According to the most recent report from Heating, Air-conditioning, and Refrigeration Distributors International (HARDI), average sales for its distributor members increased by by 12.2 percent in January 2017, and the average annualized growth fort he 12 months through January 2016 was 9.2 percent.
As contractors become better versed on the benefits of ductless technology, they play a key role in educating homeowners as to why duct-free technology may be a better solution in terms of efficiency and design flexibility.
With energy prices due to rise, customers are looking for high-efficiency furnaces that will reduce their energy bills while still providing optimal comfort. They also want smart, user-friendly controls that will allow them to monitor and adjust their systems whenever and wherever they want.
Early last year, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) issued a final rule amending the minimum efficiency standards for residential boilers, which will go into effect Jan. 15, 2021. In addition, the DOE amended its test procedure for residential boilers.
While ductless heat pumps have grabbed the spotlight in recent years, central air-source heat pumps still remain popular, as evidenced by the new products on display at the AHR Expo.
Today, many homeowners trust the opinions of their contractors, but more often than not, they also do some research of their own online before making decisions about their purchases.
Not only has VRF technology been widely accepted by contractors and end users alike, virtually every major U.S. manufacturer is now offering these systems, as well.
Sales of VRF systems continue to rise unabated, leading many to predict their shipments will increase by double digits annually for the foreseeable future.
The scale of energy consumption may be more of a surprise, though, as estimates show that data center spaces can consume up to 100-200 times as much electricity as standard office spaces. With that large amount of power being used by a growing number of data centers, the pressure is on to implement energy-efficient design measures that can save money and reduce electricity use.