The very invention of air conditioner was enough to separate the civilized world from the developed one. Any modern city today will have some form of heating and cooling system installed in most if not all of its businesses. As with everything today, it’s difficult not to ask: what will this look like in the future? Things change and develop so quickly that flip phones are now an antiquated relic of what seems the past century. HVAC systems are just as affected by the rapid acceleration of technology that every other industry is seeing. So what does the future hold in store for us? How will AI play a role in all of this?
The Future is Already Here
It seems like a funny thing to say, but the truth is that smart home technologies are already advancing at a phenomenal rate. In recent years, many people in America have been making the switch to refrigerated air because of the energy savings. In 2017, the U.S Energy Information Administration reported that about 41% of American households had a programmable thermostat. Not many of these households, however, were taking full advantage of these features.
Smart Thermostats
One of the most pronounced changes people have seen in the HVAC industry in recent years is the combination of smart technology and their home appliances. Today, many smart thermostats are controlled via smartphones, which adds a layer of convenience to people’s heating and cooling system. The smart technology, however, is about more than just convenience. Much of today’s applications are used for added energy efficiency and savings as well as increased performance and longevity of your systems.
Artificial Intelligence has made its way to many of these applications. For example, some of today’s smart thermostats actually learn and adapt to patterns of usage in the home. This means that if you normally wake up at 7 a.m., leave the house at 9, and return at 5, your thermostat will learn these patterns and adapt accordingly. It might turn on at 6:30 to warm up the house for when you get out of bed and shut off at 9 to save energy when you are not home. You can also control this via your smartphone.
There is tremendous cost saving potential in taking advantage of these systems and adopting smart technology in HVAC systems. Today’s HVAC systems are also far more energy friendly than many older systems. Many receive an Energy Star rating from the Environmental Protection Agency, a label that promises a certain amount of energy efficiency and savings from the units themselves.
Step Into the Future with Mechanical Technologies
Here at Mechanical Technologies, we stay on top of the industry changes and innovations so we can bring you the best service. We use the leading brand names in AC units and provide regular maintenance to ensure that your systems are up to date and working properly. Give us a call today.
