Energy-efficient technology continues to see incremental gains, but one technology stands out: Ductless cooling technology is expected to see revenues grow from $3.9 billion in 2013 to more than $9 billion by 2020, according to a study by Navigant Research. That represents nearly 30 percent of total energy efficient HVAC systems revenue in 2020, said the report.
“That’s twice the growth rate of most energy efficient HVAC systems in the US,” said Bob Gohn, senior research director for Navigant.
“For these technologies–mainstream HVAC equipment–there aren’t many watershed technology shifts; it’s a slow-moving march in terms of adoption of new technologies,” he said. The basic technology stays the same, but is tweaked with small changes or smarter controls, he said.
In addition to ductless cooling, heat pumps are seeing growth. Heat pump technology is seeing a 10 percent growth rate, which is higher than average for the US and Canada.
Just as important as technology is how it’s engineered into the building, he said. “If you put in a ductless cooling system and the ventilation is poor, then it won’t be efficient,” he says.
For HVAC, the key words are slow and steady. You won’t see any big leaps in disruptive technologies—but you will see incremental advances in response to increased regulation and demand for high-efficiency products.
Find reports from Navigant here: Navigant Research
