Things to look out for when upgrading HVAC systems

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. Additionally, as per a report by IMD, the average maximum temperature recorded in March 2022 was the highest ever in the last 122 years for the period 1901-2022. The blistering hot weather in March itself has raised the demand for air coolers and air conditioners, which are no longer luxuries, but necessities, given the 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. On top of that, the hybrid work culture has increased the demand for upgrading the commercial HVAC systems in the workplaces. Commercial spaces have seen 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 in cooling systems. Here are a few things one should consider before investing in a new HVAC system in commercial spaces.

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 are opting 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 the amount of time they are in use. 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 major health issue in recent years, with several cities across India reporting severely bad air quality indexes (AQI). As a result, people living in severely polluted places are suffering from a variety of 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. Apart from that, 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. Indoor temperature should be maintained to 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, which introduce allergens, bacteria, fungus, viruses, and other pollutants into the environment. Removing these hazardous microorganisms from the air you breathe enhances the indoor environment while also promoting your employees' overall health and well-being.

Going forward, we can anticipate high demand for HVAC systems that help in maintaining 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 ultra-modern HVAC systems. In the new normal, HVAC designs have already started encompassing products for virus and contamination control. 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.

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