Being green for the environment and to save money is becoming much more of a priority for consumers and businesses. In our HVAC industry, we’re really looking at ways to be more green in the products and services we offer, which is amazing when you consider how horrible the first heaters and air conditioners were for the environment. Needless to say, things have come a long way.
Here are four trends that will help make the world around us more green:
1. Automation and Controls in Commercial Buildings
Forty percent of the electricity used in buildings is for heating and cooling. With utility companies offering better incentives to reduce electricity usage during peak times and technologies relying on the Internet of Things becoming more affordable, more and more businesses are jumping on the automation bandwagon.
2. Smart, Intuitive Residential HVAC Equipment
Indoor climate control and preventative maintenance are important to our customers. While workers can leave a business if the heat breaks down in the middle of winter, residents are pretty much stuck at home, especially at inconvenient late-night hours.
Smart home HVAC technologies continue to advance to meet increasing customer demand. Many homeowners enter the market with smart thermostats, which allow people to control their air conditioners and heaters from an app on their smartphones. Globally, the market is expected to grow 29.5 percent by 2024. But there devices available that are even more intelligent: they can offer expanded mobile access, text alerts, pre-scheduled diagnostics and real-time updates.
Some can detect when the sun rises and sets and adjust the lighting in the home. Others regulate temperature based on how much the space is being used, the preferences of the residents and analytics provided by built-in sensors.
3. Green Building
Another HVAC trend that’s set to continue to grow in 2020 is green building. What exactly is “green building”? The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) defines it as “the planning, design, construction and operations of buildings with several central foremost considerations: energy use, water use, indoor environmental quality, material selection and the buildings’ effects on its site.”
While green building has been around for some time, these days Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) plays a big role in regulating the industry through certification, including the HVAC systems they install. Again, energy efficiency is the goal. Equipment installed in LEED-certified buildings should have the Environmental Protection Agency’s ENERGY STAR label.
4. Green Trends Mean Green Collar Jobs
What do these trends mean for future HVAC program grads? More opportunities to land “green collar jobs.” Not only can HVAC technicians enjoy the satisfaction of helping customers stay comfortable and healthy in their homes and businesses, but they can also feel good about the impact of their work on the environment.
If you want to know more or if it’s time to schedule your seasonal maintenance, give us a call at 816.719.1099!
