7 Ways the HVAC Industry is Becoming Greener

The HVAC industry is always going to be at the forefront of your customers’ minds, especially as we head into the winter season. With that said, more and more of those customers are thinking about green ways to heat and cool their property. Why so? There are a few reasons.

• -In some cases, customers are being forced to try modernized green options over legacy systems due to environmental regulations.
• -Electricity costs are rising overall. This makes it more likely for customers to try and find energy-efficient HVAC methods.
• -Increasing awareness of personal responsibility and climate change is driving more people to live greener lifestyles.

The end result of these shifts, according to a Nielsen study, is that 75% of Millennials and half of Baby Boomers are willing to pay more for environmentally-friendly services. The HVAC industry needs to at least consider some of the options on the table in terms of supplying green HVAC tech. Here are a few ways that it is doing so.

Thermally-Driven Air Conditioning

Using heat to cool a structure? One Australian company, Chromasun has found the means to do just that by using solar thermal energy to drive a double-effect chiller. The end result is that customers ultimately save money on top of being eco-friendly. This is because they get cooling without having to raise their electricity costs. Chromasun crafts its own solar panels in order to reach the necessary temperatures, a model that the HVAC industry in other arid areas may be able to follow. The system does have a natural-gas backup behind solar power, but this is still more cost-effective than going all-electric.

Energy Analysis Software

A lot of being a green HVAC company is finding ways to be more efficient. A lot of this stems from looking inward. To that end, energy analysis software is a useful tool for HVAC system professionals, architects, and engineers. What this essentially allows professionals to do is create a projection for the system that will save the most money and energy for a given space prior to installation. The ability to have concrete evidence rather than just guessing means more efficiency overall. Of course, there’s also greater customer satisfaction.

HVAC Zoning

Compared to some of the other options on this list, HVAC zoning isn’t necessarily a new concept. However, it is eco-friendly and a money saver for your potential clients. In essence, what this does is divide a home or business into several different zones. By doing this, the heating and cooling can be controlled separately. For example, if a room isn’t going to be used, the HVAC can be shut off. If a room is going to be in direct sunlight, the HVAC can be adjusted separately, so it is only heated or cooled as necessary. This is especially important for buildings like hotels. 

Geothermal HVAC

Geothermal technology is gaining in popularity because it is not just eco-friendly heating and cooling, but the most energy-efficient system available. This works with geothermal piping being placed in the ground, and fluids in the piping drawing heat into the home. During the warmer months, the system does the same thing to keep things cool. On average, geothermal heating and cooling is about four times more efficient than traditional systems and can be up to eight times more efficient. As its popularity grows, expect more of your customers to ask about this possible option.

Ice-Powered Air Conditioning

This tech may seem novel, but it’s a modernized take on the classic approach of using stored ice as a form of cooling in large icehouses. In essence, this HVAC installation works by freezing water in a tank during off-peak hours. When peak hours come, the conditioner switches into cooling mode, and can work for as long as six hours for a residential or commercial space. Generally, this equipment is partnered with a conventional unit to lower electric bills and reduce carbon dioxide emissions. 

Dual Fuel Heat Pump

A dual fuel heat pump gives homeowners the benefits of an electric heat pump with a backup furnace. When the temperature drops below a certain level, the furnace kicks in to heat a home. When the temperatures go above freezing, the electric heat pump warms the home. There is a higher cost of entry compared to a traditional HVAC system. With this said, these systems are more efficient and save homeowners quite a bit in the long-term. Extrapolate this to a larger commercial building, and the savings could be even higher. 

Quiet Duct Wrap

In some cases, eco-friendly practices may come from unexpected sources. Every HVAC contractor uses duct tape, but Quiet Duct Wrap’s take on it provides a green HVAC solution. This item allows for both acoustic and thermal insulation, which is comparable with your traditional duct tape. With that said, it consists of recycled denim fabric, keeping the fabric out of landfills. With no irritants or fiberglass, it’s a safe and effective solution to conventional duct wrap. 

HVAC Industry

Adding more green services and machines is something that is only going to get more and more commonplace in the HVAC industry. As you can see, there are also more methods than ever that your company can employ. Companies shouldn’t be blindly hopping on trends, though. It’s equally important that they take the time to actually determine what innovations will bring them the most amount of new customers, while also staying efficient and profitable. 

The only way to manage this is by having a full understanding of your company finances and operations, and this is best accomplished with an HVAC contractor software like eSub. From the financial end, we can compare your bids, actuals, and other financial data to find out the true costs of one of these new offerings. On the logistics end, you can track your teams and equipment to find out the time and resources required to go green in the HVAC industry.