ENERGY SAVING


Running cooler, spending less


By connecting systems to real-time data and intelligent controls, IoT is transforming AC from a static utility into a dynamic, responsive asset, driving effi ciency, sustainability, and smarter operations across industries. Here, Lee Harpham, Director of Refrigeration Strategy at IMS Evolve, explores how the Internet of Things is reshaping the future of air conditioning.


Lee Harpham


'An IoT-enabled strategy introduced automated daily health checks across the retailer’s HVAC assets.'


People expect a comfortable environment every hour of the day, while business leaders are asking for leaner utility bills and demonstrable progress on sustainability targets. However, these systems can be energy hungry. The International Energy Agency estimates that almost a fi fth of global electricity in buildings is consumed by cooling. That fi gure is climbing as summers get hotter and more businesses, especially in the UK, install air conditioning. So, the question is no longer whether we should cut waste in the HVAC space but how to do so without compromising comfort.


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When equipment fails, everyone feels it Most building teams still deal with faults the way they always have: wait for something to go wrong, then send out an engineer. However, this causes the consequences to ripple far beyond a repair invoice. A failing refrigerator in a supermarket risks spoiling perishable goods. An air conditioning unit that shuts down on a hot day can aff ect the indoor air quality for hundreds of staff . On top of that comes the hidden costs: overtime labour, emergency callouts, extra site visits and premature replacement of parts. It’s an expensive cycle that keeps engineers in fi refi ghting mode. To tackle this challenge, IoT technology is marking a shift


from a traditional, calendar-based or emergency maintenance approach to a dynamic, data-driven approach. A seamless digital IoT layer can make legacy HVAC systems intelligent, allowing engineers to see how their assets are behaving in real time, from temperature anomalies to energy draw. Intelligent IoT systems can continuously analyse asset data, suggesting and implementing autonomous action. When it identifi es an AC unit running ineffi ciently or refrigeration pressure drifting from its ideal range, it can either fl ag this


24 January 2026 • www.acr-news.com


sk any heating, ventilation or air conditioning engineer what keeps them awake at night, and you’ll usually hear the exact two words: reliability and cost.


issue to the engineer or adjust a control setting to improve performance. It can even take this information and suggest which assets might be on the brink before they fail. In eff ect, it gives engineers guidance and foresight. By taking data from a mix of manufacturers and collating it, these data-led platforms can give a single view across an entire estate. That means a supermarket, a hospital or an offi ce building can see every rooftop unit or chiller, regardless of brand or age, on the same dashboard. The value lies in orchestrating the data they have more intelligently. For engineering teams, this change is signifi cant. Instead of heading out blind to a fault call, they can review live graphs and diagnostic notes before they leave. Many fi xes will become fi rst-time fi xes; some trips can be avoided entirely if software tweaks mean the issue can be solved remotely. This reduces travel time, fuel consumption and repeat visits, all of which cut operating cost as well as emissions from service fl eets. Over time, the reduction in unnecessary stress on these assets also lengthens their life.


Counting cost savings and beyond Beyond the cost saved by fewer emergency callouts, lower spend on spare parts, reduced spoilage in temperature- controlled environments and less need to replace equipment, a signifi cant benefi t of this application of IoT is the value of the energy saved, especially given the rising energy prices of today. IoT-enabled systems off er precise, real-time control over


energy usage, eliminating the guesswork and wasteful practices of outdated management processes. This additional control directly reduces energy waste. By ensuring assets operate at maximum effi ciency through optimisation and proactive maintenance, IoT technology can reduce the excessive energy consumption of failing equipment. This contributes towards a company’s broader sustainability goals by optimising resources as well as budgets, without impacting the operational performance of HVAC assets.


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