It’s hard to keep up with the changing technology of our times, from self-driving cars to facial recognition and Amazon drone packages – it seems surreal. You may think that being in the HVAC industry exempts us from these attractive advancements – well, think again.
Some form of HVAC system is necessary for EVERY home and building in existence as well as those being constructed, therefore, if we’re all using it, why not make it as good as it can be?
1. Motion Sensor Air Conditioning
This system was designed by engineers at MIT using aluminum rods hung along the ceiling to detect movement. When movement is detected, sensors inside the rods communicate with your air conditioning to turn on. It’s that simple.
2. Ice Powered AC
This AC system works exactly how it sounds, literally freezing a tank of water overnight so that it can cool a building the next day. Created in California, this new system is called the Ice Bear. After several tests, it has been found to cool a building for up to six hours! Once the Ice Bear has used its cooling capabilites, your conventional ac unit will kick on and take over.
3. Thermal Air Conditioning?
Another alternative to traditional air conditioning is the Australian made Chromasun, a thermally driven ac system that uses solar energy to run. Supplemented by natural gas, this system is highly efficient; and considering its various designs, (i.e. double chiller providing more cooling options), it can significantly reduce your electricity bill making it cost-effective as well.
4. On-Demand Hot Water
Every year, the average home wastes about 12,000 gallons of water while waiting for it to warm up. In an effort to reduce this waste, a Rhode Island company came up with the idea of an on-demand pump for water lines that recirculates the cool water back into the water heater upon activation.
5. Sensor Ventilation
Called the Ecovent, this ventilation system replaces a home’s existing wall, floor, and ceiling vents with sensor-driven vents that monitor temperature, air pressure, and other air quality factors. Simply controlled with a smartphone app, you can adjust temperature settings by room.
Let’s not forget about dual heat pumps as well as the geothermal heat pumps which have already made their way into the industry a few short years ago. With these advancements, we’re seeing a huge improvement in energy efficiency, more environmentally friendly products, and ultimately, more cost-effective methods of HVAC.
As technology changes, the industry also must change, and the HVAC industry is making significant progress.