System and method of providing quick thermal comfort with reduced energy by using directed spot conditioning

A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system (10) and a method of controlling a HVAC system that is configured to provide a perceived comfortable ambient environment to an occupant (12) seated in a vehicle cabin (14). The system (10) includes a nozzle (18) configured to direct an air stream from the HVAC system (10) to the location of a thermally sensitive portion (30) of the body of the occupant (12). The system (10) also includes a controller (28) configured to determine an air stream temperature and an air stream flow rate necessary to establish the desired heat supply rate for the sensitive portion (30) and provide a comfortable thermal environment by thermally isolating the occupant (12) from the ambient vehicle cabin temperature. The system (10) may include a sensor (54) to determine the location of the sensitive portion (30). The nozzle may include a thermoelectric device to heat or cool the air stream.