HVAC Software - Editor's Note

Gaining early popularity in the 1970s, previous generations of heat pumps were only considered useful in mild climates. But today, modern heat pumps, especially variable-speed mini-split heat pumps, are reliable, sustainable, and used in various ways, including ways our parents and grandparents would never have thought of. New uses include she sheds, man caves, garages, tiny homes, sunrooms, and even boats.  We spoke to Sean Gallagher, Regional Sales Manager, Eastern Massachusetts, Mitsubi...

The British Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) is an essential initiative for building owners, security professionals, and HVAC experts aiming to reduce carbon emissions and energy costs. Designed to replace aging fossil fuel boilers with low-carbon alternatives, this United Kingdom government-backed scheme provides financial incentives that make upgrading more accessible. With rising energy prices and stricter environmental regulations, the program could benefit property investors and tenants while...

Housecall Pro, founded in 2013, seeks to transform how home service professionals manage their businesses. Their mission to "Champion Our Pros to Success" underlies a software platform that offers scheduling, dispatching, invoicing, payment processing, payroll, and customer management solutions.   artificial intelligence (AI) In addition, the “AI Team Member,” using artificial intelligence (AI), provides specialized expertise through AI-powered coaches, customer service...

Johnson Controls’ Advanced Development Engineering Center (JADEC) in New Freedom, PA., about 25 miles from Philadelphia, highlights and demonstrates the company’s capabilities related to development, testing and manufacturing.  The 357,000-square-foot facility is an advanced engineering and testing facility for water-cooled chillers, air-cooled chillers, air handlers, compressors, and heat pumps. Much of the development in the facility centers on advancements in a critical vert...

SNAP Rule 26 marks an important milestone in the transition from commercial refrigeration to new refrigerants. The rule lists refrigerant substitutes that provide a spectrum of technological solutions to meet required performance, global warming potential (GWP), safety, and environmental standards.  SNAP stands for Significant New Alternatives Policy, a program by the U.S. EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) under the Clean Air Act. In general, the program aims to evaluate and regulate...

Humidity can influence employee health and productivity in the workplace. Humidity, temperature, and ventilation all work in concert to create a healthy indoor environment that supports overall occupant well-being. “Dry indoor air can cause discomfort in the form of dry skin, eyes, and throat for staff and visitors,” says Jennifer Montville, Director of Marketing at DriSteem, a manufacturer of humidification systems. Air-related health issues “There are real costs associate...

It takes a proliferation of data centers to serve the growing computing needs of the Internet, and all those servers churning away create plenty of heat. Might some of that heat be harnessed and used for residential or commercial heating? The emergence of district heating systems, which provide thermal energy to multiple buildings from a single source, demonstrates the approach has broad possibilities. Air-cooled chillers and air-handling units used to cool data centers are like the technologi...

Recently, nine states pledged to accelerate the transition to clean buildings in their states, including a goal of deploying heat pumps to make up 65% of residential heating, cooling, and water heating by 2030. California, Colorado, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, and Rhode Island signed a memorandum of understanding in February outlining their collective efforts to accelerate the deployment of clean technologies such as heat pumps in new and existing homes. ...

An expansive construction boom is underway in Saudi Arabia, amplified by the Saudi Vision 2030 initiative promoting global engagement, enhanced quality of life, and economic diversification beyond petroleum. Mega-projects pioneering the way include The Line, a linear smart city that is only 200 meters (220 yards) wide, towers 500 meters (550 yards) above sea level, and stretches 170 kilometers (105 miles) from the Neom 26,500-square-kilometer (10,200 sq. miles) urban area across desert valleys...

The idea of Energy as a Service involves shifting the traditional business model from selling energy as a commodity to providing a comprehensive package of goods and services to address a customer’s energy use and management. Rather than selling energy, the approach encompasses complete stewardship of a company’s energy needs in exchange for a monthly fee. Because 40% or so of a company’s typical energy needs are related to heating and cooling systems, implementing Energy as...

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...

Businesses in the HVAC market were high-profile participants at the COP28 conference in Dubai. Several big HVAC companies had a presence at the conference, and the industry’s technologies are an important tool to achieve the conference’s stated climate goal of net-zero global greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. COP28 The Conference of Parties of the United National Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) took place Nov. 30-Dec. 12 in Dubai. Some 35,000 people were involved in...

Revised building codes, based on model “I-Codes” developed by the International Code Council (ICC), are being widely adopted to allow A2L refrigerants to be used in comfort air conditioning applications. Previously, the use of A2L refrigerants, which are “mildly flammable,” was not allowed by building codes in force in 2021 and before because of safety concerns.   benefits of A2Ls However, the benefits of using A2Ls instead of refrigerants with higher global...

The transition away from hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) as refrigerants for HVAC systems is well underway, and the process is accelerating. A 10% reduction in HFC production was mandated last year, and an additional 30% reduction is pending in January 2024. Meanwhile, a January 2025 deadline looms for the elimination of the manufacture of HVAC equipment that uses refrigerants with high potential for global warming (GWP).  impact of regulatory shifts The production step-downs ensure a co...

President Biden’s plan to switch from burning fossil fuels to a reliance on more renewable sources, such as wind, solar, and geothermal, could bring the grid to 100% clean electricity (zero net greenhouse gas emissions) by 2035 and put the United States on a path to economywide, net-zero emissions by 2050.  In the built space, this includes replacing traditional, fossil fuel-burning sources of space and water heat with electrically powered alternatives, namely, high-efficiency heat p...

Esthetics have historically not been a primary consideration when it comes to HVAC vents and grilles. Rather, HVAC vents have been typically concerned with performance and ease of production, manufactured from stamped metal or extruded. “There have been limited efforts to make HVAC components that are also interior design elements,” says Mark Mascarello, Head of Design and Production of InviAir. It’s a missed opportunity. “I’m not an interior designer, but I feel...

Data-driven control of centralized home and building HVAC systems is helping to minimize energy usage, lessen sustainability concerns, and provide greater levels of comfort for lower costs. However, room air conditioners are globally the fastest growing segment, each operating independently with the aid of a remote control. How can the lessons and capabilities of data-driven control systems be applied to the world of room air conditioners?  Sensibo is looking to do just that. Sensibo aims...

Rising material prices and inflation, in general, are likely to continue to plague companies in trade services businesses, according to a new survey conducted by the business management software platform Simpro. In the survey, 20% of owners, CEOs, and business managers in trade service businesses say they are more likely to face inflation concerns this year. staff retention Another big concern across all trade service businesses is staff retention. Even higher percentages of survey responden...

The steps toward building decarbonization will accelerate organizations’ net-zero journey. Taking steps will also reduce operational costs and deliver better indoor environments. Improvements in heat pumps and digital solutions have enabled these opportunities and, as they continue to advance, deeper and deeper building decarbonization will become achievable. Optimal solutions Mark Lessans, Senior Director of Sustainability and Regulatory Affairs, Johnson Controls, for insights into how...

Excessive consumption of single-use plastics and other packaging materials is an emerging concern in the HVAC market. Use of plastic and non-recyclable materials in equipment packaging is contributing to HVAC’s environmental footprint. For an industry building its future on concepts of decarbonization and the environment, seeking to minimize packaging materials is a natural concern. More HVAC manufacturers need to transition towards a more sustainable future and implement organic packagi...

The American Innovation and Manufacturing (AIM) Act is among the environmental initiatives and regulations driving the phasedown in the use of hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) refrigerants in the HVAC industry. The AIM Act’s schedule seeks to phase down HFCs by 85% by 2036. The first significant reduction in consumption and production under the AIM Act began on Jan. 1, 2022, representing a 10% reduction from a baseline value. The next major step begins Jan. 1, 2024, with an additional 30% reductio...

Data centers have been around as long as the Internet, although the introduction of the iPhone in 2007 significantly increased the demand for data centers. When the COVID pandemic required more people to work from home, the impact was to push digital demand to even higher levels. In short, as of 2023, it is a challenge to build data centers fast enough. environmental aspects Thousands of computer servers operating in a data center give off a lot of heat, so cooling is a critical need. A typi...

The 486,805 square feet of exhibit space at AHR Expo 2023 in Atlanta provided clear evidence of how technology innovation in HVAC has accelerated in the last decade. Change and progress were everywhere among the 1,779 exhibitors, including 425 international exhibits. HVAC systems on display New electronic tools, cloud-based solutions, higher efficiency ratings, mini-split systems, new regulations, and new control strategies are driving product development enabling HVAC systems to deliver new s...

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...

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...

New tax credits and rebates are poised to infuse billions of dollars into the HVAC marketplace in the United States, making a variety of high-efficiency technologies more affordable for consumers and generating additional revenue in the HVAC market for years to come. clean energy investments A new law provides Americans with access to $370 billion for clean energy investments in the form of tax credits, incentives, and rebates to improve energy efficiency. There is also a tax deduction for own...

Certification is a way to demonstrate professional knowledge, a specific skillset, and the ability to do a particular job. In the HVAC market, earning certifications provides benefits to contractors as well as technicians. Paying for certifications Historically, typically 70% of technicians paid for their certifications. Now the numbers have flipped, and about 70% of contractors currently pay for certifications because they see the value-add they can provide to keep employees with an organizat...

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...