by Brianna Crandall — July 23, 2014—The consumption of energy for heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems in commercial buildings represents a key contribution to total global energy use, notes a new report from Navigant Research. Although advanced controls technology for HVAC systems is mature, adoption of the newest technologies remains relatively low, and HVAC controls retrofits can provide a compelling value proposition through reduced energy consumption in existing buildings.
According to the new report, shipments of advanced controls devices for HVAC in commercial buildings will grow from 33.8 million units in 2014 to 70.4 million in 2023. The report can be helpful for facilities managers and other building professionals to see what types of devices are trending as they look to improve the efficiency of their systems.
Such devices include a variety of sensors, controllers, and thermostats that assist with the efficient management of commercial HVAC systems. Navigant Research forecasts that the largest device categories over the coming decade, in terms of unit shipments, will be temperature sensors, airflow sensors, variable air volume or terminal controllers, fan coil unit controllers, and CO2 sensors.
“Networked digital controls for HVAC systems have been available for many years, but much of the existing building stock is still dependent on older technologies,” says Benjamin Freas, research analyst with Navigant Research. “New building certification and benchmarking regulations are driving faster retrofits of controls in existing buildings, and changing how automation is designed into new buildings.”
Future economic growth presents a primary uncertainty for this segment. The advanced HVAC controls market remains very dependent on rates of new construction and building renovation, which in turn are driven by the overall economic conditions in each world region. The market has been negatively affected by the 2008 financial crisis, and is only now beginning to experience a modest but accelerating recovery, according to the report.
“Advanced HVAC Controls” analyzes the global market for remote advanced HVAC controls, with a focus on the following components: sensors, field devices, floor-level controllers, and building-level controllers. The study provides an analysis of the market issues, including drivers and barriers, regional trends, and the supplier landscape, associated with advanced HVAC controls.
The report also examines the major technology trends and advances related to HVAC controls, and profiles the key industry players. Global market forecasts for shipments and revenue, segmented by region, device type, and building type, extend through 2023. An Executive Summary of the report is available for free download on the Navigant Research Web site.
