In 2021 we made a commitment to improve the air conditioning on the Spanish Steps as, on two occasions during the year, it could not cope with the outside temperature and the system shut itself down. As a result, some of the hardware located in the Spanish Steps went into overdrive to try keep itself cool. This would ultimately reduce the total life span of the hardware. By upgrading the air conditioning, we hoped to increase the total lifespan of all the hardware stored in this location.
During 2022, we engaged an external consultant to suggest a new design for the air conditioning system which needed to service two equipment rooms located under the Spanish Steps. The task was made more difficult by the space constraints and the lack of routes for an air vent.
The final design was a brilliant success and met key objectives. It also includes a smart way to connect all four systems up to two outdoor units, halving the number of condensers needed for the project.
Future improvement plans include exploring ways to include a CO2 sensor at the site to reduce energy consumption.
