From supply chain challenges to decarbonization, from data analytics to maintenance programs, the themes that ranked highest among visitors to HVACinformed.com in 2022 reflected the dominant topics of conversation throughout the industry. As demonstrated by the most-read articles on the site, technology trends and regulatory issues all converged and had a profound impact on the industry in 2022.
Timely and important issues in the HVAC marketplace dominate HVACinformed.com‘s list of most-clicked-on articles in 2022. In the world of digital publishing, it’s easy to know what content resonates with the market: Our readers tell us with their actions; i.e., where they click. Let’s look back at the Top 10 articles posted at HVACinformed.com in 2021 that generated the most page views.
Supply Chain Challenges Persist as Demand for HVAC Grows
HVAC installers are playing a guessing game about what stock might be available
Supply chain issues continued to plague the HVAC marketplace in 2022, causing longer waits for customers. Diesel fuel costs and shortages are the latest factors contributing to delays, alongside continuing manufacturer setbacks and transportation challenges.
The supply chain situation changes from day to day. HVAC installers are playing a guessing game about what stock might be available and what will not. The situation persists despite the efforts of warehouses to ensure they had sufficient equipment this year. One installer estimates that two out of 10 clients are waiting on parts.
What Does a Successful Maintenance Program Look Like?
A preventive maintenance program could save 12-18% over reactive maintenance, as the U.S. Department of Energy predicted in 2010.
For many businesses, the savings could be higher, considering the risks of downtime and today’s economic conditions pushing up costs across the supply chain. It’s also possible for a program to miss the mark. By one measure, 50% of the costs of a preventive maintenance program are often wasted. The question is, how do you know if your maintenance program is generating savings or just adding expenses?
Four Strategies for Moving the Building Decarbonization Needle
The importance of caring for the environment has become a top priority both around the world
The importance of caring for the environment has become a top priority both around the world and increasingly in the United States. As regulations and social expectations become more stringent, future-proofing our infrastructure — beginning with energy consumption in buildings — is a natural first step. There are four key strategies a building owner or facility manager can focus on to improve energy efficiency and reduce a building’s carbon footprint, all while improving building performance.
How Can Data Analytics Be Used to Enhance HVAC Solutions?
Multiple components work together to make an HVAC system run smoothly and efficiently. One of the newer components in today’s systems is data, whether it is information about historic performance trends or the weather outside. A variety of sensors work together to provide data that can be crunched by various algorithms to provide useful information to system installers and end-users, and to help systems run better and longer.
Copper: The Material of Choice for Air Conditioning Systems
As the demand for air conditioning continues to increase, so too will the demand for copper pipes. Copper is a trusted and reliable material that air conditioning installers have been using for many years and, not only that, it’s also infinitely recyclable – making it a sustainable alternative to materials like plastic.
Grant Program and Government Funds Available for HVAC Improvements
A $500 million grant program seeks to upgrade the infrastructure of U.S. schools, including improving HVAC systems. Many schools rely on outdated HVAC systems that make classrooms less comfortable and may pose health risks. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is launching the grant program to lower energy costs, improve air quality and prioritize schools most in need.
Disposable Cylinder Ban Looms, And Impact on HVAC Will Be Stark
Among the requirements of the American Innovation and Manufacturing (AIM) Act of 2020 is a ban on disposable, single-use cylinder tanks used to transport refrigerants through the supply chain to an HVAC installer. A final rule posted by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on October 5, 2021, will prohibit the use of disposable cylinders in the next several years. HVAC installers use the disposable cylinders every day to transport hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) refrigerants including R32 and R410A.
The Role of Hydrogen in Achieving Net-Zero By 2050
Some of the solutions currently being evaluated include the use of hydrogen as a replacement fuel
Some 38% of greenhouse gas emissions emanate from residential housing, specifically heating and cooling systems. Given the goal of 'net-zero' carbon emissions by 2050, new approaches have emerged to achieve that target.
Some of the solutions currently being evaluated include the use of hydrogen as a replacement fuel, to store electricity from solar or wind power, or in fuel cells that use an electrochemical process combining hydrogen and oxygen to produce electrical energy and water.
Considering The Advantages of Heating and Cooling ‘As A Service’
'As a service' is a familiar pattern in business today, especially in the technology arena. 'Software as a Service' is as common as Microsoft Office 365, and companies have been providing services, such as telephony and internet access for decades.
'As a service' is a familiar pattern in business today, especially in the technology arena
But how can the model be applied to the HVAC market? It’s not a common approach today, but the benefits of applying “As a service” to HVAC are many – for customers and for equipment and service providers. Notably, an ‘As a service’ approach can help customers sidestep the higher costs of transitioning to more expensive green technologies, thus accelerating the green trend and avoiding pollutants and greenhouse gases.
Summer Increases Demand for HVAC Services, Often to Breaking Point
High outdoor temperatures are a great indicator of demand for HVAC services, and HVAC companies are feeling the heat as they struggle to meet higher demand for services even as they face unprecedented supply-chain challenges and a critically tight labor market.
HVAC contractors across the country agree that demand this summer is higher than ever. The phones are ringing off the hook, and HVAC employees are working long hours just to keep up. Some are working 12-hour days and on the weekend. The situation is basically ‘all hands on deck.’