Based on my experience as a draftsperson all the way up to facility management project manager, I have come to recognize that how a central air system is initially laid out on an architectural floor plan can determine whether it will be the cornerstone to a high-performance HVAC system or simply another conventional supply air system. I consider achieving high-performance HVAC systems an “art” (aka; the human skill of creativity, imagination, and practicality) that begins with a high-performance design initiative. Putting aside the energy efficient aspects of the system design, here is a practitioner’s steps that will address value engineering (before “VC, value cutting” occurs) and serviceability that will make the design efficient throughout the useful service life of this system.
Efficiency should start with quality control and, for me, this means have a time-tested designer’s checklist with categories that include the following.