Technology has been changing the way we live, work, and play for years. In the HVAC industry, tech is also revolutionizing how we help commercial property managers heat and cool their buildings.
Thanks to mobile connectivity, system automation, software platforms, and equipment upgrades, technology continues to innovate in ways that help companies cut down on energy costs while making HVAC system management easier and more efficient.
Here are 4 different ways that technology is transforming commercial HVAC systems:
Technology Enables HVAC Systems To Become More Eco-Friendly
With public demand for sustainable, green technology at an all-time high, eco-friendly alternatives to traditional means of heating and cooling are becoming more commonplace in the market.
For example, geothermal heating and cooling systems are slowly eliminating the need for petroleum-based systems. Geothermal heat pumps use ground and water sources to generate the energy needed for HVAC systems to heat and cool buildings. Alternatively, solar power can be used in combination with gas so property managers can easily switch between the two to better control energy use.
Adopting sustainable solutions not only cuts your energy costs, but also increases the value of your property while future-proofing your HVAC system and attracting more long-term tenants.
Cost-Effective Installations, Upgrades, And Repairs With Ductless Systems
Southern Ontario is currently hot with new commercial building construction. However, there are still many older buildings currently in use that were built at a time when controlled HVAC systems were more the exception than the rule. Many of these buildings rely on boilers and radiators to heat their spaces in the winter, and electric fans and open windows for cooling in the summer.
Updating these buildings with an HVAC system is next to impossible, especially if there’s no space to install ductwork. Even if there is space, the cost to install the system might be out of range for building owners.
Fortunately, VRF (Variable Refrigerant Flow) HVAC systems offer the perfect solution for older buildings, or anywhere HVAC upgrades are needed but space is at a premium. They also provide a cost-effective alternative for modern buildings with air leaks from holes or cracks in their ducts that result in significant repair costs.
Software Platforms That Offer Automated Temperature Control
Manually setting thermostats to control your building’s climate is a thing of the past – or at least it can be with innovative smart HVAC system technology that automates the entire process for you.
Building automation systems (BAS) allow you to control your entire building’s facilities, including HVAC, lighting, and power, from one central dashboard. These systems are completely customizable to your building size, occupancy levels, and energy requirements, and allow you to monitor and adjust system performance when your needs change.
Read More: Stay In Control With Building Automation Systems
Properties can also be fitted with occupancy sensors that customize the level of ventilation by monitoring the number of people in an area or zone, and adjusting fan speed and air movement accordingly. They can also track outdoor conditions such as sunlight, humidity, and temperature and use this information to properly heat or cool the area. For example, if a space doesn’t get a lot of direct sunlight, the system will turn down the cool air in the summer and provide more heat in the winter to that particular area.
Zone control systems offer another way to control energy use by setting temperatures to an individual space’s requirements. For example, an occupied office has different climate needs than an unoccupied office or a file room that’s only used occasionally. Zone control systems enable you to distribute the appropriate airflow to exactly where and when it’s needed.
Read More: The Benefits of Commercial HVAC Zone Control Systems
All of these automated solutions allow for better overall control of your HVAC system, leading to long-term energy savings thanks to advanced technology.
Convenient HVAC Controls Through Wi-Fi Connectivity Technology
There isn’t a lot that you can do on your laptop that you can’t on your mobile device. That goes for HVAC controls too.
Thanks to wireless technology innovations, you can control and monitor the temperature, airflow, and humidity levels of your building from anywhere through robust Wi-Fi connected software on your laptop, tablet, or smartphone.
This also enables your HVAC maintenance team to monitor your system and make preventative maintenance recommendations from anywhere by collecting data and generating reports that identify system status, usage trends, and past performance. If repair is necessary, your maintenance team will already have the information necessary to spend less time diagnosing the problem and more time working on repairs.
Here at Springbank Mechanical Systems, we use technology in our day-to-day operations as well. Our software tools and platforms are designed specifically for the HVAC industry, and work to give our customers the best experience possible. We employ technology that streamlines task management, allocates resources efficiently, enhances our communications, and provides timely technical support whenever you need it.
We firmly believe in the power of HVAC technology to make your HVAC system operate more reliably and with better cost-efficiency over the long term. If you’d like to discover how HVAC technology can help you save money, give us a call anytime.
Gregg Little, Paul De Thomasis, and Hugo Lopes are co-owners of Springbank Mechanical Systems. They can be reached at 905-569-8990, or via email at gregg@springbank.com or paul@springbank.com or hugo@springbank.com.