Things to look out for while upgrading HVAC systems

Upgrading commercial HVAC systems reduce maintenance and repair costs, making them more energy-efficient or providing more significant benefits for their use time.

The blistering hot weather in March has raised the demand for air coolers and air conditioners, which are no longer luxuries, but necessities, given the fluctuating weather. The early summer has set the stage for high demand this year, and it is expected to witness bumper sales of air conditioners and air coolers, according to industry estimates. Additionally, as per a report by IMD, the average maximum temperature recorded in March 2022 was the highest in the last 122 years for the period 1901-2022.

The Indian Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) market is predicted to increase at a CAGR of 16% from $8,526.7 million in 2019 to $31,598.6 million by 2030. The sector is being propelled by an increase in the disposable income of the population and an increase in commercial, industrial, and residential infrastructure projects in the country. On top of that, the hybrid work culture has increased the demand for upgrading commercial HVAC systems in the workplace. Commercial spaces have seen an uptick in demand for health and hygiene features of cooling systems. The commercial AC segment has seen a lot of innovation where features like UVC have been incorporated into cooling systems. Before investing in a new HVAC system in commercial spaces, here are a few things one should consider.

 

Energy Efficiency– Several emerging global trends shaping the commercial HVAC industry suggest that future technologies will be focused on system efficiency and renewable energy. One of the main factors that commercial buildings need to keep in mind while upgrading their HVAC systems is energy efficiency. Because of the country’s growing environmental concerns, people opt for HVAC equipment that uses less fuel and electricity while providing the same or higher efficiency than traditional models. Upgrading commercial HVAC systems will reduce the costs associated with maintenance and repairs. This could either mean making them more energy efficient or simply providing greater benefits for their use time. For commercial establishments, energy efficiency directly translates into cost savings, given the long hours of use.

 

Indoor Air Quality and Safety– Due to the pandemic, there is an increased demand for indoor air quality space solutions, including Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation (UVGI) Products, automated duct cleaning, and filtration, owing to escalated hygiene related concerns. Air pollution has become a significant health issue in recent years, with several cities across India reporting severely flawed air quality indexes (AQI). As a result, people living in severely polluted places suffer from various health problems due to increased exposure to pollution. Using an AC with UVC will help to purify the indoor air as it provides a very high level of germicidal control. Additionally, upgrading the HVAC system improves fire safety, simplifies repair and maintenance, and reduces maintenance costs in the long run. New HVAC systems can help keep everything running smoothly for many years.

 

Employee health and comfort– With offices opening up everywhere, it is necessary to upgrade the commercial HVAC systems to ensure the comfort of the employees. The indoor temperature should help employees be comfortable and increase productivity. Studies show that employees who work in a pleasant environment are not only happier and also more productive. Many modern air conditioners have filters to purify the air. It improves air quality by lowering dust particles and introducing allergens, bacteria, fungus, viruses, and other environmental pollutants. Removing these hazardous microorganisms from the air, you breathe the indoor environment while promoting your employees’ overall health and well-being.

In the future, we can anticipate high demand for HVAC systems that help maintain optimum temperature and humidity levels to prevent bacterial infections in commercial establishments. Similarly, there will be an increased focus on digitalisation and remote monitoring to improve the efficiency of these ultramodern HVAC systems. In the new normal, HVAC designs have already started encompassing virus and contamination control products. Post-pandemic, there is an increased emphasis on the IAQ (Indoor Air Quality) of the occupied spaces, which is a departure from the conventional attention to only temperature and humidity.