Humidity Control for University and College Campuses

Q: What decarbonization strategies are available for humidity control?

A key decarbonization strategy is to select humidification systems that operate on electricity rather than gas. This supports the use of energy from renewable or lower-carbon sources. In practice, this may involve replacing gas-fired humidifiers, or cold-water systems that rely on gas preheating, with electric steam humidifiers or other electrified solutions.

Q: Which dehumidifier has the lowest energy consumption?

As a general rule, condensing dehumidifiers use around 0.5–1.5 kW of electricity to remove 1 kg of moisture. Desiccant dehumidifiers typically require around 1–3 kW of electricity per kg of moisture removed. However, when effective heat recovery is used, a desiccant dehumidifier can achieve energy performance similar to a condensing dehumidifier.

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Benefits

Humidity control is beneficial in many ways across a university campus.

Optimal Conditions for Research

Humidity control plays a crucial role in maintaining the integrity of materials and processes.

Healthy Conditions for Students and Staff

Proper levels of humidity protect respiratory health and prevent airborne cross-infection.

Ideal Atmosphere for Preservation

Archives, libraries and museums all contain valuable materials that are sensitve to moisture.

Universities and higher education

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Humidification for University and College Campuses

Universities and Colleges support a wide range of academic, research and technical environments, each with different humidity requirements. When teaching or research involves humidity-sensitive materials, equipment or processes, precise environmental control becomes essential.

Medical schools may require stable humidity for MRI scanners and accurate imaging. Research labs often need controlled conditions for experiments and testing. Veterinary departments must maintain appropriate environments for animal care, while photographic facilities need to protect sensitive film and reduce chemical evaporation. Music programs also rely on stable humidity to help preserve wooden instruments.

Condair provides humidification expertise and engineering support for campuses of all sizes, helping maintain the right indoor conditions across diverse faculties, facilities and applications.

Dehumidification for Campus Facilities

Excess humidity can lead to mold and mildew, which may damage building materials, affect occupant health and harm furniture, archives or other valuable assets. University and college campuses often include historic buildings, storage areas and specialty spaces where humidity can be difficult to control without dedicated dehumidification.

Many fields of study also require consistently low humidity for materials, equipment or processes. These may include food science, life sciences, electronics, art conservation and museum studies.

Condair offers condensing and desiccant dehumidification technologies for local or centralized humidity control. Systems can be applied in individual rooms or integrated into air handling units to support stable conditions across a building.

Humidity Control for Health

Indoor humidity between 40–60% RH supports healthier learning and working environments. Within this range, the respiratory system can better defend against airborne infection, while fewer infectious viruses remain airborne.

Lecture halls, classrooms and offices bring students, faculty and staff into shared spaces for extended periods. Proper humidity control helps reduce airborne transmission risks while supporting comfort, attendance and operational continuity.

Mid-range humidity also helps reduce dry eyes, itchy skin and dehydration, which can affect concentration, comfort and the ability to learn.

Use Cases

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Projects and References

Harvard University

Harvard University is a private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, established 1636. Its history, influence and wealth have made it one of the most prestigious universities in the world.Condair RS steam humidifiers are helping maintain the ideal indoor humidity at Harvard University.

Syracuse University

Syracuse University is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York. The institution's roots can be traced to the Genesee Wesleyan Seminary. Following several years of debate over relocating the college to Syracuse, the university was established in 1870, independent of the college.

University of Iowa

The University of Iowa is a public research university in Iowa City, Iowa. Founded in 1847, Iowa is the oldest university in the state. The University of Iowa is considered a Public Ivy, and is organized into eleven colleges offering more than 100 areas of study and seven professional degrees.

Queensbury CSD

Queensbury CSD (school) located in Queensbury, New York installed an EL Series.

Rutgers University

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, commonly referred to as Rutgers University, Rutgers, or RU, is an American public research university and the largest institution for higher education in New Jersey.

Yale University

Yale University is an American private Ivy League research university in New Haven, Connecticut. Founded in 1701 in Saybrook Colony as the Collegiate School, the University is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States.

Fashion Institute of Technology

The Fashion Institute of Technology, generally known as FIT, is a State University in New York. It is a college where students can learn about art, business, design, mass communication and technology connected to the fashion industry. Their urban campus is located on West 27th Street between Seventh and Eighth Avenues in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City.

McGill University

McGill University is an English-language public research university in Montreal, Canada. It was officially founded by royal charter issued by King George IV in 1821.

Rolex (Lititz Watch Technicum)

The Lititz Watch Technicum is a watchmaking school located in Lititz, Pennsylvania. The school, founded by Rolex in 2001, was created to help make up for the lack of skilled watchmakers in the US.

Kelly School of Business

The Kelley School of Business is a business school of Indiana University in Indiana, United States. As of 2009, approximately 5,500 full-time students are enrolled on its Bloomington campus, as well as 1,750 students at the Indianapolis campus.

College of the Holy Cross

The College of the Holy Cross is a private Jesuit liberal arts college in Worcester, Massachusetts. Founded in 1843, Holy Cross is the oldest Catholic college in New England and one of the oldest in the United States.

Central Michigan University

Central Michigan University is a public research university located in Mount Pleasant in the U.S. state of Michigan. Established in 1892, Central Michigan University is one of the largest universities in the state of Michigan and one of the nation's 100 largest public universities. It has more than 20,000 students on its Mount Pleasant campus and 7,000 students enrolled online at more than 60 locations worldwide.

Concordia University Allan Wachowich Centre for Science Research & Innovation

The Centre for Science, Research, and Innovation (CSRI) will become Edmonton’s preeminent facility for combining quality education with community-relevant idea development.

University of Ottawa STEM Building

The University of Ottawa is a top-tier research institution located in the center of the Canadian capital overlooking the Rideau Canal. The newly built STEM Complex features unique lab facilities for world-class physics research. Mechanical and heavy-duty labs for research in building physics take center stage. The building's sustainability is also impressive. An innovative glass rain screen was constructed as the building envelope, which also minimizes the building's energy loss. Waste heat from a nearby heating plant is used for heating, allowing the building to achieve a net-zero energy footprint even during the long, harsh Canadian winters and qualify for LEED Gold. Condair hybrid humidifiers ensure healthy and comfortable room air humidity.

California State University

California State University, is the second-oldest campus out of 23 in the California State University system. It is located in Chico, California, about ninety miles north of Sacramento.

Downloads

Application Brochure

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Frequently Asked Questions

How can humidifier energy use across a university campus be minimized?

Energy use can be reduced by selecting lower-energy systems, such as cold-water humidifiers, especially when waste heat is available for preheating. Operating schedules can also be reviewed so humidification only runs when needed.

Seasonal setpoints may further reduce energy use by allowing lower humidity levels in winter than in summer, where appropriate. Humidity recovery systems and more accurate humidifiers can also help reduce overall load and operating time.

What decarbonization strategies are available for humidity control?

Which dehumidifier has the lowest energy consumption?

Systems Often Used on Campus