What does an economizer in BAS refer to?

What does an economizer in BAS refer to?

• A. A device that reduces energy use by using outdoor air.
• B. A strategy to use outdoor air to meet cooling/heating when conditions allow.
• C. A server virtualization technology.
• D. A security protocol.

Answer: (B)

An economizer in a BAS is the control strategy that uses outdoor air to meet part of the cooling (and sometimes heating) load when outdoor conditions are favorable. It monitors outside air conditions and indoor needs, and opens the outdoor-air path to provide “free cooling” when it’s beneficial, reducing the energy used by mechanical cooling equipment. This is why the option describing using outdoor air to meet cooling/heating when conditions allow is the best fit. The other phrasing is less precise because it emphasizes a device or misses the decision-making aspect of when to use outside air.

An economizer in a BAS is the control strategy that uses outdoor air to meet part of the cooling (and sometimes heating) load when outdoor conditions are favorable. It monitors outside air conditions and indoor needs, and opens the outdoor-air path to provide “free cooling” when it’s beneficial, reducing the energy used by mechanical cooling equipment. This is why the option describing using outdoor air to meet cooling/heating when conditions allow is the best fit. The other phrasing is less precise because it emphasizes a device or misses the decision-making aspect of when to use outside air.