The drive in the UK towards net zero carbon emissions will have a considerable impact on the ventilation and air conditioning market. In the residential sector, the Future Homes Standard, due to be introduced by 2025, will require all new build homes to be future proofed. This will ensure they are built with low carbon and energy efficient HVAC technologies.

In October 2020 building regulatory changes came into effect. Part L 2020 seeks to prepare new dwellings to be ready for these low carbon HVAC systems. 'Fabric plus technology' is the current preferred option as it seeks a 31% reduction in CO2 emissions.

The non-residential sector has been influenced by environmental initiative for a while now. Notably the 2015 Ozone Depleting Substances Regulation, which banned the use R22 refrigerant to service or maintain existing air conditioning equipment. This also continues to support the new build and replacement market where refrigerants such as R32 are allowable for use in air conditioning systems.

Abdul Tantouch, research manager at AMA Research, said: “The future performance of the UK ventilation and air conditioning market is likely to be influenced by overall trends in non-residential construction and new housebuilding, RMI activity, more stringent energy efficiency legislation, the development of renewable technologies, also climatic factors.

Market opportunities will arise from product innovation and technological developments that will lead to an overall increase in system efficiencies. The evolution of smart building solutions with the increased requirement for interoperability and remote control of intelligent systems will also support market growth.

The covid-19 pandemic has presented a market opportunity to the ventilation and air conditioning industry with respect to the anticipated increased requirement for effective ‘clean air’ solutions and the development of systems that will minimise the risk of indoor pathogen spread.'

Packaged systems will continue to dominate air conditioning sales, particularly VRF systems, which are now suitable for a wider range of non-residential applications. A look to the future also points to the rise of smart systems and zoned control ventilation & air conditioning systems where many seek to provide energy efficient comfort at a reduced cost.