Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

Using VRF Systems to Solve HVAC Challenges

  • By James DeBerry
  • 09/01/18

Variable refrigerant flow (VRF) is a leading edge, globally proven HVAC technology that can help solve many HVAC challenges faced by educational facilities:

Increasing Energy Efficiency
VRF systems with inverter-driven compressors can reduce energy bills up to 25 percent.

Lower Lifecycle Costs
VRF’s installation and operational costs are often lower than those of traditional systems. Standard controls and simpler installation save on materials and labor.

Delivering Fresh Air
With advanced filters, zoning capabilities, and integration with ventilation systems, VRF can help meet indoor air mandates.

Limiting Operational Noise
VRF eliminates disruption indoors and out. Indoor units operate as quietly as 27 decibels and outdoor units are quieter than traditional systems.

Varying Loads Needs
Full-range variable capacity delivers only the amount of conditioning required to match a zone’s cooling or heating demand. Using integrated controls and sensors that measure conditions within each zone, the compressor adjusts speeds to maintain the desired zone temperature.

Solving Comfort Issues
VRF’s zoning offers personalized comfort control, including the ability to simultaneously cool and heat from one heat recovery system.

Controlling Multiple Spaces
VRF can integrate with third-party software. Beyond that, VRF offers a wide variety of controls options, from individual zone controllers to centralized controllers that monitor, schedule, and control multiple indoor units through a web browser.

Minimizing Maintenance
Limited maintenance is necessary and doesn’t require a specialized service contractor.

This article originally appeared in the College Planning & Management September 2018 issue of Spaces4Learning.

About the Author

James DeBerry is commercial marketing manager for Mitsubishi Electric Cooling & Heating (MitsubishiPro.com). He can be reached at [email protected] or 888-979-9686.

Featured

  • Chartwells Launches Campus Dining Evaluation Framework

    Contract food-service management provider Chartwells Higher Education recently announced the launch of BLUEPRINT, according to a news release. The evaluation framework was designed to provide a data-driven and customizable roadmap towards optimizing campus dining services and, by extension, the student experience.

  • University of Arizona Approves New Residence Hall

    The Arizona Board of Regents recently approved plans for a new residence hall at the University of Arizona in Tucson, Ariz., according to a news release. The new facility is scheduled to open in fall 2028 and have the capacity for more than 1,200 students, enforcing a new university expectation that all first-year students live on campus.

  • New City School

    Turning Crisis into Opportunity: Transforming New City School

    When New City School in St. Louis suffered catastrophic flood damage in July 2022, the event could have marked a serious setback for the 100-year-old institution. Instead, it became a forward-looking opportunity.

  • University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Launches New Emergency Communications System

    The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) recently deployed a new emergency notification and incident management system for its campus, according to a news release. The university partnered with 911Cellular to launch Safe@UTC, a smartphone app allowing university officials to communicate and respond during emergency situations.