19 Passive System Demonstration and Instrumentation (Prof. Forrest Meggers) Conventional air conditioning systems typically require minimizing the supply of fresh air to improve the system’s energy efficiency, an approach that is particularly problematic in a pandemic scenario as indoor air becomes a transmission pathway. Professor Meggers’s talk presented alternative space-conditioning strategies that allow for increased air exchange rates while providing a human-centered approach to thermal comfort. For instance, combining dehumidification systems (membrane or desiccantbased) with fan-assisted air movement can become an energy-efficient way to provide comfort while ensuring access to fresh air. Experiments conducted in Miami by Professor Meggers and collaborators in academia and industry provide quantifiable evidence that supports this novel thermal comfort pathway. Another promising alternative is using radiant panels covered by photonic membranes that prevent cooled surfaces from being in contact with humid air. This approach decouples convection from radiation, allowing panels to cool down below dew point temperatures. Professor Megger’s team applied these ideas in the design of an outdoor pavilion in Singapore, which resulted in visitors perceiving cold while standing outside on a warm-humid day. Fig 2.3 A photo of a structure that employs radiant panels covered in photonic membranes shared by Prof. Meggers
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