As a homeowner in Chickasaw, Alabama, you’re probably interested in hearing about more innovative, efficient, and affordable ways to cool your home. Thanks to vast improvements in HVAC technology, air conditioners are more effective and energy-efficient than ever before.
Let’s take a look at several impressive innovations that can help you stay cool during the hot summer months. While some of the devices mentioned aren’t yet widely available, they’re likely to become more commonplace in the near future.
Smart Thermostats
Smart thermostats connect to your tablet or smartphone and enable you to adjust the temperature of your home from anywhere in the world. It only takes a few minutes to program a smart thermostat to automatically adjust to your personal preferences.
For instance, a smart thermostat will enable you to program your air conditioner to maintain a warmer summer temperature while you’re at work than when you’re at home. Imagine being able to have your air conditioner click on and start cooling your house minutes before you return home from a long day at work. This will not only keep you comfortable but also save energy and lower your utility bills.
Ice-Powered Air Conditioning
Ice-powered air conditioning uses a thermal battery to make cooling a home or building more cost-effective. During the night, the thermal battery fills with water and freezes into a thick block of ice. During the day, the ice block is used to cool the building. Since ice-powered air conditioning decreases the need to use the air conditioner’s compressor, less energy is used and utility bills are lowered. While not yet widely available, ice-powered air conditioning is likely to become more popular in the years to come.
Digital Ceilings
Digital ceilings are almost a certainty in the future of building automation. Outfitted with a variety of sensors, a digital ceiling measures the metric, such as the temperature, motion, and carbon dioxide levels, of a room. The sensors learn the habits of a building’s occupants and adjust as needed with little to no intervention from you. Digital ceilings simplify life while decreasing energy usage and maximizing comfort.
Solar-Powered Air Conditioning
Solar-powered air conditioners use rooftop panels to capture the sun’s energy. The solar energy is then used to power the building’s HVAC system. While a solar-powered air-conditioning unit’s upfront costs are typically greater than those of a traditionally powered unit, solar-powered air conditioning has the potential to save money over time. It’s another innovation in HVAC systems that’s likely to become more common in the future.
Recyclable Ductwork
Recyclable ductwork is made of a triple-walled cardboard product that’s coated with a fire-retardant, waterproof veneer. It’s stronger and lighter than traditional sheet metal ductwork and requires 20 percent less insulation. The cardboard is sourced from sustainably managed forests and is 100 percent recyclable.
3D Printed Air Conditioners
While they’re rare today, 3D printed air conditioners may one day become commonplace. 3D printing technology has enjoyed rapid improvements over the last decade, so it’s not unrealistic to expect 3D printed air conditioners to become more common in the coming years. However, it’s likely that we’re still a decade or two away from seeing them become widely available.
Wearable Technology
Regardless of how well-made and innovative an HVAC system is, it will require regular maintenance to run smoothly, and this is where wearable technology comes into play. Wearable technology is an innovative way to help HVAC technicians examine and service air conditioning units quickly and efficiently.
While a variety of wearable devices are available, eyeglasses are among the most common. Should HVAC technicians need assistance when servicing a unit, these wearable devices provide them with real-time access to off-site specialists, enabling them to diagnose and fix problems more quickly.
While most of the innovations in air conditioners mentioned here aren’t widely available yet, many improvements in HVAC systems have been realized over the last decade. Whether you’re ready for an energy-saving upgrade for your home or just interested in learning more about the latest improvements in air conditioning, contact Air-Specialty today. Visit our website or give us a call at 251-415-4559.
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