Aaron Fields
Fields Mechanical Systems
Missouri Plant Managers Association – “HVAC Technology Advancements: Why VRF?”
Building owners and managers can be very demanding when it comes to choosing the right HVAC equipment for their buildings. Not only do they need the equipment to keep their tenants (and possibly themselves) warm and comfortable throughout the winter, and cool and contented during the summer, they also want their HVAC system to be energy efficient, reliable and of course, cost-effective.
For this reason, Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) technology continues to grow in popularity for many facilities as a single outdoor unit can serve a number of indoor units. VRF is a superior way to heat and cool any space, providing improved humidity control, individual set points per indoor unit, and a very quiet comfort experience. Energy efficient and easy to design, install, and maintain, a VRF system has low life cycle cost compared to other systems on the market today. According to a 2016 JP Morgan study, the report concluded that the reductions in the structural, mechanical, and electrical costs of installing a VRF system offset the higher cost of the mechanical system itself, making the all-in first cost of VRF comparable to other HVAC solutions.
This technology is a great option for building owners, managers and homeowners who are looking to minimize operational costs while simultaneously increasing occupant comfort. With the ability to do simultaneous heating and cooling through a heat recovery, not only do occupants get to personalize their comfort, but they do so within a single system, eliminating the need for a separate heat source, reducing the impact to the outdoor environment and contributing to lower operational costs. Whether a commercial, light-commercial or residential application, VRF technology offers some of the lowest lifecycle costs for an HVAC system.
Providing exceptional comfort, efficiency and reliability, VRF solutions from industry leaders such as LG Electronics offer cost effectiveness and easier installation, making this technology among the most versatile and powerful system available today. In addition to being energy efficient, building owners will appreciate the design flexibility of VRF technology, as systems can be configured to be ducted, duct-free, or a hybrid of the two, allowing builders to choose the system that best fits their needs. This flexibility allows VRF solutions to be installed in almost any application, including projects where traditional systems are not feasible. One new VRF system that is continuing to gain industry acclaim for commercial, light-commercial and residential spaces, is the award-winning LG Multi V™ series. Featuring the best-in-class inverter compressors, the Multi V series offers superior performance, efficiency and some of the lowest lifecycle costs in the industry. To find out if VRF is the right solution for your building project, visit LGHVAC.com.
Download the full Missouri Plant Managers Association article.