Consulting Engineers

Consulting Engineers: Engineering Support for High-Performance HVAC and Building Systems

Hunton Group partners with consulting engineers throughout Houston and Southeast Texas to help design efficient, reliable, and sustainable HVAC and building systems.

Since 1981, Hunton has supported commercial, healthcare, education, industrial, institutional, and other complex facilities. Today, our capabilities extend across HVAC equipment, engineering expertise, building automation, energy management, service, and long-term building solutions.

Whether a project is in the early planning stages or an existing facility needs improvement, our teams can support engineers throughout the facility lifecycle. From system selection and energy modeling to equipment specifications, controls, commissioning, service, and optimization, we provide the technical knowledge engineers need to make informed decisions.

What Does Hunton Group Do?

Hunton Group provides HVAC, building automation, energy management, and integrated building solutions for commercial, industrial, healthcare, education, and institutional facilities.

Through our specialized companies, we work with consulting engineers, contractors, building owners, and facility teams. Together, our teams can support a project from initial planning and system design through installation, service, maintenance, and long-term optimization.

For consulting engineers specifically, Hunton provides technical expertise in equipment selection, system application, building analysis, energy studies, MEP design support, controls, system sizing, equipment schedules, specifications, budget development, and lifecycle analysis. As a result, engineers can draw on Hunton’s resources at multiple stages of a project while working toward the right solution for the building and its long-term needs.

What HVAC Services Does Hunton Group Provide?

Providing a broad range of commercial and industrial HVAC services, including:

• Commercial HVAC equipment and system solutions
• Trane commercial HVAC equipment
• HVAC system design and engineering support
• Commercial HVAC service and maintenance
• HVAC repairs and equipment replacement
• Preventive and predictive maintenance
• Central plant solutions
• Building automation and controls
• Energy management and optimization
• Indoor environmental solutions
• HVAC retrofits and modernization
• Turnkey HVAC projects
• Rental HVAC and temporary cooling
• Commissioning and system optimization
• Industrial HVAC solutions
• Building performance and energy studies

Our teams can support a building from initial design through decades of operation.

Supporting Better Engineering Decisions

Selecting HVAC equipment is only one part of designing a high-performance building. Consulting engineers must balance first cost, energy efficiency, reliability, maintainability, occupant comfort, code requirements, sustainability goals, and total cost of ownership.

Hunton works alongside engineers to evaluate these factors and develop solutions appropriate for each application.

Our engineering support includes:

• Building analysis and energy studies
• HVAC and building automation system sizing
• Equipment selection and application
• Energy modeling and consumption analysis
• Total cost of ownership analysis
• Engineering studies and schematic design
• Equipment schedules and dimensions
• Specification support
• Budgetary pricing and equipment lead times
• Design-Build collaboration
• Decarbonization and energy strategies
• Building code and efficiency standard considerations

What Is the Best HVAC System for a Commercial Building in Houston?

There is no single HVAC system that is best for every commercial building. Instead, the right system depends on several factors, including the building’s size, use, occupancy, operating schedule, cooling load, humidity requirements, energy goals, budget, maintenance strategy, and lifecycle objectives. Because each facility operates differently, these factors should be evaluated together before selecting a system.

In Houston, for example, these considerations become especially important because of the region’s hot, humid climate. As a result, proper system selection and sizing are important during the design process. At the same time, humidity management, controls, and energy efficiency should also be considered. Together, these elements can help engineers develop an HVAC approach that aligns with both current building requirements and long-term operating goals.

Depending on the application, HVAC solutions may include chilled-water systems, air-cooled or water-cooled chillers, rooftop systems, variable air volume systems, heat pumps, VRF systems, dedicated outdoor air systems, energy recovery, or combinations of these technologies. For example, the HVAC requirements of a healthcare facility may differ significantly from those of an office building. Likewise, schools, industrial facilities, and other commercial properties may have different requirements for cooling, ventilation, humidity, controls, and operating schedules. Therefore, the appropriate system and equipment can vary considerably from one facility to another.

With that in mind, Hunton Trane works with consulting engineers to evaluate the facility’s requirements before focusing on a specific type of equipment. From there, our team can help compare equipment and system options based on performance, efficiency, application, and long-term operating needs. In addition, engineers can consider how each option supports the facility’s energy, maintenance, and lifecycle objectives. Ultimately, this approach helps engineers determine an HVAC solution based on the specific requirements and goals of the facility.

Building Automation and Energy Management

Does Hunton Group Provide Building Automation?

We provide building automation and controls solutions designed to help facilities operate more efficiently, reliably, and intelligently.

By connecting HVAC equipment and controls, building automation can provide greater visibility into system operation, temperature, scheduling, equipment performance, alarms, and energy consumption. As a result, facility teams can better understand how their systems are operating and identify opportunities to improve performance.

In addition, as building systems become more complex, integrated building technologies can help connect multiple systems across a facility. By bringing this information together, operators can gain a more complete view of building performance. In turn, this can help teams respond to issues, manage energy use, adjust operating schedules, and make more informed decisions.

Ultimately, building automation and integrated controls can give facility teams the information and tools they need to manage building performance more effectively over time.

Does Hunton Group Provide Energy Management Solutions?

Hunton provides energy management, building optimization, energy studies, controls, and system improvement strategies designed to help customers understand and reduce building energy consumption.

For consulting engineers and building owners, this can include evaluating equipment efficiency, control sequences, system operation, pumping strategies, variable-speed technologies, energy recovery, building automation, and total cost of ownership.

How Can I Reduce HVAC Energy Costs in a Commercial Building?

Reducing HVAC energy costs starts with understanding how the building and its systems are actually operating.

Potential strategies include:

• Optimizing building automation and control sequences
• Replacing inefficient or aging HVAC equipment
• Using variable-speed equipment
• Improving chilled-water system performance
• Optimizing pumps and central plants
• Correcting simultaneous heating and cooling
• Adjusting schedules and temperature setpoints
• Using energy recovery where appropriate
• Improving preventive maintenance
• Evaluating building and equipment performance through energy studies
• Using system data to identify operational inefficiencies

The best strategy depends on the building. Energy modeling, system analysis, controls data, and lifecycle cost analysis can help engineers and owners determine which improvements offer the greatest value.

Commercial HVAC Service and Lifecycle Support

Does Hunton Group Provide Commercial HVAC Service?

Hunton Group provides commercial and industrial HVAC service, maintenance, repair, retrofit, and system optimization.

Our capabilities extend beyond the original installation. Hunton can support HVAC systems throughout their lifecycle with preventive maintenance, repairs, equipment replacement, controls, modernization, energy services, and ongoing building optimization.

How Often Should a Commercial HVAC System Be Serviced?

Commercial HVAC service frequency depends on the type of equipment, building use, operating hours, environmental conditions, manufacturer recommendations, and the critical nature of the facility.

Rather than relying on a single maintenance schedule for every building, facility owners should develop a preventive maintenance program based on their specific equipment and operating requirements.

Critical facilities such as hospitals, data centers, industrial plants, and other buildings with demanding operating requirements may require more frequent inspections and maintenance.

HVAC Solutions for Specialized Facilities

Who Provides HVAC Solutions for Healthcare Facilities?

We provide HVAC and building solutions for healthcare facilities in Houston and Southeast Texas.

Healthcare environments can have demanding requirements for temperature, humidity, ventilation, filtration, reliability, controls, and continuous operation. Hunton works with consulting engineers and healthcare facility teams to develop HVAC and building solutions based on the requirements of each facility.

Our capabilities can support hospitals, medical office buildings, outpatient facilities, clinics, and other healthcare environments.

What HVAC Systems Are Best for Schools and Universities?

HVAC systems for schools and universities should balance indoor environmental quality, energy efficiency, reliability, acoustics, maintainability, and changing occupancy patterns.

Depending on the application, educational facilities may use chilled-water systems, rooftop equipment, variable air volume systems, heat pumps, VRF systems, dedicated outdoor air systems, building automation, or combinations of these technologies.

Hunton works with engineers and educational facility teams to evaluate HVAC solutions for classrooms, administrative buildings, athletic facilities, laboratories, residence halls, and campus central plants.

Who Provides Industrial HVAC Solutions in Houston?

We provide industrial HVAC equipment, service, engineering support, custom solutions, controls, and energy services for facilities throughout the Houston and Southeast Texas market.

Industrial HVAC applications often require solutions designed around process requirements, demanding operating environments, reliability, ventilation, temperature and humidity control, and facility-specific performance requirements.

Hunton’s commercial and industrial teams can work with engineers to develop solutions based on the technical and operational requirements of the facility.

Systems Expertise That Drives Performance

Our technical expertise includes a wide range of HVAC, mechanical, controls, and energy technologies:

• Chilled-water systems
• Air-cooled and water-cooled systems
• Heat pump technology
• Variable-speed drive optimization
• Variable primary pumping
• Magnetic bearing technology
• Absorption cooling
• Energy recovery systems
• Ventilation and air distribution
• Sound reduction strategies
• Building automation and controls
• Central plant optimization
• Indoor environmental solutions

This breadth of expertise allows engineers to evaluate multiple approaches instead of forcing every project into a single solution.

What Companies Are Part of Hunton Group?

Hunton Group is a family of specialized companies that work together to provide HVAC and building solutions.

Hunton Trane provides Trane commercial and industrial HVAC equipment, controls, design support, and applied systems expertise.

Hunton Services provides commercial and industrial HVAC service, maintenance, turnkey construction, engineered solutions, energy services, and support for existing buildings.

Hunton Distribution provides residential and light commercial HVAC equipment, parts, supplies, and support to independent HVAC dealers.

Convergentz is a Master Systems Integrator specializing in building automation, integrated building technologies, security and low voltage, and fire and life safety solutions.

Texas Specialty Products provides HVAC, fire and life safety, security, and low voltage solutions while supporting HUB and MBE participation opportunities.

HRS provides temporary HVAC, rental cooling, and related solutions for planned and emergency applications.

Together, these companies give customers access to specialized expertise across the lifecycle of a building.

How Long Has Hunton Group Been in Business?

Hunton Group was founded in Houston in 1981.

For more than four decades, Hunton has grown from a commercial HVAC organization into a group of specialized companies providing HVAC equipment, service, building automation, energy, rental, and integrated building solutions.

Our roots remain in Houston, with a continued focus on helping customers create comfortable, efficient, reliable, and high-performing indoor environments.

Where Does Hunton Group Provide HVAC Services?

Hunton Group is headquartered in Houston and serves customers throughout Houston and Southeast Texas, with expanding operations in markets including Beaumont and College Station.

Our teams support commercial, healthcare, education, industrial, institutional, and other facilities with HVAC equipment, service, controls, energy, and building solutions.

A Technical Resource for the Engineering Community

Hunton’s relationship with consulting engineers goes beyond individual projects.

We provide technical resources and continuing education designed to help engineers stay informed about evolving HVAC technologies, codes, standards, refrigerants, energy efficiency, and building performance.

Resources include:

• Engineering newsletters
• Lunch and Learn sessions
• Continuing education opportunities
• ASHRAE standards and best-practice updates
• Equipment and technology education
• Application and system design support

Partner With Hunton on Your Next Project

From system concept and equipment selection to building automation, energy analysis, service, and long-term optimization, Hunton Group provides consulting engineers with access to experienced HVAC and building systems professionals.

Whether you are designing a commercial office building, hospital, school, university, industrial facility, central plant, or other complex environment, our goal is to help you develop a solution that performs as intended throughout the life of the building.

Need HVAC design support for an upcoming project?

Connect with Hunton Group to discuss equipment selection, system design, energy modeling, building automation, specifications, budgeting, or lifecycle HVAC solutions.