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The article focuses on the rational policy of air conservation which is urgently needed to apportion the limited air supply to the various users and to develop administrative machinery to apply such policies. The possibility of more widespread use of radioactive processes as a prime energy source raises a serious problem of air conservation, since in order to use nuclear power plants economically and safely. Air conditioning reflects man's ability to determine what a good air supply may be and to provide it in bounded volumes such as buildings. It is possible to think, plan, measure and act upon the existence of air sheds in somewhat the same way as learning to consider entire river basins as units in the planning and conservation of water resources.

Safety and care for the natural environment are two of the most important values that drive scientific enterprise in twentieth century. Researchers and innovators often develop new technologies aimed at pollution reduction, and therefore satisfy the strive for fulfilment of these values. This work is often incentivized by policy makers. According to EU directive 2006/40/EC on mobile air conditioning since 2013 all newly approved vehicles have to be filled with refrigerant with low global warming potential (GWP). Extensive and expensive research financed by leading car manufacturers led to invention of R-1234yf refrigerant with GWP < 1, which was huge improvement. For the proper understanding of this case it will be useful to refer it to the idea of responsible innovation (RI), which is now being developed and quickly attracts attention. I proceed in the following order. Firstly, I present the relevant properties of R-1234yf and discuss the controversy associated with its marketing. Secondly, I examine framework for responsible innovation. In greater detail I discuss the notions of care for future generations and collective responsibility. Thirdly, I apply the offered framework to the case study at hand. Finally, I draw some conclusions which go in two directions: one is to make some suggestions for improving the framework of RI, and the second is to identify missed opportunities for developing truly responsible refrigerant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Air-conditioned offices in the subtropics are recommended to operate within specified ranges of indoor temperature, relative humidity, air velocity, and carbon dioxide concentration for thermal energy conservation. As environmental discomfort leads to productivity loss, this study investigates the impact of an indoor environmental policy on Grade A offices served by different airside systems in terms of energy consumption, thermal comfort, and productivity loss. Occupant thermal response is specifically considered as an adaptive factor in the evaluation of energy consumption and productivity loss. Simple Monte Carlo sampling technique was applied to determine the input parameters referenced from literatures for simulation. The findings indicate that the reduction of clothing value improves thermal sensation and should be addressed in the environmental policy to ensure a thermally comfortable indoor environment.Practical application: This study is a useful reference source for evaluating indoor thermal environmental policies for air-conditioned offices in subtropical climates. Implication of clothing value in thermal sensation should be addressed in the environmental policy to ensure a thermally comfortable indoor environment of air-conditioned offices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main objective of this on-site study is to use a full-scale Heating, Ventilating, and Air-Conditioning (HVAC) system installed in an office building in Taiwan for comparing the power consumption, energy-saving, and carbon dioxide (CO2) reduction of two different strategies for controlling the HVAC. These strategies are the Constant Volume (CV) system [Constant Air Volume+Constant-flow], and the Variable Volume (VV) system [Variable Air Volume +Variable-flow]. The on-site experimental results indicate that average power consumptions are 164 kW for the CV system, and 88 kW for the VV system; the average electric current drops from 469 A for the CV system to 258 A for the VV system. Approximately 46% of the average energy-saving can be achieved if the HVAC system is operated as a VV system. Additionally, the reduced quantity of accumulated CO2 emission varies from 67 to 3687 kg with 0.637 kg CO2 kwh−1 emission factor during the office hours of 08:30 (a.m.)-17:00 (p.m.). The results demonstrate that switching the operation of an office building HVAC system from CV to VV will significantly enhance energy-savings and CO2 reduction. This studywill offer useful information for evaluating an indoor environmental policy with respect to energy-savings and CO2 emission reduction for office HVACs used in subtropical regions. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There has been a dilemma about whether to adopt water-cooled or air-cooled air-conditioning systems at various times for different developments in Hong Kong, strongly influenced by the local government. Fresh water has been a scarce resource as a cooling medium; however, in recent years, the local government has advocated water-cooled air-conditioning systems, using fresh water or sea water as a cooling medium in the condenser units. Although such water-cooled air-conditioning systems use less energy than air-cooled systems, they can be potentially harmful to the environment and end users if not adequately designed and maintained. There are obvious pros and cons to both systems. Moreover, sea water as a cooling medium has its limitations if one expects to achieve more sustainability, inevitably at a higher initial cost compared with other systems. In this research, detailed studies are carried out on water-cooled and air-cooled air-conditioning systems in buildings in Hong Kong, aiming to achieve more sustainable design while comparing the cost implications of adopting an appropriate system or converting an existing system. In addition, the government~s water supply policy, operation theory of water-cooled and air-cooled condenser units, environmental implications, difficulties in conversion and professionals' opinion are explored. Major stakeholders such as developers, facilities managers, engineers, surveyors and architects could benefit from this research into air-conditioning systems with respect to fulfilling further sustainability criteria and providing environmental protection at optimal costs. This research will be useful in sustainable green building design and also in reducing energy consumption and adverse environmental impacts such as global warming, air pollution and climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the Crystal Palace designed by 19th century horticulturist Joseph Paxton in London, England. Paxton was one of the horticulturists who designed a unified system of environmental control, involving mechanical and passive technologies at the glasshouse in 1851. The idea of using all-glass structures and mechanical environmental systems was the scene that represented Paxton's wider socio-environmental aspirations. Despite Paxton's inability to utilize environmental possibility of the regulated glasshouse environment, but he was remembered for his cooling fully-glazed structures, prior to the advent of refrigeration and air-conditioning technology.

The article reports on the agreement between the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the European Commission and the California Air Resources Board to harmonize international inspection and testing standards for automobile air conditioning systems in the U.S. and European Union countries in 2006. The agreement is expected to result in the creation of global standards that will restrict leakages of the HFC-134a fluorinated greenhouse gas to 40 grams per year from automobiles sold after 2008.