In 1965, 10 percent of homes in the U.S. had air conditioning. By 2007, that number was up to 86 percent. A lot has changed in that time. HVAC systems are now easier to use, provide better comfort, and use less energy. The technology has advanced considerably, even just in the last decade.
Here are some of the most recent changes that are making HVAC history.
Smart Thermostats
Programmable thermostats let you set your HVAC system around your family’s schedule. Smart thermostats take things a step further. By interfacing with the Internet of Things, they connect your HVAC system to your mobile device. This way, you can set your home’s temperature from anywhere.
Additionally, the system can monitor local weather forecasts and temperature changes, and use that data to help you maintain your home comfort level. It can even send messages directly to your phone when there’s a problem with your HVAC, letting you know where the trouble is, what needs to be done, and whether or not you need to call a technician for repairs.
Energy Efficiency
Most modern A/Cs use some form of liquid coolant. That coolant is evaporated into a vapor, then condensed back into a liquid, absorbing the heat from the surrounding air in the process. It’s been known for years that this method is problematic for the environment and uses a significant amount of energy.
The previous industry standard, R-22 coolant, has been replaced in new A/C units by more environmentally friendly alternatives, such as R-410a. However, in 2015, the Department of Energy began an initiative to eliminate coolant altogether. Instead, they’re developing non-vapor compression technologies. They’re researching several possible options.
Thermoelastic damping uses special alloys that absorb the heat from the area around it and release it, thus making the air cooler. While magnetocaloric cooling uses magnetic fields to lower the surrounding temperature. These and other potential cooling innovations could reduce current HVAC energy usage by half.
To learn more about HVAC history (and its future), contact us at Mowery Heating, Cooling and Plumbing. We provide quality home comfort solutions to the Indianapolis area.
