Offices can oftentimes turn into a real life Goldilocks tale. One worker may be too hot, while another one is too cold. Meanwhile, a third employee is, you guessed it, just right. It is a question as old as the concept of the office itself: What is the most efficient way to manage the temperature of an office so everyone is comfortable? Like trying to determine if the universe actually is infinite or whether the chicken or the egg came first, it seems to be a problem without an attainable solution. Or is it?
As one startup is asking, what if we have been focused on heating and cooling the wrong thing? After all, it isn’t the room that necessarily needs temperature adjustment, but the bodies within the room. That’s where Personal Comfort Systems' Hyperchair comes into play. It may sound like something an astronaut gets strapped into as part of their training, but for the most part, the Hyperchair looks just like a regular office chair, with one major difference: it can actively heat or cool the person sitting in it.
Developed by researchers at the Center for Built Environment at UC Berkeley, the Hyperchair uses heating tape that is woven into the fabric of the chair to warm the occupant much in the same way a heated car seat works. And for anyone who finds himself or herself running a bit warm on a daily basis, tactically placed fans can be used to wick body heat away like a cool, lakefront breeze. The temperature of the chair can be adjusted either by using the onboard control panel on the side of the seat or by using a smartphone app. The back and the seat of the chair can be adjusted separately, which allows for one to be set on heat while the other is set on cool, just in case you ever find yourself wearing shorts and a parka on the same day.
Photo Courtesy of Personal Comfort Systems
This technology comes at a cost, however, as the chairs range from $1,000 to $1,500 each, depending on the size of the order. And while that is certainly expensive for a chair, the company says this money will be made back in energy savings. In the winter the heat can be turned down a few degrees and the same goes for the air conditioning in the summer.
"If you relax it a couple of degrees, what you're going to find is a 5% to 10% energy savings on the heating and cooling system," Peter Rumsey, Founder and CEO of Personal Comfort Systems, said in an interview with Co. Exist.
The chairs will also be rigged with Wi-Fi and temperature sensors allowing them to communicate with the building regarding various temperature related issues. Additionally, in some climates or in mild seasons such as spring or fall, offices may be able to turn off their thermostats completely and use just the chairs for temperature regulation. With 30% of global carbon emissions coming from building energy consumption, not only can the chairs help with utility costs, but they can also be considered environmentally friendly.
For the time being, the startup is only offering the Hyperchair to large companies, but the hope is that it will eventually be made available for individual orders. The Hyperchair looks to solve a problem that has existed for years while providing everyone with a bit of the Goldilocks treatment of enjoying things that are just right... you know, without all of that breaking and entering business.
Photo Courtesy of Personal Comfort Systems
Photo Courtesy of Personal Comfort Systems
Photo Courtesy of Personal Comfort Systems
Photo Courtesy of Personal Comfort Systems
Related Stories
Green | Jun 26, 2023
Federal government will spend $30 million on novel green building technologies
The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA), and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) will invest $30 million from the Inflation Reduction Act to increase the sustainability of federal buildings by testing novel technologies. The vehicle for that effort, the Green Proving Ground (GPG) program, will invest in American-made technologies to help increase federal electric vehicle supply equipment, protect air quality, reduce climate pollution, and enhance building performance.
Mechanical Systems | Jun 16, 2023
Cogeneration: An efficient, reliable, sustainable alternative to traditional power generation
Cogeneration is more efficient than traditional power generation, reduces carbon emissions, has high returns on the initial investment, improves reliability, and offers a platform for additional renewable resources and energy storage for a facility. But what is cogeneration? And is it suitable for all facilities?
AEC Innovators | Jun 15, 2023
Rogers-O'Brien Construction pilots wearables to reduce heat-related injuries on jobsites
Rogers-O'Brien Construction (RO) has launched a pilot program utilizing SafeGuard, a safety-as-a-service platform for real-time health and safety risk assessment. Non-invasive wearables connected to SafeGuard continuously monitor personnel to prevent heat exhaustion on jobsites, reducing the risk of related injuries. RO is the first general contractor to pilot this program.
Mass Timber | Jun 13, 2023
Mass timber construction featured in two-story mixed-use art gallery and wine bar in Silicon Valley
The Edes Building, a two-story art gallery and wine bar in the Silicon Valley community of Morgan Hill, will prominently feature mass timber. Cross-laminated timber (CLT) and glulam posts and beams were specified for aesthetics, biophilic properties, and a reduced carbon footprint compared to concrete and steel alternatives.
Engineers | Jun 5, 2023
How to properly assess structural wind damage
Properly assessing wind damage can identify vulnerabilities in a building's design or construction, which could lead to future damage or loss, writes Matt Wagner, SE, Principal and Managing Director with Walter P Moore.
Cladding and Facade Systems | Jun 5, 2023
27 important questions about façade leakage
Walter P Moore’s Darek Brandt discusses the key questions building owners and property managers should be asking to determine the health of their building's façade.
Office Buildings | May 15, 2023
Sixteen-story office tower will use 40% less energy than an average NYC office building
This month marks the completion of a new 16-story office tower that is being promoted as New York City’s most sustainable office structure. That boast is backed by an innovative HVAC system that features geothermal wells, dedicated outdoor air system (DOAS) units, radiant heating and cooling, and a sophisticated control system to ensure that the elements work optimally together.
AEC Tech Innovation | May 12, 2023
Meet Diverge, Hensel Phelps' new ConTech investment company
Thai Nguyen, Director of Innovation with Hensel Phelps, discusses the construction giant's new startup investment platform, Diverge.
University Buildings | May 5, 2023
New health sciences center at St. John’s University will feature geothermal heating, cooling
The recently topped off St. Vincent Health Sciences Center at St. John’s University in New York City will feature impressive green features including geothermal heating and cooling along with an array of rooftop solar panels. The geothermal field consists of 66 wells drilled 499 feet below ground which will help to heat and cool the 70,000 sf structure.
Mass Timber | May 3, 2023
Gensler-designed mid-rise will be Houston’s first mass timber commercial office building
A Houston project plans to achieve two firsts: the city’s first mass timber commercial office project, and the state of Texas’s first commercial office building targeting net zero energy operational carbon upon completion next year. Framework @ Block 10 is owned and managed by Hicks Ventures, a Houston-based development company.