Dual Fuel Heat Pump Technology

Dual Fuel Heat Pump Technology – Efficient HVAC

This advanced HVAC technology utilizes a combination of a gas furnace and a heat pump to
provide efficient, cost-effective heating and cooling. If the outdoor temperature is above 35
degrees, the heat pump utilizes electricity to pull in heat from the outside air.
Strength:

5 Reason Why a Dual Fuel Heat Pump is Worth It

 Efficiency – Individually, an electric heat pump and a gas furnace have their pros and
cons, but joining them in one system provides the benefits of both. While an air-source
heat pump is an efficient heating source (providing three times the heat energy as the
electric power that goes into the system), it will struggle to provide comfortable heating
when temperatures fall below freezing. This is why a backup heating source is standard
equipment in most air-source heat pumps. It kicks on when the heat pump can no longer
extract sufficient heat energy from the outside air, to bring inside.
 Comfortable – Heat pump heating is perfectly comfortable during moderate winter
temperatures. However, when it gets cold outside, a dual-fuel heat pump will switch over
to the gas furnace. As most of us are aware, a gas furnace can quickly take the chill off
your home and turn it cozy and warm.
 Versatile – While the switchover to emergency heating is usually automatic, in most
dual-fuel systems, you can activate the emergency heating manually as well. This means
if you decide that you’d prefer gas heating during even moderate temperatures, you have
that option. With natural gas relatively cheap these days, that might not be a bad
economic decision.
 Cost-effective – With the option of either electricity or gas, you can use the fuel source
that’s the most economical, as well as comfortable.
 Environmentally friendly – With the electric heat pump likely working around 85
percent of the time and the gas around 15 percent, you’re using the most environmentally
friendly and efficient fuel source most of the time.
Weakness:

One of the disadvantages of the dual fuel system is a somewhat higher up-front cost since
you're essentially getting two efficient heating systems in one. However, most of our customer
are pleasantly surprised that the up-front cost is nominal for the lifetime of efficient heating they
are getting.

Opportunities:

Improved Comfort
In addition to the energy savings, dual-fuel systems have a reputation for providing even, reliable
comfort throughout your home. Because the heat pump can switch easily between cooling and
heating, you do not have to balance your heater and AC usage manually – your system does it for
you.

References:

1. Dual Fuel Heat Pump Technology – Efficient HVAC May 6, 2020 https://cielowigle.com › blog ›
hvac-technology
2. 5 Reason Why a Dual Fuel Heat Pump is Worth It November 4, 2020
https://gopaschal.com/dual-fuel-heat-pump/
3. 3. Disadvantages January 29, 2019

4. What Is a Dual Fuel System? - Arise Services https://ariseservices.com › what-is-a-dual-fuel-

system

5. The Benefits of Dual-Fuel Systems June 14, 2021 By Valley Heating, Cooling, Electrical and
Solar https://www.valleyheating.com/blog/2021/june/the-benefits-of-dual-fuel-systems/
6. https://images.app.goo.gl/DjhkWHF1iQFWJNQq8
Smart HVAC

The Internet of Things is growing, enabling the systems and appliances we use most to
communicate with us in new ways. HVAC trends are beginning to incorporate these capabilities.
Imagine your HVAC system alerting you when it needs a repair or routine maintenance check—
even scheduling the appointment on its own. Remote capabilities are available to control your
facility’s HVAC system from anywhere. New or added sensors in the thermostat, compressor or
other areas can help regulate how the system should run, when it is really needed and where. All
technologies aimed at running the system more efficiently and saving money.

Strength of Smart HVAC

With smart Wi-Fi connected HVAC integrated systems, a major advantage of using these types
of technologies is that they we can remotely troubleshoot the heating or cooling system before
calling it escalates into a serious issue. On many units, this can be accomplished on both the
control panel for the unit and remotely via the mobile app. These devices can monitor the
operation of such components as blowers, condensers, compressors, and fans, alerting you to
issues before they become hazardous. 

 Smart HVAC systems allow demand control, by improving the response of systems to the
heating, cooling, and ventilation needs.
 Smart systems can also embed, in addition to sensors, learning algorithms in order to
better fit with users’ behavior or building's use.
  Another strength of smart systems is their ability to communicate information about their
operation, energy consumption, energy efficiency and potential problems.

Intelligent HVAC Systems

We are moving towards an age where technological advances have altered every facet of our
lives. The HVAC industry has become one of the fastest technologically evolving industries.
Manufacturers have become more innovative in designing heating, cooling, and ventilation
products. Commercial HVAC systems and controls are getting smarter and more efficient. 

Commercial building operators are busy and managing a number of competing priorities. Wi-Fi
thermostat for commercial buildings. An example here shows a touch-screen thermostat allows
for control of a building’s heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system from
anywhere in the world - from within their facility, or via smartphone, tablet or computer.

Integrated HVAC systems

There is a growing trend for HVAC systems that are integrated into the design and construction
of a building. This means that HVAC systems are now required to be integrated in a meaningful
way with the mechanical systems of a building and consequently into the building management
system that controls lighting, water or security. These mechanical systems can be integrated into
one point of control and be managed on one panel making it easy and convenient for building
owners to monitor energy use.

As the industry embraces smart solutions, systems not only allow users to control their air
conditioning units remotely on the smart devices but also help create a program for preventative
maintenance. A variety of major HVAC manufacturers sell HVAC units that may be controlled
and monitored by an app on a mobile device. With this technology, a network of sensors and
touchscreen wi-fi thermostats can continuously monitor and control the ambient temperature
throughout the facility and improve the indoor air quality of the building. All the while allowing
data to be collected to facilitate a better program of planned preventative maintenance by Alpha
Mechanical, this saves on energy bills, reduces overall costs by not heating or cooling beyond
requirements and saves on maintenance and/or expensive repairs.

The goal of smart HVAC is to have a system that compiles and utilizes all of the data from
what’s going on in a building, that keeps everything properly cooled/heated, saves money, and
mitigates any issues associated with usage. 

1. Comfort and Convenience: Smart ACs make it convenient for you to control the
temperature of your home from anywhere, with just a tap on your smartphone or tablet.
These air conditioners also automatically restore their settings after the restart, saving you
the effort of doing it manually. This function also prevents your system from a
breakdown that may be caused due to voltage fluctuations. You can also make your home
temperature comfortable for you, even before reaching from with the help of apps on
 your smart device. Smart ACs also come with modes that adjust the temperature as per
your sleep patterns and climate. 
2. Connectivity: You can also connect your smart AC to your smart home systems and
these systems can lower your blinds, turn the lights on or off, and even turn on your AC
at minimal temperature to get a satisfactory atmosphere in your home. Virtual AI
assistants like Alexa, Siri, and Google Assistant help in running your smart home systems
and you can also control your AC with voice commands by connecting it to these
assistants. 
3. Cost and energy efficiency: Smart air conditioners help in saving energy as you can set
your temperature preferences and they automatically slow down after reaching your
desired temperature. Also, they can automatically turn off based on your distance from
your home with the help of geolocation, in case you forgot to shut it down. You can even
set a schedule for your AC on a daily or weekly basis and get your desired temperature
and keep the system turned off when not needed without having to remember everything
every time. The app used for operating your air conditioner allows you to keep a track of
the energy usage by your system and you can even pre-set energy consumption limits.
Besides saving on cost and energy, these functionalities of your air conditioner also help
in increasing its efficiency and increase its lifespan. 
4. Error diagnosis and preventive maintenance: The app allows you to track the usage of
your smart air conditioner and also predicts when it will need clean-up and/or
maintenance. The predictions are made on the basis of your ACs usage and the app will
send you notifications and reminders whenever there is a need for your AC to get tuned
up. 
5. Reduced carbon footprint: Air conditioners release carbon dioxide while running and
they are harmful to our environment. Though the Smart ACs also release carbon dioxide,
they have a lower carbon footprint than a conventional air conditioner. You can program
the Smart AC to work only when needed and also to run at the lowest fan setting,
reducing carbon emission. Using a Smart AC as a thermostat also helps in saving carbon
emissions, and thus reducing our carbon footprint. 

Weakness of Smart HVAC

These are some of the cons or disadvantages of a Smart Air Conditioner that you should consider
before making any decision about your air conditioner: 

1. Expensive: Being relatively new in the market, Smart Air Conditioners are a little
expensive. The price of the AC varies based on its type like wall-mounted, window-
mounted, or portable. Even the size of the air conditioner is an important factor in
deciding the price.
2. Requirement of multiple units: Also, these air conditioners don’t work centrally, and
thus you will have to get multiple units to cool your entire home or office. 
3. Installation: Installation of a Smart AC is a difficult task, and the difficulty level is also
based on the type of system you choose for yourself. These systems take up ample
valuable space in your home. 
Opportunities of Smart HVAC

Benefits of Having a Smart HVAC System If you’re still confused about what good a smart
HVAC system has to offer, then we’ll jump straight to the benefits it provides.

1. Low Energy Costs

Even before summers arrive, homeowners become more worried about the increased electric
bills than the scorching heat of the sun. With a smart HVAC system, you can greatly reduce
your air conditioning bills. Smart AC units offer features such as geofencing and weekly
scheduling that prevent your air conditioner from running at all times. Additionally, Comfy
Mode allows users to set temperature or humidity triggers. Using these features, your air
conditioner runs at the lowest possible setting without compromising efficiency.

If we talk in numbers, then smart controllers can save you as much as 25% energy costs each
year. These energy savings are achieved by reducing the power at which your AC unit runs and
setting the lowest possible setting to achieve your set temperature by optimizing different
operating modes. With this much saving, a smart AC controller would cover its own price in less
than a year. Therefore, you won’t regret this investment at all.

2. Increased Efficiency
After reading about the energy savings offered by a smart HVAC system, you must be
wondering that all these savings would mean a compromised cooling on a hot day. No,
you’re totally wrong! Smart AC units do not stop working to amplify your savings.
Instead, they work intelligently. Let’s consider a scenario! When summer is at its peak,
you might want to leave your AC on all day so that you don’t come to a burning room
temperature after a hectic day. Even if you don’t leave it on, you’d have to run it in full
swing to regulate the temperature when you get back. However, if you own a smart
HVAC system, your air conditioner would know your location and turn it on minutes
before you arrive home. This way, you won’t ever return to a hot, humid environment
after a tiring day at work. Moreover, location-based controls turn your AC off when you
leave your home in case you forget to do so manually.

3. Better Control
Smart HVAC systems make your life super convenient. With the help of automated
modes, you don’t have to change the temperatures throughout the day. The best part is
that you can set schedules and forget about changing temperatures at all. You can set
weekly or daily schedules. Your air conditioner will be set to your desired settings before
your go to bed, before you wake up or before you get back home. If you have kids or pets
at home, you can control the temperature remotely through the app using your
smartphone. Not just that, but if you always struggle to maintain indoor humidity levels,
then using a smart controller, you can even set humidity triggers.
If you own a vacation rental, you can use Freeze Protection mode to prevent your pipes from
bursting during extreme weather conditions.

4. Comfortable Environment
If you have to reach out for the AC remote every now and then because it either gets too
hot or too cold, then owning a smart HVAC system will change your life. Smart ACs can
read the room temperature and learn your preferences over time, making changes on their
own to maintain your ideal indoor temperature. Moreover, using smart controllers, you
can create different zones. Zones allow you to have personalized temperature settings for
different rooms as per the individual needs of your family members. A smart HVAC
system can be paired with your smart home systems like Amazon Alexa, Google Home,
or Samsung SmartThings providing connectivity with other smart home devices and even
voice-control compatibility. This way, different smart home devices can work in
conjunction with each other.

5. Reduced Carbon Footprint

Air conditioners use 6% of the overall energy produced in the US, releasing
approximately 117 million metric tons of carbon dioxide into the air each year. With the
effects of climate change and increased temperatures every year, the number is only
growing. This is an alarming situation and requires our active role to reduce our carbon
footprint. True that smart ACs also contribute towards carbon emissions, but since air
conditioning cannot be eliminated from our lives, at least at this point, we can only work
to reduce its usage. Smarts HVAC systems offer great help in this regard. Unlike
conventional ACs, they can be programmed to run only when needed saving a lot of
energy and carbon emission. It goes without saying that smart HVAC systems take your
lifestyle to another level. It has never been this easy to maintain your ideal temperature
while simultaneously reducing electric bills. We’re sure after reading this article you’re
all set to make your life easy by owning a smart HVAC system.

Threats in Smart HVAC

Smart HVAC systems vulnerable to being controlled by hackers through cyber attacks. Like
other connected devices, smart HVAC systems could also possibly be hacked. If attackers take
over controls of HVAC systems, in the worst case, cities would break down and private data
would be stolen.

References:
 1. Smart HVAC Sources: http://www.link-labs.com/smart-hvac/
2. https://images.app.goo.gl/tEknppbWvs8SwAhF9
3. October 26, 2018 https://www.alphamech.ie/news/how-alpha-mechanical-ltd-use-smart-
commercial-hvac-technology/2018/10
4. What are the Pros and Cons of a Smart AC? by Sangeeta Singh
https://www.mrright.in/ideas/appliances/ac/what-are-the-pros-and-cons-of-a-smart-ac/
5. The Benefits of a Smart HVAC System
Read more at: https://gineersnow.com/industries/hvac-r/the-benefits-of-a-smart-hvac-
system https://gineersnow.com/industries/hvac-r/the-benefits-of-a-smart-hvac-system
6. Smart HVAC
https://www.asmag.com › showpost Oct 27, 2019

Sustainable Building Design

New buildings are now being designed with sustainability in mind. This is a new movement
referred to as green building design, green construction or sustainable building design. The
building’s HVAC system is a major component in sustainable building design, as heating and
cooling systems are a major source of building energy consumption. Sustainable design has
caused architects to rethink ventilation systems, using more natural airflow to reduce energy
costs. It might also choose different building materials that keep the building at a more constant
temperature to start with, reducing the need for high-powered HVAC. HVAC systems in green
buildings are likely to have alternative power sources as well.

Geothermal HVAC

Geothermal HVAC systems consist of a system of pipes buried underground, called an earth
loop. While the ambient air temperatures outside rise and fall with the changing seasons, ground
temperatures remain pretty constant when you’re more than about six feet below the surface.
Geothermal heating and cooling systems take advantage of this consistency to heat and cool your
building. Water is run through the underground pipes. As the water travels through the ground, it
is heated (or cooled, depending on the time of year) by the ground’s constant temperature. An
indoor unit uses a fan, compressor and pump to deliver the temperate air through the building.

What are the Advantages of Using Geothermal?

1. Environmentally Friendly

Geothermal energy is more environmentally friendly than conventional fuel sources such as coal
and other fossil fuels. In addition, the carbon footprint of a geothermal power plant is low. While
there is some pollution associated with geothermal energy, this is relatively minimal when
compared to fossil fuels.

2. Renewable

Geothermal energy is a source of renewable energy that will last until the Earth is destroyed by
the sun in around 5 billion years. The hot reservoirs within the Earth are naturally replenished,
making it both renewable and sustainable.

3. Huge Potential

Worldwide energy consumption is currently around 15 terawatts, which is far from the total
potential energy available from geothermal sources. While we can’t currently use most reservoirs
there is a hope that the number of exploitable geothermal resources will increase with ongoing
research and development in the industry. It is currently estimated that geothermal power plants
could provide between 0.0035 and 2 terawatts of power.

4. Sustainable / Stable

Geothermal provides a reliable source of energy as compared to other renewable resources such
as wind and solar power. This is because the resource is always available to be tapped into,
unlike with wind or solar energy.

5. Heating and Cooling

Effective use of geothermal for electricity generation requires water temperatures of over 150°C
to drive turbines. Alternatively, the temperature difference between the surface and a ground
source can be used. Due to the ground being more resistant to seasonal heat changes than the air,
it can act as a heat sink/ source with a geothermal heat pump just two metres below the surface.

6. Reliable

Energy generated from this resource is easy to calculate since it does not fluctuate in the same
way as other energy sources, such as solar and wind. This means we can predict the power
output from a geothermal plant with a high degree of accuracy.

7. No Fuel Required

Since geothermal energy is a naturally occurring resource there is no fuel required, such as with
fossil fuels that are a finite resource which needs mining or otherwise extracting from the earth.

8. Rapid Evolution

There is a great deal of exploration into geothermal energy at the moment, meaning that new
technologies are being created to improve the energy process. There are an increasing number of
projects to improve and grow this area of industry. With this rapid evolution many of the current
cons of geothermal energy will be mitigated against.

What are the Disadvantages of Geothermal Energy?

1. Location Restricted

The largest single disadvantage of geothermal energy is that it is location specific. Geothermal
plants need to be built in places where the energy is accessible, which means that some areas are
not able to exploit this resource. Of course, this is not a problem if you live in a place where
geothermal energy is readily accessible, such as Iceland.
2. Environmental Side Effects

Although geothermal energy does not typically release greenhouse gases, there are many of these
gases stored under the Earth’s surface which are released into the atmosphere during digging.
While these gases are also released into the atmosphere naturally, the rate increases near
geothermal plants. However, these gas emissions are still far lower than those associated with
fossil fuels.

3. Earthquakes

Geothermal energy also runs the risk of triggering earthquakes. This is due to alterations in the
Earth’s structure as a result of digging. This problem is more prevalent with enhanced
geothermal power plants, which force water into the Earth’s crust to open up fissures to greater
exploitation of the resource. However, since most geothermal plants are away from population
centres, the implications of these earthquakes are relatively minor.

4. High Costs

Geothermal energy is an expensive resource to tap into, with price tags ranging from around $2-
$7 million for a plant with a 1 megawatt capacity. However, where the upfront costs are high, the
outlay can be recouped as part of a long-term investment.

5. Sustainability

In order to maintain the sustainability of geothermal energy fluid needs to be pumped back into
the underground reservoirs faster than it is depleted. This means that geothermal energy needs to
be properly managed to maintain its sustainability.

It is important for industry to assess the geothermal energy pros and cons in order to take account
of the advantages while mitigating against any potential problems.

References:

1. Advantages and Disadvantages of Geothermal HVAC

https://www.twi-global.com/technical-knowledge/faqs/geothermal-energy/pros-and-
cons
2. https://images.app.goo.gl/uiS3w9mFm4G94Tny7

Solar HVAC

Solar HVAC systems can be installed in new construction or retrofitted to existing buildings.
These systems use solar paneling to absorb both heat (thermal energy) and light energy from the
sun. For heating applications, the thermal energy is used to heat a fluid, usually a mixture of
water and antifreeze, which then runs through a heat exchanger. This creates the heated air that
warms the building. If your building has an existing air conditioning system it can be refitted to
be solar powered— that is, solar power is used to generate the electricity needed to run the
system. New applications might opt for a solar cooling system. These systems employ an
evaporative cooling method, where the air is cooled simply by the evaporation of contained
water.

STRENGTHS

 Modular design: customisable length allows for easy and architecturally appealing
integration into roof and facade
 Low-weight ensures trouble-free handling during transport and installation
 Collector roof or facade installation without the requirement for an HVAC specialist;
rather, can be set up by any skilled building envelope installer
 Cost reduction thanks to methods for processing polymer materials, installation of non-
pressurised collector and implementation of simple drainback solar loop design
 Environmentally friendly owing to use of water as heat transfer fluid

WEAKNESSES

 Non-pressurised collector and solar loop have yet to be very common and are met with
scepticism by heating industry
 Non-pressurised collectors are not directly compatible with conventional solar system
components
 Drainback collector loop design in high-rise buildings requires solar pump with
significantly higher electricity consumption compared to conventional solar thermal
systems

OPPORTUNITIES

 Successful integration examples could inspire architects and decision-makers to adopt

solution
 European directives and global agreements on lowering carbon emissions in construction
sector are fertile ground for cost-effective RES solutions
THREATS

 Scepticism or little knowledge regarding high-performance polymers might hinder

market adoption
 National or regional building regulations prevent integration of certain polymer materials
into building envelope
 Competing technologies become increasingly cost-competitive

References:
1. https://www.grainger.com/content/supplylink-5-trends-reshaping-hvac-industry
2. https://images.app.goo.gl/ND7965K9WEaahUar8
3. Wed, 17 April 2019 Source: IEA SHC Task 56 Organisations mentioned in this article:
https://solarthermalworld.org/news/swot-analysis-building-integrated-solar-systems/