Principally we distinguish industrial and comfort air conditioning system.

Industrial air conditioning systems are meant for the manufacturing, processing or storage of certain materials or products. They produce certain conditions in the air and maintain these. They usually operate year-round and humidify/dehumidify the room air and provide the necessary conditions for production, storage or server areas.

Comfort air conditional systems are meant for rooms where people spend time; here they create a room climate desirable for the user. They dehumidify air when cooling and thus create a pleasant room climate. They are used frequently in offices, sales rooms, meeting rooms or other facilities in which you find people.

Efficiency

• Losses due to inefficient regulation
  Cheap devices usually exhibit a poor or no automatic control. Important parameters such as humidity or period of operation often cannot be entered and thus cause inefficient operation 

• Maintenance
  Air always transports dust, pollen and germs. All devices for air treatment, even simple fans, must be kept clean in order to ensure high efficiency as well as  lower energy costs and a healthy climate.

• Incorrect settings
  The control options for air conditioners are frequently ignored. Often exaggerated cooling is compensated with warm air from outside via a window or door.

• lllness due to excessive cooling
  Air conditioning in the summer should keep the room temperature around 3 - 5º lower than the outside temperature. Thereby the cooling is perceived as pleasant and stimulating.

User behavior

Users of air conditioning systems often ignore the substantial energy costs that accompany the devices. In climatized or air-conditioned areas with switched on equipment, windows and doors must remain closed to avoid the expensive cooled air to escape outward.

Measures and improvements

• Conduct regular maintenance and cleaning work (sign service contracts with maintenance companies).
• Do not set the air conditioning systems too cold: 3 - 5 °C under the outside temperature suffices.  
• Turn off air conditioning when windows and doors are open.
• Inform workers about handling the air conditioning system.

Immediate Measures

• Avoid irradiation by the sun: external shutters, sun protection.
• Reduce the internal heat sources such as lights and PCs: cold light lamps, energy-savings lamps, fluorescent lamps.
• Exchange tube screens for flat screens (100 watts less).
• Set up printers and copiers in separate areas.
• Use laptops or work stations instead of desktops (200 watts less).

Long-terms measures and investments

• Improve thermal insulation of the building (see Building shell) 

• Separate the displays from the business or work spaces by partitions. The displays can warm up (if the exhibits can bear it); – however, the heat should not be transferred inward.

• Use turning doors or automatic doors in order to retain cooled air in the building

• Pre-cool outside air using ground-based heat exchangers. With pipes laid in the ground, warm air is cooled by the surrounding earth, whereby substantial cooling performance is saved. In the winter outside air can be preheated with the same heat exchanger.

• Plant trees around buildings for natural shadow and air conditioning.

• Include ponds or water games in inside courtyards for natural cooling by evaporation. 

• Integrate the building control system with the air conditioning system, e.g., air conditioning system on with lowered shutters.

Future prospects

As energy becomes more expensive, the use of air conditioners is more disputed. The devices are constantly rising in efficiency, so that the exchange of older devices becomes interesting. With the help of subsidies cooling on the basis of solar energy is also affordable.

Source: Austrian Chamber of Commerce