SMART HVAC & CONTROLS
How IoT is driving precision and performance
As businesses demand more from their HVAC systems, engineers face growing pressure to maintain peak efficiency. But upgrading doesn’t have to mean costly new equipment — smarter software tools are unlocking greater visibility, control and performance through IoT innovation, explains Lee Harpham, director of refrigeration strategy, IMS Evolve
H
eating, ventilation and air conditioning systems sit at the intersection of sustainability, cost and comfort. HVAC engineers understand the challenge of ensuring that equipment runs
consistently, maintains environmental standards and meets ever-tighter efficiency targets. Research shows that buildings account for 30 per cent of the world’s energy consumption and are responsible for 26 per cent of global energy-related emissions, and these figures are rising. This impacts both the sustainability ambitions of organisations and their bottom lines. While much attention focuses on rising consumer energy bills, the same challenge exists at a corporate level. Businesses need their HVAC assets to work harder, and engineers must keep them running efficiently. The answer doesn’t need to be a rip-and-replace of HVAC assets; it can be as simple as applying new software tools to increase visibility and control. The technology capable of this – Internet of Things (IoT) software – is transforming how HVAC is managed and maintained.
Prevention, as well as cure
In many buildings, HVAC maintenance operates on a fixed timetable or as-needed model, where issues are resolved as they appear. This means engineers often find out about faults only once they become a problem, resulting in a maintenance model that reacts to failure instead of predicting it. Intelligent IoT integration changes this dynamic. By integrating a data-driven platform that uses IoT to track temperature, humidity,
pressure, airflow and power draw across a building’s HVAC estate, engineers gain access to a continuous stream of performance data. That data can be analysed automatically, highlighting inefficiencies or early signs of wear long before breakdowns occur. A compressor drawing slightly higher current or a fan running slower than its set speed may not trigger a traditional fault code, but to an IoT platform these deviations are the first signal of future failure. The system can then issue an alert, recommend corrective action or even adjust controls to stabilise conditions.
Prioritising asset longevity
The immediate incentive for intelligent IoT-enabled HVAC control is lower electricity use through more efficient systems and faster fixes, but the long-term benefit lies in asset health. Running equipment within specific parameters and prioritising proactive maintenance limits strain on assets, helping them last longer and making maintenance more predictable. This means improved sustainability and efficiency using existing equipment for longer. A real example comes from IMS Evolve’s work with a major US retailer that found HVAC units running overnight when stores were closed. By integrating IoT software, the retailer benefited from automated daily health checks, identifying which units could be turned off. Across 1,800 stores, this delivered $15.1 million in energy savings, projected to reach $42 million as the rollout expands to 5,000. The lesson is clear: automated, IoT-driven controls deliver measurable results at scale while protecting system integrity.
The next phase of HVAC maintenance
IoT is transforming HVAC maintenance from routine checks to precision diagnostics. As AI becomes embedded in building systems, HVAC controls will learn from occupancy patterns, weather data and grid conditions, dynamically maintaining comfort with minimal energy. For HVAC professionals, this evolution redefines good practice. Efficiency, reliability and sustainability are no longer competing objectives but are converging through IoT connectivity. It also helps engineers use their time and resources more effectively by guiding when to conduct site visits, what can be resolved remotely, and ensuring first-time fixes through detailed diagnostics. By embracing IoT-enabled control, the HVAC industry
can reduce waste, extend asset life and cut emissions, proving that smarter operation benefits both business and planet.
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