Benefits of OvalAir

The OvalAir concept can often produce a dramatic increase in comfort with very little investment.  In some cases, old equipment has failed but we’ve been able to make spaces comfortable without replacing the equipment.  In general the space becomes much more “livable” in feel, without a big investment in ducting, air handling units, expensive HVAC controls, etc.

At the moment it’s more of an experimental concept, but we think OvalAir may have the potential to be a disruptive innovation in HVAC and new building design.

Imagine a building with no long and complicated enclosed ductwork, no forced in/out air flow or complicated piping.  Spaces and partitions would be designed to emphasized open circulation within the building envelope, gathering up heat from sources (people, lights, computers, sunlight) and circulating it slowly and “organically” to other areas in the building with less heat input.  Users can adjust the flow based on their own comfort.

Why does this approach seem like a step forward?  Our hypothesis is that OvalAir might have the following benefits when compared to conventional HVAC design, or to current “high-performance” building concepts:

• Lower installation costs
• Lower operating costs
• Easier maintenance
• Greater comfort, particularly in “non-standard” spaces