Science

How do you heat a private office or any room for that matter? The challenge lies in the difference between two concepts: energy and temperature.

There are two fundamental concepts related to how much energy cooling systems must use: sensible heat and latent heat. So which type of heat, sensible or latent, requires more energy to remove?

Electricity costs for most commercial buildings are based both on the maximum power and the total amount of energy you use. Power and energy are different concepts, with very different costs, yet financiers, journalists, and pretty much everyone struggles to differentiate them.

Using the principles of thermodynamics, we can keep people comfortable in a building while using energy in smarter ways. Thermodynamics teaches us numerous tradeoffs and rules that allow us to get the right temperature in the right place at the right time for the least amount of energy.

The difference between efficiency and efficacy is representative of the many issues that get ignored when discussing lighting and energy. But failing to understand this difference or the other nuances of lighting and energy, can turn what looks like great energy savings in theory into a poor investment.

Occupancy sensors can be extremely cost-effective tools for reducing energy use and costs. There are two main type of sensors: passive infrared and ultrasonic sensors.