The Feil Family and Weill Family Residence Hall is designed to be energy efficient and comply with all local laws and energy codes. That means this modern building has been fitted with a very efficient HVAC system, which uses a fully electric heat recovery system. All wasted heating or cooling is absorbed and sent to other parts of the building where they are needed.
You may have noticed that there is no sound emanating from your air conditioner unit. This is because the system does not use a fan to move the air. Hot or cold water circulates through your unit, relying on natural convection to deliver heating or cooling, depending on the season. The system will adjust the water temperature in the HVAC system based on the seasonal outside air temperature and NYC heating codes. When the weather gets cold, the units will provide heating and, of course, cooling in the warmer months. Please note that the system cannot supply simultaneous cooling and heating. This is entirely automated and requires no action from the user.
One of the features that makes the building so energy-efficient is the envelope or skin of the façade. Keeping the building as airtight as possible helps keep the conditioned air in and undesirable air out. Although the windows in the rooms can open, we recommend not leaving them open for an extended period. Once opened, the air conditioner will automatically turn off and may take some time to return to the desired temperature once the window is closed. If you desire fresh air, please be aware that fresh air is delivered to every room via a small vent near the ceiling. This air is 100% outside air that is filtered and conditioned with neutral humidity at room temperature.