One of the things we often hear from HVAC contractors is that they feel left out of the smart grid conversation. However, there are many reasons why HVAC contractors can and should play a pivotal role in the smart grid industry. Perhaps one of the most compelling is that energy consumption by HVAC systems is directly correlated with electricity prices. Smart HVAC and intelligent energy storage systems also play a role in reducing electricity costs for consumers.
A smart grid is an integrated system of utilities, consumers, and distributed-energy resources that allows for two-way communications throughout the grid. The smart grid market is expected to surpass $400 billion worldwide by 2020. As a result, the expertise of HVAC contractors will only become more important with the ongoing development of smart homes, smart devices, and home automation systems integrated by the Internet of Things (IoT).