Energy efficiency hot topic in HVAC industry

The biggest potential for growth in the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) industry lies in energy efficiency, as a great deal of research and development is going into variable-speed drives (VSDs) because they can cut a chiller’s yearly energy use by up to 30%, says HVAC company Johnson Controls GM Neil Cameron. “VSDs on the compressors in the chillers are becoming standard, even in smaller chillers. More buildings are spending less time at full-load conditions and it is important how chillers adapt to load changes in a building. VSDs use less energy because the compressor speed can be reduced to match the load.”