Tim Robb

Director, Digital Marketing & Strategic Business Development

Goodway Technologies Corp.

2015 HVAC Trends:

1. The Personalization of HVAC
   The astronomic success of products like the NEST learning thermostat have solidified connected networks and personalization as an integral part of residential HVAC systems and has spawned a variety of “me-too” products from the top names in controls. Commercial HVAC systems have long been connected to systems and operational software. However they’ve only dabbled in personalization and remain zone-oriented where one setting is “good enough for all”. Commercial systems will evolve – albeit slower than residential systems – to deliver the benefits of offering personalized climate control and the cost efficiencies it offers.
2. The “appitization” of HVAC Service
   With an estimated 100M+ homes enjoying the benefits of air conditioning, the residential service market is ripe for the taking. Recent “disruptive” changes in service-based industries are all around us in categories many didn’t blink twice at. Uber (taxi), whatsapp (phone calls/messagin), Netflix (on demand videos), Grubhub (food delivery). You name it, money is pouring into service markets that can benefit from a change in business process to make doing business more profitable and getting a service less painful.

   Residential HVAC is in the near future. Basic preventive maintenance, like filter changes, coil cleaning, and compressor checks can be incredibly beneficial to end users, yet more and more forgo this critical maintenance for simple convenience reasons. Conversely, preventative maintenance is not a large profit generator for contractors, yet serves as a critical part of customer service and new business generation. Somewhere in the middle the answer lies where customers are easily convinced of the benefit of maintenance and contractors, through innovative technology like system monitors, can actually make a few bucks by properly predicting labor investment before the job begins.

3. Maintenance Technologies Well Positioned To Grow
   Modern commercial HVAC systems are highly technical and optimized to deliver efficiency at rates never seen before. The cost of these units is high for both replacement and initial construction but offer positive returns on their investments…if properly maintained. These systems tend to be more susceptible than ever to efficiency losses due to deferred maintenance. For example, advanced boiler technologies are running smaller boilers with larger firing surfaces areas to offer “on demand” performance. However, if not properly maintained, the technology fouls quicker than ever before, reducing efficiency.

   Similar challenges occur in packaged systems heating and cooling system where coil beds are thicker than ever, offering terrific heat exchange benefits, but maintenance nightmares. Companies that can specialize in these maintenance technologies are well positioned for growth as these technologies begin to dominate the commercial HVAC landscape.