As most industry professionals know, designing truly energy-efficient homes is easier said than done. Even where there’s a desire to adopt them, new building technologies, strategies, and innovations can be more costly than standard building methods. They can also be difficult to source locally, making adoption even more problematic. These are some of the problems […]
If you haven’t already noticed, climate worries are beginning to drive big changes in the construction industry around the world. Until recently, these changes have typically been focused on innovative new technologies or design strategies, such as the integration of solar panels or the addition of a green rooftop. But now governments are taking note […]
A new trend is on the verge of transforming how North Americans heat and power their homes and businesses. Combined heat and power systems (CHP) are nothing new, but recent innovations in size, pricing, and efficiency are adding up to more widespread adoption in Canada and the United States. Leading the way is the development […]
In an effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, refrigerant standards for air conditioners are evolving yet again. But unlike the previous transition away from R-22 refrigerants, the next transition is a little murkier. What will the new standards be? When will they be implemented? Will they require operators to receive new training? Are there safety […]
Turn on the news and you’re likely to see a story about extreme weather. Hurricanes, tropical storms, and heat waves have become the norm, not the exception. Which is one reason that air conditioning is such a pressing topic. As temperatures rise in many areas of the world, more people will be looking to cool […]
The biggest contributor to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions isn’t cars but buildings. Housing is responsible for about 54% of GHG while transportation releases about 42%. According to a government of Australia paper, a typical HVAC system accounts for approximately 40% of total building consumption. In the coming years, energy efficiency will become more important to […]
Extendable, flexible and comfortable. Those are just a few benefits of hydronic heating systems. For about a decade, geothermal or geo-exchange/ground source and water source hydronic systems have been a growing niche market when it comes to home central heating. But the high cost of installation and the difficulty fitting them into many buildings has […]
It’s no secret that traditional hot water tanks and systems are big-time energy hogs. According to Environment Canada, they account for 19% of the energy used in a typical home, and 8% of the energy used in a typical commercial setting. But what will those numbers look like in five years? What will they look […]
Heat pump water heaters (HPWHs) have been around for a while, with the vast majority of consumers showing little interest. Until recently, it’s been easy to see why: HPWHs are significantly more expensive than conventional gas or electric water heaters, and the potential cost savings can be hard to communicate. But all of that […]
For nearly a decade, the global HVAC industry has been experiencing a steady boom. In fact, the industry has grown every year since 2011, and that trend is expected to continue through 2019 and beyond. Analysts are predicting 9% growth for 2019 with more than $70 billion in additional revenue over the coming years. What’s […]
The housing market isn’t looking terribly rosy for investors at the moment, or for the foreseeable future. In fact, it’s looking downright grim. As Barron’sreported last month, home prices recently had their lowest year-over-year increase in nearly two years, while the iShares U.S. Home Construction exchange-traded fund fell 12% in October, and is down 26% […]
Choosing wall caps, grilles and diffusers for your HVAC installation is easy. You know where to get high-quality products. Selecting the right HVAC system for your customers is trickier. A new app promises to quickly analyze a wide variety of HVAC options. The larger the project, the more difficult the analysis can become. In the […]
The occupants in any large building rarely see the HVAC equipment that keeps them warm or cool. They will notice grilles and diffusers, and sometimes the ducts, but the rest is out of sight in the basement or on the roof. Generally, the decision about where to place HVAC equipment is made at the design […]
In many ways, the HVAC industry has been ahead of the curve with technology adoption. Building automation systems have been around for decades. But as more building managers want to improve indoor air quality and ventilation, there is more interplay between different systems, making management more complex. Even though the availability of new technology has […]