Instead of turning off at the target temperature and turning back on when the temperature rises or falls outside a preset range, inverter HVAC units operate continuously, varying their output to maintain a constant temperature. Compared to single-speed HVAC systems, inverter systems are more energy efficient, more compact, feature quieter operation, and provide superior comfort due to their ability to control an environment’s temperature more precisely. Demand for these new solutions is growing: the market for HVAC inverter solutions is expected to nearly double from 2020 to 2025, from $17.6 billion to $31.9 billion. Additionally, the residential integration market shows no signs of slowing down, as market size is estimated to reach $22.7 billion by the end of 2022.

Despite the impressive growth within both markets, deploying solutions from these categories together currently negates the benefits of both: integrating a home automation platform to an inverter system prevents key inverter features from working, significantly reducing the energy efficiency of the unit.

Because HVAC inverter system protocols and home automation platform APIs are incompatible, HVAC inverter systems downgrade to single-speed operation when paired together. The hallmark benefits of inverter solutions — efficiency, energy savings, and climate control performance — are completely lost. The Aidoo Pro brings the HVAC and IoT worlds together, preserving inverter functionality while meeting consumer demands for smart control.

Airzone Solutions Bridge the Gap Between IoT and HVAC

The Airzone Aidoo Pro is a simple-to-install system add-on that sits between the HVAC system and IoT control devices such as home automation platforms, third-party smart thermostats, and voice assistants. Airzone’s library of manufacturer-certified HVAC protocols enables full two-way communication between the Aidoo Pro, the HVAC solution, and certain home automation platforms. The Aidoo Pro receives temperature control data via API, interprets it, and then sends the appropriate commands to the inverter unit via manufacturer-certified protocol. The inverter continues to function at a variable rate, preserving the comfort and efficiency of the system.

The Aidoo Pro has manufacturer-certified HVAC protocols from brands including Daikin, Fujitsu, Hitachi, LG, Mitsubishi, and Panasonic. Further advancing the library of certified protocols, Airzone announced the availability of drivers developed for Crestron, Control4, ELAN, Lutron, and Savant to bridge the gap between the HVAC world and the world of IoT and home control.

“No other system in the home consumes more energy, or is more central to resident’s comfort than HVAC, yet it remains an underrated category among professional integrators, often seen as too messy or complex to successfully integrate,” said Antonio Mediato, founder and CEO of Airzone. “With our certified HVAC and home automation protocols, Aidoo Pro offers system integrators a unique, lucrative, and untapped opportunity to add a new level of connectivity into their solutions portfolio. Through Airzone, seamless HVAC integration is now possible, and hassle-free.”