A Path To More Valuable, Productive, Ultralow Energy Office Buildings

The fundamental value of an office building is the work performed by its occupants. The direct workforce costs each year that enable this value are typically as great as the one-time cost of the building's construction. Designers and equipment manufacturers should regard this overwhelming cost/benefit metric a mandate to develop and apply systems to provide indoor environments that will maximize the opportunity for occupants to perform at their best. This article discusses how exploiting newer features of ASHRAE Standard 55-2020 , Thermal Environmental Conditions for Human Occupancy , 1 can put the industry on a path to new methods of distributing comfort and fresh air for VAV systems that will result in healthier and more comfortable office buildings. These buildings will be more environmentally attractive to their office workers, more financially beneficial for the tenants and owners, and help the industry meet its decarbonization goals with ultralow energy, occupantcentric office building operations.