4 Popular Commercial HVAC Upgrades to Consider for 2020

As environments change indoors and outdoors, the HVAC industry has had to keep pace in heating and cooling to meet new, higher energy efficiency standards.

Gone are the days of single-stage motors and mercury thermostats. Today in 2020, we can program our commercial building for multiple temperatures throughout the day with a few taps of a smartphone; variable speed motors now increase or decrease, depending on temperature needs.

If your building isn't taking advantage of all the new, efficient HVAC systems and equipment available to you today like the four we'll detail below you're doing no favours to your property investment, your wallet, or the environment.

Leverage the Internet of Things (IoT) with Building Automation Systems

HVAC systems aren't immune from the all-consuming Internet of Things. The IoT is a shorthand for everything being connected for convenience, like how your phone can practically do anything these days.

More and more thermostats and temperature sensors are connected to WiFi, allowing maintenance technicians, property managers, and owners alike to monitor and control any part of the building, no matter where they are. Everything can be managed through your trusty smartphone, computer, laptop, tablet, or your preferred connected device.

As an added bonus, the data these robust Building Automation Systems can accrue are more detailed and accurate than ever before. Software can now automatically detect and report problems, and even offer solutions for HVAC system inefficiencies. Ironing out these inefficiencies will enhance the longevity of the system and its HVAC equipment, as well as helping you save on energy.

Smart HVAC Designs

As Building Automation Systems progress, HVAC equipment designs have followed suit. Smart HVAC equipment will contain more sensors, allowing them to communicate with other systems in the building. Smart HVAC systems are able to monitor temperatures inside the building and out, track humidity levels, and even track the brightness and position of the sun.

For example, if there's an area of the building that receives direct sunlight, every day, the smart HVAC system can add more cool air to that area in the summer, and less heat in the winter to optimize that particular space. This efficiency would only be matched by 24/7 upkeep from your maintenance technician, which is, well, impossible.

Ductless HVAC Systems

Ductless HVAC systems have become all the rage in large commercial buildings such as condos, co-ops, and apartment buildings. The benefits are diverse: They're very straightforward to install (for certified HVAC technicians), provide instant redundancy, and are void of air ducts that need consistent cleaning and maintenance.

The lack of air ducts is a game-breaker when it comes to energy savings; air ducts can contribute to significant heating and cooling loss thanks to all the holes and gaps.

Touching back on the redundancy, this is inherent in ductless HVAC systems due to all indoor air units being connected to one outdoor compressor. So, if one handling unit is affected, only the area of the building it's responsible for will fail, while the others will remain operational and continue to chug along.

Greener HVAC Equipment

This was a growing HVAC industry trend over the past couple of years, and we expect to see continued advancement in green HVAC equipment.

Today's most environmentally-friendly HVAC equipment features geothermal heating and cooling, and can even be powered by solar panels that drastically reduce energy consumption. Geothermal equipment leverages the ground or a nearby water source like a pond to power heat transfer; this process utilizes minimal energy.

As we continue through 2020 and the new decade, we expect green HVAC equipment designs to utilize multiple energy sources, with the ability to seamlessly switch between them for maximum energy optimization. Green HVAC equipment is also being built with fewer parts, therefore reducing the likelihood of breakdowns or malfunctions.

Take advantage of all the new HVAC systems and equipment on the market today to ensure your building is as energy efficient as possible. Get in touch with Toronto's certified HVAC team at Ambient Mechanical to schedule a consultation.

Your building tenants, wallet, and the environment will thank you!