shutterstock_514124719

Air conditioning has successfully reshaped the modern American household, according to The Atlantic. Now, it’s time to make room for innovation of this 115-year-old appliance and its complementary parts.

Check out the latest innovations, as compiled by Warner Service of Frederick, Maryland:

Air conditioning will be motion-activated. According to Joplin’s, an HVAC company in McKinney, Texas, engineers at Massachusetts Institute of Technology invented a new air conditioner that utilizes sensors along aluminum rods that are hung from the ceiling. Movement activates these sensors, and the air conditioner only kicks on when people are present.

“This kind of prototype is...one example of how future HVAC systems are going to be more compact and portable, helping to reduce both energy and utility costs.”

Air conditioning will be thermally driven. According to Griffith Energy Services in Columbia, a brand-new thermally-driven air conditioning system was invented by Chromasun. The Australian company developed this low-cost alternative to conventional A/C units in order to entirely eliminate electricity costs, as it doesn’t require any electricity for operation.

Instead, the appliance utilizes energy from solar panels. While geothermal technology has changed modern home heating and cooling, it’s likely that a thermally-driven cooling system will become mainstream in the next few years.

Duct wrap will be eco-friendly. Green Products Company offers Quiet Duct Wrap, an invention that’s “made from recycled denim fabric that has been diverted from the landfill, has no irritants and low VOCs,” according to HVAC Classes.

“It reduces...heat loss and gain that occurs through air ducts. It has no fiberglass, eliminating potential itching or skin irritation, and carries a Class-A Fire Rating. Its aluminum barrier provides protection from air currents, moisture, and vapors and reflects unwanted radiant heat.”

Heat will be harnessed from a computer. Lawrence Orsini, founder of Project Exergy, theorized that the heat generated from laptops can be used for powering home heating systems. Read more about the Kickstarter campaign from The Verge.

Heating and cooling units will offer home security. Trane units offer add-ons, including the Schlage® Home Security Kit, which connects all of the components of ComfortLink thermostat technology and Nexia Control for the smartest in home security.

The addition controls temperature settings, manages energy use, and allows entry to your home when you're away with the Schlage® Home Keypad, which has no wiring, comes with night mode, and offers a 3-year battery life.

The Security Kit also assigns up to 19 private four-digit codes for family members, as well as sends text and email alerts when codes are used through Nexia Bridge, which communicates wirelessly with up to 232 compatible devices.

Aside from family, set recurring codes for housekeepers or frequent guests; add, delete, or change user codes remotely; confirm the status of your wireless lock from anywhere; and program lights to turn on and off at different times of the day and when lock code is entered.

Smart thermostats will be standard. The benefits of a programmable thermostat include adjusting your home’s temperature at a time variable. It remotely adjusts the temperature from a WiFi-enabled device, including your tablet, cell phone, computer, or other connected device.

Some smart thermostats are super smart. Select devices regulate humidity, while some collect diagnostics on whole-home energy consumption, which means you see exactly where your energy bill needs work.

Some models optimize the central air conditioning operation for the best efficiency, and other devices offer self-learning capabilities that monitor and adjust comfort settings based on preferences and tendencies.

A few smart thermostats can continuously monitor the local climate and adjust the temperature automatically. Homeowners are also able to set up regular HVAC maintenance alerts with smart thermostat technology.

If you opt for extra sensors in the space, you can set up zoned heating and cooling and individual room-based temperature control.

If you’re interested in keeping up with HVAC maintenance until these new technologies are on the market, download Warner Service’s Heating Troubleshooting Checklist: