Background
Air conditioning can account for over 30% of the annual electricity consumption of a typical office. Around 10% of commercial floor space was air conditioned in 1994. This is expected to rise to 40% by 2020.
A combination of factors result in the increased use of air conditioning:-

• Improved insulation in new buildings.
• Expectations of greater comfort by employees, supported by Health & Safety requirements.
• Profit pressures - an air conditioned building achieves is more profitable when sold/rented, than one without.
• Our increasingly warmer climate.

Much attention is now quite correctly paid to the efficiency of the energy consumption of air conditioning systems. This section of the website gives an overview of the factors which can affect the energy efficient operation of an air conditioning system.

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