Displacement induction technology delivers 65% better air quality, classroom-quiet operation, and near-zero maintenance — all available through our BuyFair cooperative contract.
Unit ventilators have been the default classroom HVAC solution for decades. But the technology hasn't kept up with modern air quality standards, energy codes, or acoustic requirements.
Asthma-related complications linked to poor indoor air quality cost students 14 million school days per year. 41% of U.S. schools have HVAC systems that fail to meet ASHRAE ventilation standards.
Your students deserve better. Your facility staff deserves systems that don't require constant attention. And your budget deserves technology that pays for itself in energy and maintenance savings.
The solution isn't another generation of the same technology — it's a fundamentally different approach.
Displacement induction separates ventilation from conditioning, uses water instead of air for heating and cooling, and delivers fresh air where students breathe — not where contaminants collect.
A Dedicated Outdoor Air System (DOAS) delivers 100% dehumidified outside air to each classroom. No recirculation. No room-to-room cross-contamination. Every breath is fresh.
Fresh air enters the wall-mounted terminal unit and induces (draws) room air across a hydronic coil through pressure differential alone. No fans. No motors. No belts. No filters in the classroom.
Conditioned air is delivered at low velocity near the floor. Warm air and contaminants naturally rise via convection and exhaust at ceiling level — pushing pollutants away from the breathing zone, not through it.
Heating and cooling loads are handled by hot and chilled water through hydronic coils — dramatically more efficient than moving large volumes of conditioned air with energy-intensive fans.
The displacement induction system consists of five integrated components working together:
Dedicated Outdoor Air System provides 100% dehumidified outside air. Rooftop or indoor mounted with energy recovery.
Air-cooled or water-cooled chiller supplies chilled water to terminal units. Compatible with geothermal and heat recovery systems.
High-efficiency condensing boiler delivers hot water for zone heating. Supports electrification and heat pump integration.
Wall-mounted classroom units with integral hydronic coils. Zero moving parts. Customizable with storage and countertop options.
Ceiling-mounted units for corridors, offices, and auxiliary spaces. Same water/air infrastructure, extending the system building-wide.
Side-by-side performance data validated by Purdue University's Ray W. Herrick Laboratories and field measurements across hundreds of school installations.
Sources: Carson Solutions field data, Purdue University Ray W. Herrick Laboratories (ASHRAE 62.1-2019 testing), ARI classroom acoustics study, Anoka-Hennepin School District measurements
Lower CO2 directly correlates with increased cognitive performance. Students in displacement-ventilated classrooms experience fewer headaches, less drowsiness, and better concentration. The quiet operation (<35 dBA) means teachers don't compete with fan noise.
Contaminants are lifted away from the student breathing zone — not recirculated. No room-to-room cross-contamination. Meets ASHRAE 241 infection control requirements. Post-pandemic, parents and boards demand better ventilation — this delivers it.
Zero moving parts in the classroom means no filter changes, no motor replacements, no belt adjustments, no damper calibration. Annual maintenance consists of a visual inspection and light vacuuming. Your facility team can focus on other priorities.
Water-based heat transfer is inherently more efficient than moving conditioned air. Smaller DOAS air handlers, higher chiller water temperatures, and zero fan energy in classrooms combine to deliver significant utility budget reductions year after year.
Terminal units mount in the same wall location as existing unit vents. The system can be phased in classroom by classroom or wing by wing. Compatible with existing hydronic infrastructure — just supply chilled and hot water piping.
Supports building electrification and decarbonization. Integrates with geothermal, air-source heat pumps, and heat recovery chillers. Qualifies for IRA incentives, ITC credits, and 179D tax deductions. Net-zero capable — proven at NYC PS 62.
Displacement induction isn't experimental — it's been installed in hundreds of school buildings across the country with documented, measurable results.
Minnesota's largest school district began testing displacement induction in 2005. After measuring 65% lower CO2, ANSI-compliant acoustics, and immediate contaminant response — they retrofitted 11 schools and continue expanding.
First net-zero public school in New York City. Displacement induction with DOAS and energy recovery delivered 30% more outside air than ASHRAE 62.1 requires — while achieving net-zero energy status.
Independent third-party testing per ASHRAE 62.1-2019. Confirmed stratified displacement operation in both heating and cooling modes. Ventilation effectiveness of 1.29 — 29% better than perfect mixing.
Extensive K-12 installation history including Evergreen Park Elementary, Roosevelt Middle School, Mosinee Middle & High School, DC Everest Junior High, Tremper High School, multiple Blaine MN elementary schools, and many more across the Midwest and nationwide.
Roberts Design Build Solutions delivers displacement induction projects under a pre-awarded cooperative contract. No RFP. Design-build delivery. Summer-ready scheduling.
We evaluate your existing unit ventilators, building infrastructure, and hydronic capacity. You receive a detailed report with options, energy projections, and budget estimates.
Our engineers design the displacement induction system with BIM coordination. Load calculations, equipment selection, and piping layouts — all under our design-build contract.
A fixed-price proposal is priced per our BuyFair contract and submitted for board consideration. Our contract satisfies Illinois bid requirements — no separate RFP needed.
Roberts craftsmen self-perform the mechanical installation. We commission through both seasonal changeovers to ensure year-round performance. Your students get better air from day one.
HVAC replacement is one of the most common Life Safety categories in Illinois. Your unit ventilator project may qualify for non-referendum Life Safety bonds and dedicated tax levies — funding that exists outside your normal operating budget.
Roberts DBS manages the complete process: from identifying eligible Life Safety deficiencies through project completion and ROE closeout. Our BuyFair cooperative contract accelerates procurement, and our design-build delivery fits summer construction windows.
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