One of the most obvious effects of commercial IoT, in terms of HVAC systems, is convergence of technology: bringing different systems within the building together into one ecosystem.
It started with smart thermostats. Now, in today’s world of smartphones, smart speakers, and Wi-Fi connections in 89 percent of U.S. households (as of 2017), smart homes are expanding in scope beyond heating and cooling controls — the first major foray into the smart-home concept — as manufacturers work to keep up with customer demand for continuous connection.
Now in its 15th year, the contest features 39 new and innovative products across 13 categories. The categories span an assortment of critical HVACR aspects, such as residential controls, ventilation products, refrigeration, components and accessories, and more.
The 2018 Dealer Design Awards (DDA) contest featured a wide-array of contractor-oriented HVACR products with features that assist in installation, maintenance, and service. These products showcase the best that HVAC has to offer and include everything from large-scale commercial rooftop units to hand tools.
Driving its commitment to future-ready open platforms for smart home innovations, LG announced that nearly all of its indoor variable refrigerant flow (VRF) HVAC units are now Wi-Fi enabled and compatible with LG's SmartThinQ® technology.
If the right business model is deployed, a connected home division can be extremely lucrative. It offers the equivalent of mailbox money or insurance residual income for HVAC contractors. Even better, the revenue will only grow over time and is unrelated to seasonal demand.
With the growing interest in smart home products, if HVAC contractors want to cash in on new opportunities, they’ll have to compete with security contractors, cable providers, utilities, and even big box stores. However, many industry experts say this market presents countless opportunities for HVAC contractors, who are better positioned than most simply because they are already in the home and have the consumers’ trust.
Smart tools continue to grow in the HVACR industry, spurring manufacturers to create connected, digital devices that will make work in the field less manual and more automatic.
This rooftop unit (RTU) is connected with Symbio™ 800, a flexible controller designed to improve the customer experience at installation and throughout the life of the system.