HVAC technology is continually evolving and improving, often incrementally, but sometimes with significant leaps forward. Here we detail new technology in the HVAC field, and what it can do to make your home more comfortable.
New VRV Life Systems from Daikin
Daikin invented the first VRV, or variable refrigerant volume systems back in 1982, and the technology has evolved from there. With their new VRV Life systems, Daikin has improved the technology with its proprietary Daikin Air Intelligence command systems.
VRV Life systems allow precise zone control throughout your home, connecting both traditionally ducted rooms and ductless configurations so that you can set different target temperatures in each space individually.
Daikin’s inverter technology allows their units to vary motor speeds to use only the power necessary to heat or cool a given zone. This means they’re far more efficient than standard systems which only offer basic on or off functionality.
The system allows up to nine different zones in your home to be heated or cooled individually, with the heat recaptured in zones receiving cooling to be used to help heat the rooms being warmed. The entire system reaches previously unattainable levels of heating and cooling efficiency.
Smart HVAC Systems
By now most people are familiar with Nest, the smart, Internet-connected thermostats that allow your HVAC system to work with other smart home technologies. This is just the beginning.
Many other, less obvious HVAC components are getting their smart upgrades. With the inclusion of smart switches, intelligent air handling units, and self-regulating compressors, HVAC professionals will be able to monitor and configure many parts of a customer’s HVAC system remotely. In many cases, technicians will be able to fix common problems without the need to visit a customer’s home, which is very convenient for the consumer.
These sorts of connected systems also mean that, eventually, AI (artificial intelligence) will be able to precisely control every aspect of an HVAC system for the ultimate inefficient operation.
“Green” Systems Becoming More Common
As regulations become more stringent, and as customer interest in low-carbon-footprint systems grows, the industry is seeing a greater focus on eco-friendly, green HVAC.
New technologies are allowing HVAC systems to use far less energy than previously possible, and to operate more efficiently than before.
Many systems now allow for dissipated heat recapture and general heat loss prevention, to more thoroughly using all available energy to keep your home comfortable while operating at a reduced carbon footprint.
One of the most radical, green HVAC solutions in recent years involves using ice to cool your home. In the evening, when temperatures are cooler, the system uses refrigerants to freeze hundreds of gallons of water into ice. Then, during the day as temperatures climb the ice is used to cool the refrigerant that in turn cools your home. The ice acts as a “thermal battery” of sorts, collecting cooling power when it’s cheap and returning it when it’s more expensive.
In most configurations, this technology is 30% more energy efficient than standard systems. Of course, these systems have not entered the mainstream. But they show how forward-thinking the HVAC industry is.
Fanless Compressors
The compressor is the most critical part of any AC installation and is also the part most prone to failure. However, new fan-less compressors are aiming to change that. With fewer moving parts, and with far less vibration, fan-less compressors can reduce maintenance requirements and the incidence of system failures fairly dramatically.
Let Us Put New Technology to Work for You
If you’re in the market for a new or upgraded HVAC system, let us show you what this new technology can do for your home. Call our NATE Certified HVAC experts today. We can help bring 21st-century heating and cooling technology to you.
