Many industries throughout the world, including the HVAC market are increasingly feeling the pressure to become more energy efficient. Companies are becoming increasingly aware of the effects of cooling systems for large buildings on the environment. Therefore, many people have embraced sustainability as a way of life rather than a trend. In the HVAC industry, several new sustainable technologies are transforming the industry.
HVAC Filters
Changing your HVAC filters regularly can lower your energy bills by up to 10 percent. Clogged or dirty HVAC filters overwork commercial mechanical systems and restrict the flow of air. Units with filter problems cost much more to operate, lower your indoor air quality, and cause many commercial HVAC problems and costs. It is advisable to check your HVAC filters regularly to ensure they operate optimally.
Consider changing your HVAC filters every month. The longest your filters should remain before changing is every three months. Replacing air filters regularly is one of the simplest steps you can take to ensure HVAC sustainability.
Programmable Thermostats
Programmable thermostats can save you thousands of dollars in energy bills each year. Temperature settings in a business setup often vary with departments setting different temperatures to suit their needs.
Installing green commercial HVAC system components such as programmable thermostats eliminates the need for customizing temperature settings to meet the requirements of diverse people. Many businesses install programmable thermostats to ensure HVAC sustainability and reduce energy costs.
Programmable thermostats are highly efficient in reducing energy bills and preventing the wastage of energy. These HVAC components can lower or increase building temperatures to match the seasons and the time of the day or night.
The temperature for a commercial multi-zone HVAC system can be set lower during the hot season and higher during the cold season. In addition, the thermostat can be set up to switch off the HVAC unit at night when no one is in the office and automatically switch on in the morning when people start coming into the office.
There are many models of programmable thermostats including the 7-day model and the 5+2 day model. The former is ideal for changing schedules while the latter is suitable for premises that operate on a five-day schedule.
HVAC Maintenance
Regular maintenance helps to ensure the sustainability of your HVAC unit. By regularly maintaining your commercial or residential HVAC system, you ensure that your equipment does not waste energy due to faulty performance. Timely repairs and maintenance of your HVAC unit can lower your energy bills by up to 40 percent.
Sealing Ducts
The efficiency of different types of HVAC systems for commercial buildings can improve significantly by simply sealing the heating and cooling ducts. Various materials are used to seal ducts, including foil tape, mastic, and blown-in duct sealant. Wrapping the ducts in insulation can seal the ducts further and prevent energy loss. Consider sealing the ducts of the areas in your home that are unprotected including the basement and unheated storage spaces.
HVAC Upgrade and Replacement
One of the best ways to ensure the sustainability of your HVAC system is by making upgrades or replacements of your existing units. Using the same HVAC system past its expected lifespan does not only lead to higher energy bills, but it also costs more to maintain.
Consider replacing older HVAC units with HEPA or Energy Star units. These units are more energy-efficient and can lower your energy bills by up to 20 percent.
Alternatively, you may retrofit your existing HVAC unit by fitting it with new digital economizer controls or sensors. The advanced digital controls work on a principle known as demand-controlled ventilation that brings in fresh air only when it is needed. This is an efficient sustainable HVAC system.
Commercial HVAC Systems 101: Sustainable HVAC Technologies
Geothermal Energy
This technology allows HVAC systems to work by obtaining energy from deep below the ground. The deeper you dig, the hotter it becomes. Geothermal energy will enable businesses and homes to tap into the clean energy underground for heating or cooling.
Solar Energy
When you mention solar power some people imagine large fields with solar panels or roofs full of solar panels. However, this is a relatively old way of thinking about the efficiency of solar power. A new technology known as passive solar technology uses the existing structures of a building including walls, roofs, and floors to capture and store energy instead of solar panels.
When the temperature drops, the heat energy that had been stored in the building will radiate into open spaces and keep them warm.
Hydronic Heating
Like solar technology, hydronic heating is relatively old news in the world of sustainable energy. However, instead of radiators, today’s hydronic systems use hot water piped through tubes on the floorboards to heat buildings. The heat is transferred in various ways including convection, radiation, and conduction.
Ice-Powered HVAC Systems
Some modern commercial HVAC system types convert water to ice, which is then used to cool buildings. The units convert water into ice at night and use it to cool buildings during the day, which significantly lowers energy bills. Sustainable HVAC systems are some of the best ways of ensuring businesses and homes use energy in an eco-friendly manner.
