“An increasing population with higher disposable incomes is helping to expand the a/c thermostat market in Asia,” said William Rhodes, senior market analyst for the building technologies group at IHS. “Owning an a/c unit is cheaper than owning a car and is seen as a status symbol for an aspiring middle class. Meanwhile in EMEA and the Americas, the a/c thermostat market is being driven by increasingly hot and humid summers.”

The majority of the a/c systems currently used in North America are ducted split systems, said the report. It pointed out; however, that across the rest of the world and particularly in Asia, Japanese-style ductless mini-split systems seem to be preferred.

“Mini-split systems are often thought to be more flexible for interior design and avoid the energy losses associated with ductwork for rooms that do not require air conditioning, such as attics,” Rhodes noted. “The rising popularity of mini-split systems is driving the trend toward infrared (IR) thermostats that control the indoor-air-handling unit. In some office environments for example, one IR thermostat can control up to four indoor units.”