert date]"

3 What is VRF? Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) zoning is an energy-efficient method of providing precise comfort control to indoor environments. VRF offers a wide variety of applications - everything from spot-cooling or -heating a single room in a home (using a split-ductless system) to a large commercial building with multiple floors and areas (that require individual comfort control delivered by a split-zoning system). VRF moves refrigerant to the zone to be heated or cooled, allowing the temperature of that area to be more precisely controlled. It can simultaneously cool some zones while heating other areas or just provide comfort control to zones that are in use. (Zones are single or multiple room spaces that are conditioned to a set temperature and are operated independently from other rooms within the same structure.) Ductless systems provide more building design flexibility and result in more usable space. Ducted systems allow you to combine multiple rooms into a single zone. Unlike other VRF systems, MEHVAC uses a two-pipe design which reduces the complexity, time and cost of installation with fewer refrigerant lines and connections. INVERTER Compressor technology is highly responsive and efficient. The technology allows for compact, quiet units, flexibility of placement and gives architects and owners more design freedom with Integrated, simple to use controls. VRF Zoning strategy provides economically precise, individual comfort control to multiple spaces: Energy Efficiency - INVERTER technology can simultaneously heat and cool, virtually eliminating duct loss. Zoned Comfort - Each individual zone can have personalized comfort as the system delivers the right amount of refrigerant to precisely meet the load in a space. Quiet Operation - Indoor and outdoor units are so quiet that they can be placed just about anywhere, giving you more flexibility on how to use indoor and outdoor space. Outdoor units can even be placed directly under a window and quiet indoor units are perfect in environments that require minimal disruption like schools, places or worship, libraries and more. System Simplicity - MEHVAC's two-pipe system is simpler to install and service. Routine maintenance consists of changing filters and cleaning coils. Aesthetics - HVAC systems don't have to get in the way of design. Small outdoor units provide for flexibility of placement and indoor units can be painted to blend in with your environment. (Consult a certified contractor for details on how to safely paint the cabinets. Lower Lifecycle Cost - Operate with minimum energy usage. Only service the zones that need it, which allows for less required maintenance. Safety - Zoned structure does not recirculate air into other zones, reducing the spread of airborne contaminants and allergens. NATSPEC 3 "[Insert date]"

4 Typical CITY MULTI R2-Series Layout Individual access to control either the air speed, air temperature, radiant temperature, or humidity provided by mechanical systems. Usually this would require an underfloor air system (UFAD) with one controllable vent for every two work stations. It may also be possible in a small office where the majority of work spaces are along the perimeter and close to operable windows. The instant invention is a major energy saver in the form of a blanket which allows personal heat control, particularly cooling. More specifically, the blanket is provided with internal ducts through which a stable foam is circulated as a cooling fluid in such a way that the inside of the blanket facing the person being cooled is maintained at a temperature slightly below body temperature, while the outside of the blanket is insulated to minimize heat exchange with the environment. Compared to the use of a liquid as the circulating cooling fluid, foam is very light and thus minimizes the weight of the blanket, but it has better heat transfer properties and heat capacity than a gas. Cooling of the recirculating cooling fluid is done separate from the blanket in a refrigeration unit connected to the blanket by a feed and return duct. The refrigeration unit can operate by means of a heat pump, or use a stored refrigerant such as ice, or employ a continuous coolant, such as tap water. The integrity of the circulating foam is maintained by passing a certain fraction of the circulating fluid through a foam regeneration unit which both reconstitutes foam which has started to collapse and agglomerate, and regenerates foam which has completely broken when the unit is out of service for extended periods. A device for personal heat control, containing means for heating and cooling, said device comprising (a) a flexible instrument insulated on one side and containing ducts for the passage there through of circulating heat transfer fluid which performs said heat control by heat exchange, (b) heat exchange means in which the temperature of said circulating heat transfer fluid is adjusted to the desired level, (c) pumping means to circulate said fluid, and (d) ducts to allow the transport of heat by means of said circulating heat transfer fluid between said flexible instrument and said heat exchanger means, the improvement comprising that said circulating heat transfer fluid carrying out both the heat exchange and the heat transport is a stable foam and said device includes means to regenerate collapsed NATSPEC 4 "[Insert date]"

5 foam. Why Personal Comfort? Thermal comfort often cited as the number one complaint in buildings today. o Studies have confirmed that lack of individual temperature control is a big issue for building owners. Studies have linked improved comfort to reduced absenteeism and therefore improved productivity. o Labor costs are typically ten times higher that cost of property, so improved comfort control is rewarded with large returns in productivity. Employee productivity gains Source of Productivity Gain Potential Annual Health Benefits Potential US Annual Savings or Productivity Gain (2002 dollars) 1) Reduced respiratory illness 16 to 37 million avoided cases of common cold or influenza $7 - $16 billion 2) Reduced allergies and asthma 8% to 25% decrease in symptoms within 53 million allergy sufferers and 16 million asthmatics $1 - $5 billion 3) Reduced sick building syndrome symptoms 20% to 50% reduction in SBS health symptoms experienced frequently at work by 15 million workers $10 - $35 billion Sub-Total $18 - $56 billion 4) Improved worker performance from changes in thermal environment and lighting Not applicable $25 - $180 billion TOTAL $43 - $235 billion NATSPEC 5 "[Insert date]"

6 USGBC recommends that individual thermal control strategies be developed using/incorporating operable windows, both operable windows and mechanical systems or mechanical systems alone. More specific individual adjustments may involve individual thermostat controls, local diffusers at floor, desk or overhead levels or control of individual radiant panels. In the past we've heard of thermally powered, variable-volume ceiling diffusers that may provide cost-effective, individual comfort control in a NC situation. They are occupant controlled. The diffusers maintain the local/zoned temperature by varying the volume of air delivered, which is controlled by a thermally-responsive wax-filled element in the diffuser. No sensors or wall-mounted thermostats are required, however the products are available in cooling-only and heating/cooling configurations. Indoor Environmental Air Quality 6.2 Controllability of Systems Thermal Comfort Intent: 1. Provide high level of thermal comfort system control for individuals and multioccupant spaces to promote productivity, comfort and well being of building occupants. Implementation: 1. Individual comfort controls for 50% min. of building occupants. 2. Operable windows are OK instead if: o Occupants are stationed within 20-0 inside and 10-0 to either side of the window opening. o meets standards of ASHRAE for natural ventilation 3. Also provide thermal comfort controls for multi-occupancy rooms, adjustable to suit needs of various groups to occupy the space. o thermal comfort conditions under ASHRAE NATSPEC 6 "[Insert date]"

7 Thermal Comfort in UFAD Systems Heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning (HVAC) technology has changed little since variable-air volume systems were first introduced 30 years ago. For the vast majority of buildings, it is still standard practice to provide a single uniform thermal and ventilation environment within each building zone, offering little chance of satisfying the environmental needs and preferences of individual occupants (unless, of course, they happen to have a private office with a thermostat). As a result, the quality of the indoor environment (i.e., thermal comfort and indoor air quality) continues to be one of the primary concerns among workers who occupy these buildings. Several documented surveys of building occupants have pointed out the high dissatisfaction with indoor environmental conditions [e.g., 1, 2] Figure 1. Conventional overhead air distribution system. Recently, the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA), in partnership with the Urban Land Institute (ULI), surveyed 1,829 office tenants in the U.S. and Canada [3]. In the survey, office tenants were asked to rate the importance of 53 building features and amenities, and to report how satisfied they are with their current office space for those same categories. The following quotes from the report demonstrate the importance of indoor environmental quality and personal control. The most important features, amenities, and services to the responding tenants are related to the comfort and quality of indoor air, the acoustics, and the quality of the building management s service. Tenants ability to control the temperature in their suite is the only feature to show up on both the list of most important features (96%) and the list of items where tenants are least satisfied (65%). To make an immediate and positive impact on tenants perception of a building, landlords and managers could focus on temperature-related functions by updating HVAC systems so that tenants can control the temperature in their suite or by helping tenants make better use of their existing system. NATSPEC 7 "[Insert date]"

8 Underfloor air distribution (UFAD) systems deliver conditioned air to a relatively large number of supply air locations within the building, often in close proximity to the building occupants. By delivering air directly into the occupied zone of the building (at floor level or as part of the furniture), UFAD systems provide an opportunity for individuals to have some amount of control over their local environment. Figure 2. Underfloor air distribution system Thermal Comfort Standards Current comfort standards, ASHRAE Standard [4] and ISO Standard 7730 [5], specify a comfort zone, representing the optimal range and combinations of thermal factors (air temperature, radiant temperature, air velocity, humidity) and personal factors (clothing and activity level) with which at least 80% of the building occupants are expected to express satisfaction. These standards are based on a large number of laboratory studies in which subjects (primarily university students) were asked to evaluate their comfort in steady-state environments over which they had little or no control. The standards were developed for mechanically conditioned buildings typically having overhead air distribution systems designed to maintain uniform temperature and ventilation conditions throughout the occupied space. Given the high value placed on the quality of indoor environments, it is rather astonishing that a building HVAC system can be considered in compliance with thermal comfort standards, and yet provide a thermal environment with which up to 20% of the building population will be dissatisfied. This is, however, exactly the case in the conventional "onesize-fits-all" approach to environmental control in buildings. The primary scientific justification for this seemingly low level of occupant satisfaction is clearly revealed in the large body of thermal comfort research on human subjects in a laboratory setting. These tests, which form the basis for the ASHRAE Standard 55 comfort zone, demonstrate that on average at least 10% of a large population of subjects will express dissatisfaction with their thermal environment, even when exposed to the same uniform thermal environment considered acceptable by the majority of the population. In practice, the standard uses a 20% dissatisfaction rating by adding an additional safety factor of 10% dissatisfaction that might arise from locally occurring nonuniform thermal conditions in the space (e.g., stratification, draft, radiant asymmetry). Furthermore, there is an ongoing debate about the degree of relevance of laboratory-based research for occupants in real buildings, where the range of NATSPEC 8 "[Insert date]"

9 individual thermal preferences will likely be even greater (see discussion below). The bottom line is that no matter how well controlled an HVAC system is in a building using overhead air Distribution, there may be a surprisingly large number of occupants who will not be satisfied with the thermal environment. Air velocity is one of the six main factors affecting human thermal comfort. Because of its important influence on skin temperature, skin wettedness, convective and evaporative heat loss, and thermal sensation, it has always been incorporated into thermal comfort standards. In ASHRAE Standard 55, there are two recommendations for allowable air velocities in terms of (1) minimizing draft risk and (2) providing desirable occupant cooling [6]. The elimination of draft is addressed by placing rather stringent limits on the allowable mean air speed as a function of air temperature and turbulence intensity (defined as the standard deviation of fluctuating velocities divided by their mean for the measuring period). As an example, the draft risk data (representing 15% dissatisfaction curves) for a turbulence intensity of 40% (typical of indoor office environments) would restrict the mean air speed to 0.12 m/s (24 fpm) at 20 C (68 F) and 0.2 m/s (40 fpm) at 26 C (78.8 F). These extremely low velocity limits taken by themselves would make it very difficult for UFAD systems to be considered acceptable due to the higher local air velocities that are possible when air is introduced directly into the occupied zone. The draft risk data are based solidly on laboratory research conducted over the lower end of the comfort zone temperature range (23 C [73.5 F] and below), but are represented as extrapolations to conditions where data were not collected at higher temperatures. Although it is still under debate, the draft risk velocity limits in Standard 55 appear to be most suitable for eliminating undesirable air movement under cooler (heating mode) environmental conditions, a more frequent situation in European climates. In warmer climates, such as those frequently found in the U.S., air motion is often considered as highly desirable for both comfort (cool breeze for relief) and air quality (preventing stagnant air) reasons. ASHRAE Standard 55 allows local air velocities to be higher than the low values specified for draft avoidance if the affected occupant has individual control over these velocities. By allowing personal control of the local thermal environment, UFAD systems satisfy the requirements for higher allowable air velocities contained in Standard 55 and have the potential to satisfy all occupants. Personal Control one of the greatest potential improvements of UFAD systems over conventional overhead systems is in the area of occupant thermal comfort, in that individual preferences can be accommodated. In today s work environment, there can be significant variations in individual comfort preferences due to differences in clothing, activity level (metabolic rate), and individual preferences. In terms of clothing variations, if a person reduced their level of clothing from a business suit (0.9 clo) to slacks and a short-sleeved shirt (0.5 clo), the room temperature could be increased by approximately 2 C (4 F) and still maintain equivalent comfort. As an example of the variations in activity level that commonly occur, a person walking continuously around in an office (1.7 met) will experience an effective temperature of the environment that is approximately 2 to 3 C (3 to 5 F) warmer than that for a person sitting quietly at their desk (1.0 met), depending on clothing level. NATSPEC 9 "[Insert date]"

10 How much control is needed? Considering the magnitude of variations described above, a range of control up to 3 C (5 F) is probably enough for most applications. Recent laboratory tests have shown that commercially available fan-powered supply outlets provide personal cooling control of equivalent whole-body temperature over a sizable range: up to 7 C (13 F) of sensible cooling for desktop-mounted outlets (Figure 3) and up to 5 C (9 F) of sensible cooling for floor-based outlets (Figure 4) [7, 8]. This amount of control is clearly more than enough to allow individual thermal preferences to be accommodated. Figure 3. Whole-body cooling rates, EHT ( C), for two desktop jet diffusers blowing air toward a person seated in front of desk. Results applicable to average room temperatures of C (72-79 F), room-supply temperature differences of 0-7 C (0-13 F), and supply volumes of L/s ( cfm). NATSPEC 10 "[Insert date]"

11 Figure 4. Whole-body cooling rates, EHT ( C), for fan-powered floor jet diffuser (consisting of four grills mounted in one floor panel) blowing air toward a person seated approximately 1 m (3 ft) to the side. Results applicable to average room temperatures of C (72-79 F), room-supply temperature differences of 0-7 C (0-13 F), and supply volumes of L/s ( cfm). The tests described in refs. 7 and 8 were conducted using an advanced thermal manikin to measure the rate of heat loss from a person under realistic conditions. The manikin was dressed in typical clothing and it maintained a constant skin temperature distribution that was characteristic of a person in thermal neutrality at all times. Whole-body rates of heat loss from the manikin are represented in terms of an Equivalent Homogeneous Temperature (EHT). EHT is defined as the temperature of a uniform space, in which all surface temperatures are equal to air temperature, there is no air movement other that the selfconvection of the manikin, and the rate of heat loss would be the same as was actually measured. In Figures 3 and 4, a value of EHT = -3 C (-5 F) is the same amount of cooling that would be obtained by walking out of one room with homogeneous temperature and stillair conditions into a second cooler room, also with homogeneous temperature and still-air conditions, but maintained 3 C (5 F) cooler than the first room. The sensible cooling results shown in Figure 3 indicate that desktop fan-powered jet diffusers can achieve a 3 C (5 F) cooling rate at a flow rate of only about L/s (50-75 cfm), depending on room-supply temperature difference. Since the desktop diffusers deliver air directly toward the front of the person, it is the air speed that is the most important cooling mechanism; the room-supply temperature difference has a relatively small effect. A velocity measurement taken in front of the chest of the manikin in direct line with the focused air jet was 0.85 m/s (170 fpm) at a supply volume of 35 L/s (75 cfm). NATSPEC 11 "[Insert date]"

12 The floor jet diffuser (Figure 4) is not quite as effective since it is mounted to the side of the person and requires a higher flow rate of about L/s ( cfm), depending on temperature difference. In this case the room-supply temperature difference plays a relatively more important role in determining the cooling rate. For the floor diffuser, a velocity measurement taken near the left arm of the manikin in direct line with the focused air jet was 0.28 m/s (55 fpm) at a supply volume of 43 L/s (90cfm). Swirl diffusers have not been tested under these same test conditions, but they will not provide as much direct occupant cooling as the jet-type diffusers described above will. Swirl diffusers are designed to provide rapid mixing with the room air and thus minimize any high velocity air movement, except within a small imaginary cylinder (approximately 1.2 m (4 ft) high and 0.6 m (2 ft) in diameter) directly above the floor diffuser. Unless an occupant chooses to move within this cylinder, often referred to as the clear zone, room air velocities will be less than 0.25 m/s (50 fpm). In addition to sensible cooling, evaporative cooling rates caused by air motion over a person with wet skin can be significant. For a person having a typical skin wettedness of 0.20 (this corresponds to a person having wet skin over 20% of their skin surface area), evaporative heat loss can more than double the sensible whole-body cooling rates shown in Figures 3 and 4. As further support for the benefits of providing personal control, recent field research has found that building occupants who have no individual control capabilities are twice as sensitive to changes in temperature compared to occupants who do have individual thermal control [9, 10]. What this indicates is that people who know they have control are more tolerant of temperature variations, making it easier to satisfy their comfort preferences. This important topic is now the subject of a new ASHRAE-sponsored research project (1161-RP) being conducted by the Center for the Built Environment [11]. Personal Environments Creating the ideal work environment Putting people in control of their environment is a proven way to increase productivity. More and more companies are recognizing that even the most worker-friendly office design may be wasted if the employee can t control the environment to his or her individual liking. In fact, research indicates that productivity can be increased by as much as 15% when employees are working in the office environment of their choice. Personal Environments place the control of critical environmental conditions at the fingertips of each individual. An easy-to-use desktop control unit gives each person the flexibility to adjust temperature, lighting, air flow and acoustic characteristics as often as necessary to maintain personal comfort levels. So instead of a source of frustration, the workspace environment becomes a tool for productivity. NATSPEC 12 "[Insert date]"

13 A breath of fresh air in HVAC system design Unlike conventional systems that may fail to distribute air uniformly, Personal Environments deliver conditioned air directly to workstations for total ventilation efficiency. All air entering the space is automatically and continually cleaned through an advanced filter. This combination of positive air flow and filtration helps improve indoor air quality. Our Personal Environments Supplied Air Systems are incorporated into the building s HVAC design. These systems can be easily installed in raised floor applications. Or then can be installed where ceiling/wall duct systems supply conditioned air. Our Personal Environments Circulated Air Systems can be installed with existing HVAC systems. So it s easy to retrofit open offices with Personal Environments. Benefits Allows an individual to create an ideal work environment. Controls temperature, air flow, lighting & acoustic levels. Integrates with interior systems and networks. Improves indoor air quality. Reduces energy usage. Personal Environments Research 1.1 INCREASING EMPLOYEE PRODUCTIVITY WITH PERSONAL ENVIRONMENTS Here are the facts: Fact: A direct correlation exists between environmental comfort and employee productivity in open office environments. In the past 15 years, dozens of scientific studies on productivity in the workplace have proven that individuals respond very differently to their environment.1 Dissatisfaction with indoor environmental conditions has been shown in study after study done in North America NATSPEC 13 "[Insert date]"

14 and in Europe.2 Many managers have already recognized that increased environmental satisfaction helps improve employee productivity.3 Fact: At minimum, 1% of the salaries in an average 500,000-square-foot office building amounts to more than $975,000. This conservative figure is arrived at by using an average hourly pay of $11.54, adding an additional 30% for the cost of benefits, and assuming an average occupancy density of 154 square feet per person.4 The cost per square foot of salaries in an average facility is anywhere from 8 to 13 times the cost per square foot of building operations, often topping $200 per square foot, per person, per year.5 Fact: A 2.8% productivity gain is absolutely possible when employees are given control over their environments through the installation of Personal Environments.6 Actually, a 2.8% improvement is at the low end of what researchers have found. In one study predicting control on productivity, providing employees with individually controlled systems showed productivity increases of as much as 8.6%, depending on the type of work.7 Studies have reported productivity gains in the range of 15% for managerial employees and 17% for clerical employees when environmental factors are carefully designed and controlled to meet the needs of employees.8 Fact: That same 3% productivity gain would translate into $2,925,000 per year of productivity improvements in the average 500,000-square-foot office. Improvements to the workplace environment are highly cost-effective ways of enhancing employee satisfaction. These improvements have low payback periods when the cost of NATSPEC 14 "[Insert date]"

15 salaries is factored into the equation. Because environmental satisfaction means increased productivity, even a small improvement in productivity can pay off huge dividends for companies and organizations with employees working in open office environments. CoBi: Bio-Sensing Building Mechanical System Controls for Sustainably Enhancing Individual Thermal Comfort Abstract Current existing thermal control systems are operated based on thermal comfort models generated by regression formulas averaging the thermal responses over data collected during extensive experiments involving panels of human subjects. These models may not be appropriate for an individual whose physiological characteristics happen to be located outside of the main stream from the experimental sample of occupants. By necessity, existing automatic control systems disregard individual characteristics such as health, age, gender, body mass, etc., which may affect physiological responses. Thereby these systems have serious limitations in ensuring individual thermal satisfaction. While there have been many efforts to overcome the limitations of current technology and to improve individualized control, most of the attempts to make smart controllers for buildings have dealt primarily with optimizing mechanical building components to deliver uniform conditions, largely ignoring whether a generated thermal environment by building systems meet actual users comfort and satisfaction. Over-cooling and over-heating are common unnecessary results. Thermal control innovations for building mechanical systems are critically needed to demonstrate that meeting the physiological needs of occupants can actually save energy and improve environmental quality while enhancing user satisfaction. The thermoregulation of the human body has a biological mechanism, homeostasis, which enables it to maintain a stable and constant body temperature by changing physiological signals including skin temperatures and heart rate. These signal patterns have the potential to provide information about each individual s current thermal sensation. The goal of this research is to establish an adaptive thermal comfort control driven by ongoing human physiological responses or bio-signals. Confirming the optimum driver of skin temperature, and location of sensors, the bio-sensing adaptive control logic is developed to support the optimum control of HVAC terminal units. The bio-sensing controllers offer major opportunities for office, healthcare and residential buildings, especially where environmental quality and control can be linked to productivity and health, and where energy savings are critical. The CoBi bio-sensing adaptive HVAC systems control research would substantially improve occupant comfort, health, and well-being while advancing environmental sustainability with energy savings, at a small first cost for existing or new buildings. NATSPEC 15 "[Insert date]"

16 System for providing individual comfort control A system for providing individual comfort control. The system includes means, such as an air diffuser, for distributing conditioned air into an environment; a personal comfort device for selectively providing conditioned air to a portion of the environment; and means for remotely controlling the operation of the personal comfort device. Claim: What is claimed is: 1. A system for providing individual comfort control comprising: means for distributing conditioned air into an environment including first and second air diffusers; a first personal comfort device, sharing a common housing with the first air diffuser, for selectively providing supplemental heated conditioned air to a first portion of the environment including means for directing the distribution of the supplemental conditioned air, and a heating element; a second personal comfort device, sharing a common housing with the second air diffuser, for selectively providing supplemental cooled conditioned air to a second portion of the environment and including means for directing the distribution of the supplemental conditioned air; means for transmitting wireless communications from a remote locale to the first and second personal comfort devices; means, operatively associated with the wireless transmitting means, for remotely controlling the operation of the first and second personal comfort devices; means, operatively associated with the wireless transmitting means, for remotely directing the distribution of the supplemental conditioned air by the respective distribution directing means of the first and second personal comfort devices. 2. The system of claim 1 wherein the first personal comfort device and the air distribution means share a common duct. 3. In combination a first housing including a first air diffuser for distributing conditioned supply air into an environment and a first personal comfort device for select ably and directionally providing conditioned supply air to a first portion of the environment, the first personal comfort device including an auxiliary heating element; a second housing including a second air diffuser for distributing conditioned supply air into the environment and a second personal comfort device for selectably and directionally providing conditioned supply air to a second portion of the environment; NATSPEC 16 "[Insert date]"

17 first and second means for indicating personal comfort by remote wireless transmissions; means, associated with the first personal comfort indicating means, for remotely controlling the operation of the first personal comfort device and the direction of the supplemental conditioned supply air distribution; second means, associated with the second personal comfort indicating means, for remotely controlling the operation of the second personal comfort device and the direction of the supplemental conditions supply air distribution; and wherein the first personal comfort device provides supplemental heated air to a first portion of the environment, and the second person comfort device simultaneously provides supplemental cooled air to a second portion of the environment. 4. The combination of claim 3 wherein the remote control means includes an infrared transmitter. 5. The combination of claim 3 wherein the remote control means further includes means for indicating personal comfort. 6. The combination of claim 3 wherein the first personal comfort device includes a bypass damper or an integral fan. 7. A method of providing personal comfort control including the steps of: distributing air to an environment by means of an air distribution system; transmitting a first wireless signal to indicate personal discomfort of a first person; providing heated supplemental air distribution from a first personal comfort device associated with a first diffuser in response to the first indication of personal discomfort of the first person; remotely controlling the direction of the heated supplemental air distribution; transmitting a second wireless signal to indicate personal discomfort of a second person; simultaneously providing cooled supplemental air from a second personal comfort device associated with a second diffuser to the second person suffering discomfort; and remotely controlling the direction of the cooled supplemental air distribution. NATSPEC 17 "[Insert date]"

18 The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), appointed Project Services (Department of Public Works) to complete the design and construction management of this tenancy fitout. The project brief had a target of 4 star Green Star Office Interiors V1.1 rating. Q-Build Department of Public Works), as the principle contractor for the project, constructed the tenancy during June-July Practical completion for the project occurred on the 25th of July The new tenancy design took advantage of various features in the existing building and incorporated further sustainable features in the fitout. The Design Aim was to utilise the Office Interiors Green Star Tool to improve the indoor environment quality for the occupants, minimise the potential energy consumed and use sustainable materials in the fitout. The features that play an important role in achieving this goal are the following: o A Task-Air (UCI) work station air conditioning system that delivers conditioned air to each work station setting, allowing individual comfort control. o A dedicated printer room within the tenancy, with an independent exhaust system. o High level of fresh air introduced into the tenancy. o Use of heat exchangers in the Conference Room air conditioning system to minimise plant size and energy use. o Use of refrigerants with zero Ozone Depleting Potential (ODP) for the supplementary air conditioning systems. o Zoned air conditioning and lighting systems. o Solatubes throughout the tenancy ceiling introducing natural light to a high percentage of the tenancies work settings in the office. o Suitable plant species are placed throughout the office space. o Use of GECA certified products throughout the tenancy. o Waste minimisation during construction and tenancy occupation. o An electronic Tenancy User Guide accessible to all staff. o Minimised use of products that emit VOCs and Fomaldehyde. o A tenancy that meets the acoustics requirements set out in AS/NZS 2107:200 NATSPEC 18 "[Insert date]"