High-end air conditioners feature an array of benefits and options to fit most consumers’ wants and needs. And while the overall a/c market is growing, according to the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute’s (AHRI’s) shipment data, the market is still dominated by entry-level product, according to Tim Brizendine, director of product management, Cooling, Lennox Intl. Inc.
“Overall, we have seen year-over-year growth on higher-efficiency models as they have come out,” he said. “That is really being driven by technology: the introduction of variable capacity units in particular. With variable capacity, not only are we getting considerable efficiency benefits, but what also comes with it are comfort benefits and the ability to maintain temperature very precisely within the space without having big swings with the systems coming on and off. There’s also a higher level of sophistication in terms of better capability to control things like humidity, so we can not only cool but dehumidify more optimally, making for a much more comfortable space.”