The proposed new approach to chilled water HVAC systems promises to provide significant capital cost savings, energy cost savings, and a path to eliminate CO₂ emissions.

Chillers are being used as heat pumps, outfitted with heat-recovery systems, used in building electrification projects, and installed in arrays to cool data centers.

In addition to taking up less space, smaller chillers can be more easily installed, weigh less, and pose fewer shipping, rigging, and building-construction challenges. They can also be more energy efficient, with the same or even greater cooling capacity.

Michael Daly, chief technology officer, ECM Technologies, offers insights into the HVAC commercial market.

Chillers use the principles of thermodynamics to remove heat from a conditioned space. But “chiller” is a broad term that encompasses system configurations, refrigeration technologies, and methods of rejecting captured heat. Experts take a closer look.

Manufacturers offer an array of products, tools, and tips to help lower operating costs, optimize maintenance, and extend a chiller’s life.

Chillers are a key component of commercial HVAC systems. Of course, like all parts of the commercial HVAC business, this past year proved challenging.

Providing leasable office space can push building owners to consider new strategies to reduce operational costs.