An estimated 37 per cent of building professionals do not include HVAC systems in their current plans for improving efficiency or reducing carbon impact.
Despite the growing push for sustainable building practices, building professionals reported that HVAC systems are currently excluded from their efficiency or carbon reduction plans, highlighting a critical gap in strategies aimed at lowering energy costs and environmental impact.
These findings are from a study which surveyed a diverse group of building developers, owners, operators, and general contractors.
The study, which provided insights into the complex dynamics influencing HVAC decisions and the potential benefits of adopting smart building technologies, was commissioned by AIIR a provider of AI-powered heating and cooling solutions.
It is the second HVAC industry study undertaken by AIIR.
It found the most significant hurdles in HVAC adoption were installation, cost and maintenance.
More than 60 per cent of respondents expressed interest in AI-driven solutions to boost energy efficiency and 82 per cent of participants agreed that investing in energy efficient upgrades could increase property value.
The research comes as commercial and residential property owners face rising utility costs, which is why HVAC professionals recognise the value of smart technology and AI as pivotal tools for enhancing operational efficiency, cutting costs, and improving occupant comfort.
AIIR president, Trevor Schick, said this latest study underscores both the challenges and the opportunities within the HVAC industry.
“By empowering property owners and developers with AI-powered systems, we aim to support a shift toward smarter, more sustainable infrastructure,” he said.
The AIIR Intelligent HVAC system is the company’s flagship product. It is an AI-powered solution which combines real-time environmental and occupancy data to deliver optimised energy use and comfort.
AIIR claims the system achieves 30 per cent greater energy efficiency over traditional systems.
According to the HVAC factsheet released by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment & Water, HVAC is a major energy user in all building types.
In a typical office building HVAC accounts for approximately 40 per cent of total building energy consumption and 70 per cent of base building energy consumption.
Capital and maintenance costs for these systems also comprise a high portion of overall building costs.
Improving HVAC efficiency can therefore have a big impact on the bottom line by reducing energy use, maintenance costs and peak demand charges