Part 4: How to select air conditioning?
46. Carefully study alternative solutions before investing in a costly, energy-hungry, sometimes very polluting air conditioning system. To cool your premises more cost-effectively, consider using “free cooling”, that is, passive night cooling by creating drafts (depending on what you can do in your premises). Natural night ventilation can be automated (automatic opening, regulated depending on the indoor and outdoor temperature). In this case, don’t forget to turn down your sources of heat production (energy-hungry heat-generating lighting, electrical equipment, etc.).
47. Install external sun protection for your windows (awning, UV film, etc.). You will prevent your premises from overheating and the discolouration of products exposed to the sun. The UCM Energy Pack will finance up to 40% of your sun protection.
Bruxelles Environnement Energy Pack
48. Avoid using air conditioning by protecting the building from direct sunlight (sun visors, curtains, blinds, filters, etc.). Close the building during the day and over-ventilate at night and early in the morning. If possible, install an office automation system to automatically shut off the air conditioning when the windows are open.
49. Only cool the rooms you need to. Install all of the equipment that needs to be protected from heat in the same room, to limit the size of the installation. Ensure that the premises are well-insulated, away from sources of heat and contain few machines that generate a lot of heat (ovens, computers, printers, etc.). Avoid rooms that are exposed to the sun or near areas where the temperature is very high (kitchens, greenhouses, etc.)
50. Maintain a constant temperature of 20°C and drop it 3°C at night or when closed. Putting the temperature down 1°C will generate savings of 2%. Be careful not to create a thermal shock. A temperature change of more than 7°C can be bad for your health. Setting room temperature 3 to 5 °C lower than outside is enough, unless the products require lower storage temperatures.
