DOE - Editor's Note

AHR Expo 2024 was abuzz with activity, befitting a dynamic industry in the throes of change.  Industry developments such as electrification and the refrigerant transition render business opportunities on the AHR Expo show floor, where exhibitors display a determination to meet the challenges and thrive in the process. Walking from booth to booth during the three-day show in Chicago, I saw the best the HVAC industry has to offer, up close and personal. Innovation and adaptability are the w...

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-c...

The HVAC market is at an inflection point, in the throes of switching refrigerants to meet regulatory goals, improving energy efficiency to meet more stringent standards, and struggling with supply chain issues. What the industry needs is a new technology at the nexus of environmental issues and energy conservation, enabling the drive away from fossil fuels and toward zero-carbon emissions. Blue Frontier is working to bring such a system to market with a core air conditioning/energy storage tec...

The U.S. Department of Energy (DoE) has challenged manufacturers to accelerate the development of heat pumps that can perform well in colder climates. As part of its Initiative for Better Energy, Emissions, and Equity (E3 Initiative), the DoE’s Residential Cold Climate Heat Pump (CCHP) Technology Challenge seeks to demonstrate performance in the lab and at pilot sites before implementing new technologies in the market. Nominal capacity requirement To meet the DoE CCHP Challenge, a heat...

The looming deadline for HVAC compliance with new U.S. Department of Energy minimum performance requirements could cause disruptions in the construction trade as builders struggle to install existing stock and resolve other ‘logistical issues’ before time runs out. The new performance standards for all newly manufactured residential and commercial air conditioners, heat pumps and gas furnaces will take effect Jan. 1, 2023. Revised testing protocols will also apply. Supply chain di...

California is moving to ban the sale of natural gas furnaces, heaters and water heaters by 2030. It is the first US state to make the move, in order to meet federal ozone standards. In addition to California’s previous efforts to eliminate installation of gas-fueled equipment in new buildings, the new regulation will address the use of gas space heaters and water heaters in existing residential buildings. When it comes time to replace them, building owners will be required to transition...

HVAC systems account for around 46% of the average U.S. home’s energy consumption. As big users of electricity, air conditioning (AC) systems this summer face continuing concerns about an adequate supply of electricity and the reliability of the U.S. electrical grid. According to a report from the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), large parts of the country are at either ‘high’ or ‘elevated’ risk of electricity shortfalls this summer. Notably,...

Demand for HVAC services spiked during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Low interest rates, government stimulus checks and a greater emphasis on home improvement (because more people were spending time at home) drove new business for HVAC companies. However, labor shortages limited companies’ ability to meet the demand. In some cases, money was left on the table. There was another impact of the pandemic on industry labor trends: HVAC contractors kept working, even when much of the eco...

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. Addressing school infrastructure needs An influx of federal money to help schools update their HVAC systems is an opportunity...

Gradient seeks to bring the benefits of mini-split systems - variable speed drive, efficient operation, heat pump heating - to a wider audience, by simplifying the installation process. Gradient offers a design that is installed in a window, but it has more similarities to mini-split systems than to a window air conditioner. simple installation The system is designed for simple installation by a layman – it generally takes about 15 minutes. Using heat pump technology, Gradient has the e...

Climatech of Professional Air in Pensacola, Florida, USA, is known for putting HVAC customers first by providing first-class service and for doing what’s right, even when no one is looking. “We approach each customer like it’s our grandmother,” said Travis Thompson of Climatech of Professional Air, adding “We show all the options and we are fair with pricing. The open-book approach to options and our honest opinion is the best way. We sit and get to know the custome...

‘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. 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 provider...

With a required 15% increase in seasonal efficiency looming in 2023, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) are being challenged to design HVAC rooftop units (RTUs) that both meet the immediate efficiency requirements and also set the stage for a refrigerant transition in 2025 and beyond. Meeting the challenges requires that new hardware designs be more than ‘a little bit better’; rather, complete shifts in technology are called for. Insights on the changing technologies and regulat...

Rooftop units (RTUs) withstand a lion’s share of the burden, when it comes to heating and cooling commercial buildings, and they also represent a big portion of a building’s impact on global warming. Traditional low-tech approaches to controlling RTUs have failed to address global warming concerns, and these units, operating independently, may not even deliver sufficiently on the climate demands of a building. Intelligent approach to managing energy demand Providing an intelligent...

AHR Expo was back in a big way for 2022, reflecting a dynamic industry that not only survived the pandemic but has found new ways to thrive. Technical developments on display in Las Vegas spanned traditional product categories, which continued to display new levels of innovation in a mature market. Also reflecting progress were new digital offerings that increase control and efficiency of HVAC products and link them to the expanding world of data.  Omar Tabba, the Chief Product Officer at...

It’s great time to be in the HVAC industry. That was the optimistic vibe as the AHR Expo opened in Las Vegas, the first such in-person gathering of the industry since the beginning of the global pandemic. Attendance was moderate and steady throughout the first day of the show as HVAC professionals took stock of technology developments that have emerged over the last two years. COVID changed the HVAC market, probably forever, and the changes extend beyond the masks that were dutifully wor...

The HVAC market is moving fast. Supply shortages, technology trends and regulatory issues all converged and had a profound impact on the industry in 2021, even as the lingering impact of the COVID-19 pandemic also made a mark. Looking back at the top articles of the year at HVACInformed.com, as measured by those that received the most ‘clicks’ on the website, provides a decent summary of how the industry evolved in 2021. Top 10 articles posted at HVACInformed.com in 2021 Timely and...

HVAC systems typically operate on a schedule. Heating, cooling and ventilation systems start and stop at fixed times of the day, scheduled around when and how a building is used. But, shouldn’t the number of occupants in a building or a room have an impact on how the HVAC system operates? Considering occupancy, when addressing HVAC needs, is an especially timely approach, given that building schedules are less predictable now, since the COVID-19 pandemic changed work patterns, possibly fo...

The concept of district heating refers to a group of customers, or even a whole city, which shares a system providing ambient heat, often using steam or water heated by sources that emit less carbon dioxide. A network of insulated pipes, constructed underground in a community, transports the heat among customers, and various meters and billing systems keep up with how much heat is provided. District heating District heating is seen as an increasingly important option, as municipalities seek to...

‘Net zero’ is an unavoidable reality in the continuing fight against climate change. For example, both the United Kingdom and the European Union have set targets of having net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. These objectives are in line with a commitment to global climate action under the Paris Agreement. Net zero - carbon neutral Net zero refers to the balance between the amount of greenhouse gas produced and the amount removed from the atmosphere. It’s another term f...

High school seniors and their parents weigh multiple factors, when choosing a college or university. In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, the importance of one factor has shown a marked increase. Indoor air quality (IAQ) is now among the top-three aspects that an applicant and their parents would consider, when choosing a college, according to one survey. Growing awareness of IAQ Growing awareness of IAQ presents an opportunity, as the HVAC industry seeks to serve the higher education ma...

When COVID-19 hit, North Arkansas College had to close its school, and students had to transition from in-person to online learning, which is especially difficult when teaching a trade that is heavily dependent on hands-on training. The HVAC/R program at North Arkansas College, which has existed for over 50 years, typically has an average of 14 to 16 students enrolled each year. HVAC/R program “With the quick transition we had to think outside the box, and so we found a company that had...

It’s shaping up to be a long, hot summer for HVAC contractors and their customers. Disruptions in the nationwide supply chain that began during the COVID-19 pandemic still have not been resolved. Shutdowns last summer played havoc with the supply of parts, and suppliers are still playing catch up, as raw materials remain scarce. Furthermore, prices are going up among some components and key raw materials. Waiting times for parts can run into weeks or even months. Supply shortages of HVAC...

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is an emerging tool for a long list of applications, including the ability to analyze and ensure optimum performance of an HVAC system. Emerson’s Sensi Predict smart HVAC solution is an example of how AI can boost the capabilities of HVAC. It has been recognized with a Silver Edison Award in the Innovative Services – AI category. Sensi Predict smart HVAC solution Sensi Predict combines inputs from 10 sensors in an HVAC system and analyzes the performanc...

What do customers want from their HVAC company? It’s a challenging question, and the answers reveal a path to a more successful and customer-centric company. There are numerous articles written that offer consumers advice on choosing an HVAC company. In the simplest terms, wouldn’t it be possible to ‘reverse engineer’ that advice to provide a roadmap to guide HVAC companies in how to succeed? Addressing consumer concerns Often, consumers’ concerns surround whether...

Incorporating cool and dry outdoor air into commercial HVAC systems can save money and energy, while causing less wear-and-tear on cooling systems. An economizer is a device that works alongside rooftop HVAC systems to augment the system with outdoor air, in order to provide what has become known as ‘free cooling’. Economizers Economizers introduce low-temperature or low-enthalpy outdoor air into a building to reduce or eliminate mechanical cooling, depending on outdoor air conditi...

The cruise ship industry has cracked the code on keeping passengers and crew safe from the coronavirus (COVID-19) spread, including changes to on-board HVAC systems to use more outside air and to filter out particles as small as the novel coronavirus. The industry, which voluntarily suspended worldwide operations at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, under the guidance of international and national health authorities, plans to resume worldwide operations fully later in 2021. Health protoc...

The connectivity of the Internet of Things (IoT) provides new tools to monitor the well-being of an HVAC system, to provide instant alerts to any operational problems and even to predict when problems are likely to occur. Being alert to early warning signs of a problem enables deployment of less-expensive fixes before the problem escalates. predictive analytics Remote monitoring and predictive analytics of HVAC systems have been even more valuable during the time of the COVID-19 pandemic, when...

The demographics of the HVAC workforce are changing and more women are being welcomed into the HVAC industry in a wider variety of roles. In part, the changes are because of necessity as Baby Boomers retire from the workforce and leave a labor and skills gap to be filled. HVAC commercial service business, HB McClure Company, based out of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, is embracing change and encouraging more women to consider a career in the HVAC workspace. The company’s female employees are h...

The computing power we know as the Internet actually resides in millions of data centers that house rows and rows of computer servers. And each data center represents a unique HVAC challenge: How to keep the equipment cool, the air pure and the humidity low. Providing the ideal operating conditions for a room full of computers requires the best that the HVAC market can offer.  Data centers come in all shapes, sizes and configurations. Some are huge facilities that serve the needs of giants...