Units Flexibility - ComfortAir is probably the only software of
its kind that can be configured to work in either English or Metric units. The
user only has to select the preferred units from the Options menu
to configure the application according to his or her requirements. Furthermore,
input units and output units can be selected independently, thus allowing users
to work with the input units of their choice, and then generate output reports,
tables and graphs in whatever units their clients prefer. International consultants
will love this flexibility.
ComfortAir is User-Friendly and Powerful - Another noteworthy
feature of ComfortAir is its user-friendliness, which is the result of several
factors:
First, the program was developed as a multiple document interface (MDI)
type of application, which has the same type of architecture as many
popular Windows applications. This makes it very easy for one to learn
how to use ComfortAir. Of course, the MDI architecture also means that
with ComfortAir, you can work on several projects
simultaneously.
Secondly, ComfortAir provides a helpful set of dialogs and wizards, which
painlessly guide the user through the tasks of entering project data and
completing other important processes. Without these wizards, data entry
for example, could prove to be a long and tedious process, prone to errors
and omissions. However, with the use of the wizards, these problems are
significantly reduced and project data can be entered with greater
accuracy, speed and comfort.
Thirdly, ComfortAir provides output in three different formats. These
are (1) summary reports for peak conditions, (2)
tabular reports giving loads for every hour of
the day for every month of the year, and (3) graphs which show
hourly load profiles, also
glass areas and
percentage glass areas in direct sunshine as the day
progresses. One instance in which the hourly load tables can be useful
is in doing ton-hour (kilowatt-hour) calculations for sizing thermal storage
air conditioning systems for energy conservation purposes. In any situation,
the user can examine results for the entire building, or for individual
building elements such as the roof, the windows, and the walls; or for
individual heat sources such as the lights, the occupants, infiltration, solar
radiation, etc.; or for whatever he or she needs to focus on. In this way for
example, architects who design energy efficient buildings can keep abreast
of the contributions made by various building elements to the air conditioning
loads, and make timely changes to maximise the energy efficiency of the
building as the design progresses. Engineering and Architecture students will
find the capability of detailed analysis, a very useful tool in learning how
fins, overhangs, different building materials, and just about any building
feature, impact on the overall cooling load of a building.
Context-Sensitive Help - ComfortAir has the standard
context-sensitive Help system, which on the click of a button, provides the user
with ready information on the action currently being taken. The information
provided by the Help system is also illustrated by diagrams where appropriate, to
further promote the user friendliness of the application. The Help system also
provides quick start information and a handy
tutorial to teach new users how to use the software quickly and
effectively.
ComfortAir is Applicable Worldwide - ComfortAir contains weather and
other necessary data for 1,989 cities and localities in 163 countries across
the globe. This means that the application can be used for virtually any
location in the world. The user only has to click on the name of the city
in which the project building is located and all the necessary data for that
city becomes available and automatically used in the calculations.
Load Calculation Methodology - The load calculation methodology used
by ComfortAir, is based on ASHRAE's CLTD/CLF method, which uses cooling load
temperature difference and cooling load factors. Note that ComfortAir is a
single-zone application. If the project building consists of more than one zone,
the application is run separately for each zone.
