Post-Pandemic HVAC System Improvements

Several significant and positive changes impacting HVAC have emerged in the post-pandemic world. Some are social, some technical, and some political. We have seen a heightened awareness of the criticality of the HVACR workforce. With the significant need for a reliable cold chain for food and medicines early in the pandemic, the workforce was key to assuring a safe and healthy supply of essential materials. In addition, air quality took the spotlight. Indoor spaces where large numbers of people congregated—including healthcare facilities, schools, sporting venues, and office buildings—were forced to evaluate/upgrade systems and procedures to assure occupant safety. Lower-GWP air conditioning continues to gain traction. The transition to lower-GWP A2L refrigerants—HFOs and A2Ls—that started before the pandemic has taken the industry through R&D to commercialization and implementation. With the emergence of mildly flammable A2L refrigerants came building code updates to enable their safe introduction. Thanks to the industry's significant effort, the updating of safety standards and building codes is nearly complete for products such as R-454B and R-32—the predominant refrigerants in the future in HVAC. In addition, A2Ls have driven increased leak-detection on systems which will improve safety and help reduce emissions.

COVID completely changed the way we approach HVAC systems. Now, there is a much greater focus on air quality. This is because proper air circulation and filtering reduce the spread of viruses and bacteria. However, flexibility has also emerged as a key consideration for all HVAC systems in the post-pandemic world. For example, due to increased variation in people’s working practices (offices, remote or hybrid), office buildings do not need to accommodate as many people as they had to before. As a result, HVAC systems must adjust to a building’s ever-changing needs to ensure better comfort while not overconsuming energy. Also, better zone control can help improve indoor air quality (IAQ). I constantly see systems working on on-off principles using thermostats or, even worse, timers. For example, in the office I tend to work from, the HVAC systems run only from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. while most of the workers are there. I tend to stay late, so I start dying from heat and the lack of oxygen and move closer to open windows to survive after 6 p.m. Timer-based control approaches were relatively fine before the pandemic when we all worked in the office during the same hours. Not anymore.

I have seen tremendous improvements in heat pump technology as the industry moves toward electrification and decarbonization goals as well as providing comfort in colder climates. With new refrigerant regulations set to roll out this year, HVAC brands like Rheem are working to continually increase product efficiency. Rheem is already at the forefront of this trend with the launch of our Endeavor line. Our platform offers more comfort thanks to the introduction of multi-stage and variable-speed AC, heat pumps, variable-speed furnaces, and air handlers. 

[On how HVAC ensures better indoor air quality (IAQ):] The demand for better IAQ is increasing due to many economic and environmental drivers. HVAC systems can ensure better IAQ by installing smart sensors that monitor the air quality. Technology has evolved to monitor many aspects of the air, including VOCs, CO2 levels, temperature, odors, and humidity, ensuring a comfortable environment for the occupants. As these systems become more advanced, there is a need for increased protection against environmental elements for the unit and its components and for regular maintenance checks to ensure the unit is operating at peak efficiency.