Environmental control systems and methods of configuring environmental control systems

Abstract

An environmental control system of a building utilizes lower vents which open into lower portions of rooms of a building, and upper vents which open into upper portions of rooms of the building. When the system is operating in a heating mode, heated air is delivered into the upper portions of the rooms through the upper vents and air is removed from the rooms through the lower vents. When the system is operating in a cooling mode, cool air is delivered into the rooms through the lower vents, and air is removed from the rooms through the upper vents. Operating the heating and cooling modes in this fashion provides the most efficient operation of the heating and cooling system. A switching unit is used to selectively couple the inlet and outlet of an air handling unit to the upper and lower vents. Alternatively, special duct units with both upper and lower openings can be attached to the inlet and outlet of an environmental control system, and the air can be selectively switched between the upper and lower openings. In some embodiments, heated and cooled air is delivered into a room through a fixed vent that is positioned in either the upper or the lower portion of the room. Air is removed from either the upper or lower portions of the room through return ducts with both upper and lower duct openings.

1 . A method of heating and cooling a room of a building, wherein at least one return duct pulls air out of the room, and wherein the at least one return duct includes an upper duct opening positioned in an upper part of the room and a lower duct opening positioned in a lower part of the room, the method comprising:
 delivering heated and cooled air into the room through at least one fixed vent that opens into the room during heating and cooling operations;   removing air from the room through the lower duct opening of the at least one return duct during a heating operation; and   removing air from the room through the upper duct opening of the at least one return duct during a cooling operation.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the delivering step comprises delivering air into the room through at least one fixed vent positioned in a lower part of the room. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the delivering step comprises delivering air into the room through at least one fixed vent positioned in an upper part of the room. 
     
     
         4 . A method of heating and cooling a room of a building, wherein at least one supply delivers air into the room, and wherein the at least one supply duct includes an upper duct opening positioned in an upper part of the room and a lower duct opening positioned in a lower part of the room, the method comprising:
 removing air from the room through at least one fixed vent that opens into the room during heating and cooling operations;   delivering air into the room through the lower duct opening of the at least one supply duct during a cooling operation; and   delivering air into the room through the upper duct opening of the at least one return duct during a heating operation.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the removing step comprises removing air from the room through at least one fixed vent positioned in a lower part of the room. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the removing step comprises removing air from the room through at least one fixed vent positioned in an upper part of the room. 
     
     
         7 . A method of configuring a heating and cooling system of a building, comprising:
 installing at least one fixed vent that opens into at least one room of the building;   installing at least one return duct in the at least one room, the at least one return duct including an upper duct opening positioned in an upper portion of the room, a lower duct opening positioned in a lower portion of the room, and a switching mechanism that can close off either the upper duct opening or the lower duct opening;   coupling the at least one fixed vent to the output of an air handling unit; and   coupling the at least one return duct to an input of the air handling unit.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the step of installing at least one fixed vent comprises installing the at least one fixed vent in a lower portion of the room. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the step of installing at least one fixed vent comprises installing the at least one fixed vent in an upper portion of the room. 
     
     
         10 . A method of configuring a heating and cooling system of a building, comprising:
 installing at least one fixed vent in at least one room of the building;   installing at least one return duct in the at least one room, the at least one return duct including an upper duct opening positioned in an upper portion of the room, a lower duct opening positioned in a lower portion of the room, and a switching mechanism that can close off either the upper duct opening or the lower duct opening;   coupling the at least one fixed vent to the input of an air handling unit; and   coupling the at least one return duct to the outlet of the air handling unit.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the step of installing at least one fixed vent comprises installing the at least one fixed vent in a lower portion of the room. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the step of installing at least one fixed vent comprises installing the at least one fixed vent in an upper portion of the room.