Is human comfort compatible with energy efficiency?

In a building’s HVAC systems, there’s only so much efficiency you can achieve before you start having to make trade-offs in terms of occupant comfort. However, achieving maximum comfort with minimum energy usage doesn’t have to be a zero-sum game, as ABB’s Carl Turbitt explains.

04/03/2025 10:29:30

Weighing up comfort versus efficiency is the eternal conflict facing designers, installers and integrators of HVAC systems.

Everyone wants to save energy and money, but there comes a limit to what humans will tolerate in the name of efficiency.

This was one of the key themes at the recent ABB Energy Efficiency Symposium held in London. The event brought together industry leaders from across the HVAC ecosystem to discuss the question: “Is human comfort compatible with energy efficiency?”.

Optimal comfort often requires energy-intensive systems, but how can this be reconciled with the need to reduce energy usage and meet net zero commitments?

Read the full article in DPA's March 2025 issue