Equipment
HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning)
Definition
The system that regulates indoor temperature, humidity, and air quality in commercial buildings. HVAC encompasses heating equipment (boilers, furnaces, heat pumps), cooling equipment (chillers, DX units, rooftop units), ventilation (fans, air handlers, ERVs), and their controls.
Why It Matters for Your Business
HVAC is the largest single energy consumer in most commercial buildings, typically representing 40–60% of total electricity use. HVAC optimization — through better controls, equipment upgrades, and recommissioning — consistently delivers the highest-ROI energy efficiency projects.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much energy does commercial HVAC use?
According to the DOE, HVAC accounts for approximately 40% of energy use in commercial buildings on average. This varies significantly by climate, building type, and system age.
What are the biggest HVAC efficiency opportunities?
Recommissioning (fixing control issues), VFD installation on fans/pumps, economizer optimization, HVAC scheduling via BAS/EMS, upgrading aging rooftop units, and upgrading to high-efficiency heat pumps.