ABSTRACT
Buildings are far more complex to maintain now because of technological advancements. Workers expect buildings to be cool in the summer, warm in the winter, safe, well lit, equipped with modern voice-and-data communication systems and accessible to the disabled. Air-conditioning, invented by Willis Carrier in 1902, greatly improved worker productivity, especially in warmer climates. Before central air-conditioning, occupants relied on fans and open windows for ventilation and cooling. Today’s buildings usually have sealed windows and are air-fed through a central heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system (see Figure 17.1).
