As far as we can see, the HVAC industry of the future will be driven by “sustainability, globalization, workforce, and technology.” And as a result, we as air conditioning engineers and contractors, will be taking on new resposibilities in energy management, green building, sustainability , and Indoor Air Quality.

As the ones who are concerned with commercial heating and air conditioning will be designing and or installing and or maintaining those new green systems , we will be keeping up with the latest trends, one of them at the moment called BIM technology , that has been designed to meet the demands of globalization
need for energy efficiency and green sustainability.

so what exactly is BIM?

BIM is a virtual world for anyone planning a construction or retrofit .It is an ideal technology for architects, engineers, builders , mechanical and plumbing contrators, designers and even for the client to get a better idea of what is going on on their project. The plans and workings of a building can now be represented in 3D leading to a more accurate idea and assessment of the building project. One huge advantage is that changes can be made well before the construction has started, and many more options can be drafted at the press of a button.

But just how will this effect your or our Industry?

First and foremost, it means refocusing the intent of our industry workers away from “putting out forest fires” to examining and implementig the specific needs for each project. As the focus shifts away from more RFI’s to more preventative measures such as clash detection and risk mitigation , management will have more time to devote to efficiency, cutting time on labor costs considerably.

Business is and will continue to become more globalized and with BIM’s digital and visual interface, communication barrirers will be smoothed out the way. The fact that all industries are working on the same “playing field” will also helps to smooth out any communication gaps.

With regards to energy and sustainability, you can examine design alternatives to improve energy efficiency without affecting the thermal comfort of the building , as BIM’s ability to export building information such as materials room volumes will enable a quicker and easier step to energy analysis .
BIM also has the ability to assess the suns positoning , thereby help to position solar effects.

So for all those of us who wish to keep ahead of the game , save on time, and get globalised , BIM may be a great asset an answer to efficient sustainable design especially during the planning phase, and will also assist in all aspects of the building, helping us to understand how the designs behave
in the real world even before they are built and preventing problems from arising later on .

When you mention the word air conditioning in a conversation, Most people think of big bulky monstrous metal boxes making  noises and eschewing noxious fumes or at best, expensive complex air conditioning equipment blasting cold air through dirty pipes.

But just like all industries, change has been taking place, and the air conditioning industry has come a  long way in understanding both the heating and cooling needs of the consumer as well as the energy impact on the environment.

Obama mentioned the need to protect our environment, in his speech in Elkart, Indiana earlier on this year, encouraging  “cheaper energy that is also clean”

So what has been done by the industry that has changed energy consumption?

Today HVAC is even looking at natural resources for indoor heating and cooling such as solar energy, although that is still far off for heating and cooling whole buildings in New York City, and for now we must pay attention to the high efficiency units and systems available that save on your energy costs and energy consumption.

To start with wholesalers and HVAC engineers are working along with government agencies such as Energystar.gov to produce greener products.

For example  Daikin have been restructuring their units to include a refrigerant thermostat that shuts off the gas when enough is being circulated.The VRV air conditioning system can automatically shut off responding accurately to heating and cooling needs. Ductless splits eliminate the need for ducting,which brings down the demand for steel.

Top brands such as Daikin or Trane, are measuring the SEER efficiency ratings on the equipment. When Trane did calculations that compare a high efficiency unit running on natural gas to a low efficiency unit running on Propane gas The cost difference was enormous! For example,  take a 30 000 BTU unit : You end up saving $ 2000 dollars per month on your utility bill. Now that’s great not only on your pocket , but on the environment too!

Many people do not seeing the far reaching consequences when trying to save money. they look at the installation costs and think ” I can save a few thousand dollars by installing a unit” while it may be unsuitable or a low efficiency unit that guzzles gas.But the expenses running such a unit far outweigh the initial costs!

So what do you do when you want to do something with your air conditioning? We encourage you to follow an our protocol :use an air conditioning contractor that will assess your needs accurately, will retrofit or upgrade your unit ,
and will use energy efficient equipment that will give you a long term economical solution on your heating and cooling needs.

Lots of success and here’s to a comfortable cost effective summer!