Smart HVAC systems optimize energy usage without sacrificing comfort by using data analytics and machine learning to regulate the indoor environment.

The NEWS’ annual Cooling Showcase has traditionally introduced the latest air conditioning units available for the upcoming summer season. The intent is to help contractors prepare for this busy period by doing the research that will help them to distinguish between brands. In this issue, we focus on the commercial side of the air conditioning industry.

Winners of the The NEWS’ eighth annual Dealer Design Awards’ HVAC Commercial Equipment category have brought new ideas to the commercial market that should help contractors meet the commercial challenges they face.

Heat-only, direct-fired, and indirect-fired makeup air units have been added to the company’s product line. 

The NEWS was very busy at the AHR Expo in New York City, visiting as many booths as possible in search of new products. Below is a comprehensive list of all the HVAC commercial equipment we found on the show floor.

It’s time again for the Commercial Cooling Showcase. The NEWS’ annual issue has traditionally introduced the latest air conditioning units available for the upcoming summer season. The intent is to help contractors prepare for this busy period by doing the research that will help them distinguish between brands.

The NEWS honors the 2014 Dealer Design Award winners in the HVAC Commercial Equipment category.

Across the country, school administrators are realizing the importance of good IAQ and a comfortable indoor environment, which both contribute significantly to student success. 

HVAC manufacturers share their latest heating products — including photos, specifications, warranty info, and more — in this detailed showcase.

The Magnitude^® magnetic bearing centrifugal chillers from Daikin Applied not only reduce maintenance requirements and offer increased efficiencies, according to one Dealer Design Awards judge, but they also feature nearly nonexistent compressor vibration and top-tier customer support. 

Once only found in mild climates, the technology now stretches across the U.S., thanks to advances in inverter technology and zone controls. On the other hand, the level of sophistication in these systems sometimes makes them difficult to troubleshoot when something goes wrong.

The equipment in this month’s troubleshooting situation is a split system that has only been in service for two years, but there is a lot of history — several service calls since the equipment was installed, and an on-going complaint that the system just doesn’t keep the ranch-style home comfortable.

With over 1,000 Sunday service attendees and many church activities throughout the week, energy efficiency for the sake of cost savings was critical.

The two-story lake house totals 4,600 square feet above ground and 2,000 finished square feet in the daylight basement.

The equipment in this month’s troubleshooting situation is a split system that has only been in service for two years, but there is a lot of history.

Just because an HVAC technician installs a system according to current codes and standards, it doesn’t always mean it’s safe.

Geothermal heat pumps tap into a renewable source of energy to provide comfort for a home, and HVAC contractors can tap into this market for increased sales.

Consumer awareness and opinion of heat pumps are both improving, along with the technology. Manufacturers see a strong market ahead, although some challenges remain.

Panasonic Corp. of North America is honing in on its focus to make it easier for both residential and commercial building owners to control the temperature and comfort level within the space. The company hit its targets with the introduction of two new products — the ECONAVI air conditioner and the Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) Smart Connectivity Controller.

It is 2018, and this is not your father’s rooftop equipment. The old, reliable system taking up space on the roof has become so much more.

Intuitive usability helped the CS7500 win a Gold award in The NEWS’ 2019 Dealer Design Awards in the realm of Commercial Controls.

Corporate America is making pledges to take action against climate change, which is opening up opportunities for HVAC contractors.

After six meetings, the working group reached consensus and provided recommendations for energy conservation standards, test procedures, and metrics.

A series of geothermal heat pumps from Enertech Global swept the HVAC Light Commercial Equipment category of the 2015 Dealer Design Awards, starting with the gold award winner, the TVS/TVT TETCO Commercial Series Geothermal Heat Pump.

Every year, The NEWS introduces the latest heating equipment that is available for the upcoming winter season. The intent is to help contractors prepare for this busy period by doing the research that will help them to distinguish between brands.

Nortek Global HVAC has introduced a new three-phase electric/electric packaged cooling solution. The company said the Model P8SE delivers 14 SEER cooling in capacity ranges from 3 to 5 tons in even tonnages, making it an energy-efficient choice for strip malls, restaurants, and retail stores.

The manufacturers provided all of the data included in the product grid as well as the photo feature. Therefore, any questions should be directed to them via the contact information provided in the photo feature section.

Each year, The NEWS spotlights the industry’s latest commercial heating products. The manufacturers provided us with a brief description of features included with each product.

The self-contained HOBO MX1101 wireless data logger, which works with Onset’s free HOBOmobile App for logger setup and data management, enables the user to access data over a 100-foot range, at any time, from an iOS mobile device. 

The HOBO MX1102 data logger records and wirelessly transmits CO₂, temperature, and relative humidity data to mobile devices via Bluetooth Smart.

The Extech TH30, RHT30, and RHT35 compact dataloggers are designed to provide HVACR professionals with easy access to real-time temperature, humidity, and barometric pressure readings as well as insights compiled from extended readings preformatted in Excel or PDF report formats. Users can set and forget the dataloggers with a customizable recording rate from once every 30 seconds to once every two hours, and it holds a capacity of up to 48,000 combined total readings with date and time stamps.

Investing in the right tools will save your employees’ time and avoid delaying repairs in the rush of summer.

Learn how HVAC companies can increase retention by giving their employees a stake in the company’s success through phantom stock plans.

Selling products online is a whole new ball game. So, contractors will want to learn about their consumers buying journeys, and thoughtfully consider how to launch the online store, what products to sell, and how to market it.

With the demand for new homes skyrocketing, more HVAC businesses are opening to meet demand, according to two new reports.

Commercial heating equipment manufacturers are rolling out new systems that are energy efficient, as well as service friendly for contractors.

Here in the Santa Fe, New Mexico, area — and all across the nation, it seems — everyone wants to be “green.”

BIM technology has proven to be highly expedient for several HVAC plans, especially in terms of cost efficiency, time optimization, and effective planning.

There is a new term making its way into the commercial controls arena: digital twin.

HVAC has a critical role to play in the future of building automation and digitalization.

Here are some of the top benefits of commercial HVAC automation and how new technology may soon make automated systems even more valuable.

Trends at this year’s AHR Expo within commercial controls and building automation were improving energy efficiency, making buildings more adaptable, streamlining workflow to make things easier for HVACR contractors, and a greater emphasis on cybersecurity and digitization.

The lab is designed to give students hands-on experience that will help them bridge the gap between classroom instruction and the needs of employers.

Dick Foster has been preaching the positives of zoning for years. As the owner of ZoneFirst, he has dedicated his life and career to this technology, and it has been a bit of an uphill battle.

Customer comfort is the top sales driver in the HVAC industry, or at least it should be.

How many of standard HVAC sales include add-ons like a humidifier, air cleaner, HRV/ERV, UV lights, or zoning?

If zoning technology was available before the pandemic, why has it taken so long for it to become an option that homeowners now consider?

For years, ZoneFirst President Dick Foster has used the light-switches-in-the-home comparison while promoting the benefits of zoning. At their AHR Expo booth, they introduced a product that brought new meaning to that comparison.

With cost reduction, sustainability enablement, increased comfort and performance benefits, VRF systems allow commercial buildings to gain a competitive advantage by reducing their carbon footprint and providing custom comfort to occupants.

Hybrid systems offer a pathway that balances environmental concerns with practical considerations, ensuring a more sustainable and feasible transition towards cleaner energy sources.