SMART HVAC & CONTROLS
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Engineering smarter HVAC: 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 does so with 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. Not only does this impact the sustainability ambitions of commercial organisations as well as national targets, but it’s also impacting businesses’ bottom lines. There has been a lot of discussion around rising consumer energy bills, but this is also happening at a corporate level.
Businesses need their HVAC assets to work harder
for them, and this means HVAC engineers need to work harder to keep them running efficiently. The answer doesn’t need to be a rip-and-replace of HVAC assets to get the latest and most modern technology, it can be as simple as applying new software tools to increase the levels of visibility and control engineers have. The technology capable of this – Internet of Things (IoT) software – is evolving 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 from 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 they become breakdowns. A compressor drawing slightly higher current than expected or a fan running fractionally 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.
18 November 2025
Left: Lee Harpham, director of refrigeration strategy, IMS Evolve
units could be turned off overnight. When rolled out across 1,800 stores, this approach unlocked a reduction in energy costs valued at $15.1 million, with projected savings of about $42 million as the rollout expands to 5,000. The lesson here is clear, and it is that automated, IoT-driven controls can deliver measurable results at scale while protecting system integrity and resilience.
Prioritising asset longevity
The immediate financial 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. By running equipment within specific parameters and prioritising proactive maintenance, IoT can limit strain on the assets, meaning they last longer, maintenance becomes more predictable, and replacement cycles stretch further. This is a major advantage for businesses, as not only will sustainability and energy efficiency be improved, but this will also be achieved with the equipment they already have for longer. The benefits of an IoT-enabled HVAC maintenance
approach can be seen through the example of a real implementation by IMS Evolve with a major retailer based in the US. The retailer identified wasted energy when HVAC units continued to run overnight when stores were closed. By integrating intelligent IoT software, the retailer benefited from automated daily health checks, which guided which
The next phase of HVAC maintenance
IoT is already transforming HVAC maintenance from routine checks to precision diagnostics, but its potential extends further. As AI becomes embedded in building systems, HVAC controls will be able to learn from occupancy patterns, weather data and grid conditions, adjusting dynamically to maintain comfort with minimal energy. For HVAC professionals, this evolution represents an opportunity to redefine what ‘good practice’ means. Efficiency, reliability and sustainability are no longer competing objectives but are converging through IoT connectivity. It also enables them to use their own time and resources more effectively, by guiding when they need to conduct a site visit and what can be resolved remotely, and making sure those visits can result in a resolution first time by providing detailed diagnostics. By embracing IoT-enabled control, the HVAC industry can reduce waste, extend asset life and cut emissions, proving that smarter operation is not only better for business but better for the planet.
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