Green Building
Build better and greener with environmentally conscious HVAC solutions that go the distance.
Green buildings aim to reduce environmental impacts, conserve resources, and create healthier and more sustainably built environments. With AAON, you can achieve environmental sustainability goals with solutions like Air-Source Heat Pumps and Geothermal Heat Pumps.
GREEN BUILDING SOLUTIONS
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About Green Building
A green building, also known as a sustainable or eco-friendly building, is a structure designed and constructed with a focus on minimizing its environmental impact and promoting sustainability throughout its lifecycle. It goes beyond traditional building practices to incorporate environmentally responsible and resource-efficient strategies in various aspects of design, construction, operation, and maintenance.
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The Challenge
Green buildings often incorporate various sustainable features and technologies. Ensuring compatibility and seamless integration of environmentally friendly HVAC products with other building systems can be a challenge. Coordination among different suppliers and contractors is crucial to ensure effective operation and optimization of the overall building performance.
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The Solution
Green buildings strive for high energy efficiency and optimal performance. With AAON, achieving and maintaining the desired level of performance with environmentally friendly HVAC products is possible. AAON HVAC systems are designed to operate efficiently so you can meet your building’s energy goals.
A green building, also known as a sustainable or eco-friendly building, is a structure designed and constructed with a focus on minimizing its environmental impact and promoting sustainability throughout its lifecycle. It goes beyond traditional building practices to incorporate environmentally responsible and resource-efficient strategies in various aspects of design, construction, operation, and maintenance.
Green buildings often incorporate various sustainable features and technologies. Ensuring compatibility and seamless integration of environmentally friendly HVAC products with other building systems can be a challenge. Coordination among different suppliers and contractors is crucial to ensure effective operation and optimization of the overall building performance.
Green buildings strive for high energy efficiency and optimal performance. With AAON, achieving and maintaining the desired level of performance with environmentally friendly HVAC products is possible. AAON HVAC systems are designed to operate efficiently so you can meet your building’s energy goals.
Green Building Applications
Green Building energy has various applications globally, including power generation, commercial heating and cooling, district heating systems, and greenhouse agriculture. It offers an environmentally friendly and sustainable energy alternative with multiple benefits across different sectors.
Key characteristics of a green building:
Energy Efficiency
Green buildings prioritize energy efficiency by implementing technologies and design strategies to minimize energy consumption. This includes using high-performance insulation, energy-efficient lighting systems, efficient HVAC systems, and utilizing renewable energy sources such as solar panels.
Water Conservation
Green buildings aim to reduce water usage through various methods, including the installation of low-flow fixtures, rainwater harvesting systems, and efficient irrigation systems. Water-efficient landscaping and the use of recycled or greywater for non-potable purposes are also common practices.
Sustainable Materials and Resources
Green buildings emphasize the use of sustainable and environmentally friendly materials. This includes utilizing recycled materials or renewable resources, sourcing local materials, and minimizing waste during construction. Additionally, green buildings promote strategies for waste reduction, recycling, and responsible disposal.
Indoor Environmental Quality
A focus on indoor environmental quality ensures that occupants of green buildings have a healthy and comfortable living or working environment. This involves superior ventilation systems, control of indoor air pollutants, use of non-toxic materials, and maximizing natural lighting to create a comfortable indoor space.
Site Selection and Design
Green buildings consider the impact on the surrounding environment and community during site selection and design. Factors such as proximity to public transportation, access to amenities, and preservation of natural habitats are taken into account. The design may incorporate green spaces, promote biodiversity, and utilize strategies to reduce heat island effect.
Lifecycle Approach
Green buildings take a lifecycle approach, considering not only the construction phase but also the operation and maintenance of the building over its entire lifespan. Strategies for ongoing energy monitoring, maintenance protocols, and adaptability for future needs are integrated into the building's design.
Net Zero
Green buildings often strive for a net zero status. Achieving net zero status requires a building to offset or eliminate the carbon emissions that it emits, producing as much or more energy than it utilizes. Buildings are designed to balance their energy consumption with renewable energy production and other eco-friendly practices.
Key Considerations for Green Building
Integration with on-site renewable energy sources can significantly reduce reliance on fossil fuels and decrease environmental impact.
Efficient control systems are vital for optimizing HVAC performance in green buildings.
Implement control strategies to match heating and cooling demands to specific areas or occupancy, allowing for targeted temperature and ventilation control. Utilize advanced controls and building automation systems to monitor and adjust HVAC settings based on occupancy schedules, temperature variations, and indoor air quality measurements.
Consider the life cycle cost of HVAC solutions when implementing green building practices.
While upfront costs may be higher for energy-efficient and sustainable HVAC systems, evaluate their long-term benefits in terms of energy savings, maintenance costs, and potential rebates or incentives. Conduct a life cycle cost analysis to compare different HVAC options and choose the solution that provides the best overall value in terms of energy efficiency, durability, and environmental impact.
These considerations should be tailored to the specific requirements and goals of the green building project. It is important to work with knowledgeable HVAC professionals and consider industry standards and certifications such as LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) to ensure compliance with green building principles and achieve sustainable and energy-efficient HVAC solutions.
Acceptable indoor air quality is important for green building practices.
One of the most important factors of indoor air quality is ventilation. Indoor air pollutants can lead to health concerns for building occupants, and ventilating the indoor space with fresh outdoor air dilutes potential harmful contaminants. Features such as 100% outside air, economizers, mixed air bypass, return air bypass,power exhaust, and energy recovery wheels - are just a few ways HVAC equipment could be designed to provide the best ventilation possible.
All AAON HVAC products are highly configurable and designed to optimize your exact environment with cutting-edge engineering to push the boundaries in virtually any setting.
AAON stops at nothing to design the very best. Our systems set the industry standard for longevity and low cost of ownership.
AAON equipment is easy to access and convenient to work on. Our award-winning cabinet designs make it simple for technicians to service our units efficiently and affordably.
AAON HVAC units offer easy start-up and renowned reliability. Our products are tested for all functions and receive a unit-specific report before they leave the factory.
Discover smart solutions for virtually any application.
Contact your local AAON Rep to discover the product that’s right for your project.