When it comes to the “megatrends” that are affecting the commercial HVAC sector, changes in refrigerants are near the top of the list.

Three megatrends affecting the approximately 5.5 million commercial buildings in the United States: building automation and connectivity, energy efficiency and sustainability, and comfort and air quality.

The responses to these megatrends include modulation technologies for compressors; efficiency retrofits as only about 15 percent of the 5.5 million buildings have building automation or management systems that control the HVAC systems; air management systems; and a focus on the refrigerants that will represent the future of HVAC in commercial buildings.