August 19, 2025
In terms of HVAC, AI utilizes machine learning and data-driven decision-making to minimize energy waste and enhance both efficiency and comfort. What it generally means is controlling heating and cooling systems with smart thermostats that can adapt to user behavior and make adjustments based on factors like weather data and room or building occupancy. While there is still no such thing as a fully AI-driven HVAC system, smart features are rapidly advancing and becoming far more common in both homes and businesses.
How AI Is Shaping the Future of Indoor Comfort
AI and smart technology are rapidly transforming and revolutionizing the HVAC industry in numerous ways, with various goals in mind. For instance, many smart thermostats now utilize AI algorithms that enable them to “learning” from behavioral patterns and subsequently make automatic adjustments based on these patterns to conserve energy and enhance comfort. This is often referred to as smart scheduling, which essentially means that the thermostat does almost everything on its own, requiring only your desired temperature setting as input.
Another advancement is the use of additional sensors throughout a building that detect temperature and humidity in different areas. This allows for zone-controlled HVAC, providing individualized heating and cooling for each part of the home or business. Zone control is an excellent choice for commercial buildings, but it’s also becoming increasingly popular for homes.
Occupancy tracking is yet another tool that helps smart thermostats learn and improve HVAC efficiency. Motion sensors enable the thermostat to detect when any rooms or the entire building are unoccupied, allowing it to make real-time adjustments based on this information. Occupancy tracking is beneficial for commercial buildings with a zoned HVAC system. If only some parts of the building are occupied at certain times, the thermostat will know and keep the AC or heat set lower in the unoccupied areas.
Another recent trend is the use of predictive analytics to determine the health of an HVAC system and when it may soon break down or fail. This primarily involves using an algorithm to monitor factors such as the frequency of the HVAC system’s operation and its associated energy consumption. This allows the algorithm to determine when the system isn’t working correctly and needs to be serviced, repaired or possibly replaced.
Is a Smart Thermostat Considered AI?
Many people wrongly assume that the only difference between a basic programmable thermostat and a smart thermostat is that a smart thermostat can connect to Wi-Fi and be controlled remotely from a smartphone or tablet. This is true for some smart thermostats, but it’s becoming increasingly rare. Many home and business owners with smart thermostats already have at least a basic form of HVAC automation without even realizing it.
Nowadays, you mostly find smart learning thermostats that continually gather data from occupancy sensors and other sources, as we previously mentioned. Let’s say that you have a business that’s open from 9 to 5 Monday to Friday and from 9 to noon on Saturday. By utilizing occupancy sensors and learning from your behavior, a smart learning thermostat can automate tasks and perform everything for you. That means it will make sure the building is fully warm or cool before you open and then turn the AC or heat down after you close. After you close on Saturdays, your HVAC system will then adjust to run as little as possible throughout the rest of the weekend when the building is empty.
Being able to control your HVAC system using your phone provides more than just added convenience. It’s also an easy way to reduce your heating and cooling costs further and ensure you’re always entirely comfortable. Let’s say that everyone in your household will be home a few hours later than usual. Since the thermostat knows your behavior patterns, it will constantly adjust the temperature at the same time each day. You can use your phone to override this setting, so the thermostat won’t change the temperature until later. That way, your HVAC system won’t waste energy on heating or cooling your home as much as it usually does when people are there.
Benefits of Smart Climate Control
Smart climate control can provide many benefits for home and business owners. While some of the benefits are the same, the aims and advantages of smart climate control can vary for residential and commercial HVAC systems.
Benefits for Homeowners
- More precise temperature control
- Energy savings and lower utility bills
- Improved comfort during seasonal transitions
- Remote access while traveling or at work
Benefits for Businesses
- Smarter zoning in office spaces or commercial buildings
- Scheduled temperature adjustments for off-hours
- Real-time monitoring to spot issues before they cause downtime
- Potential long-term cost savings and sustainability perks
Do You Need AI to Improve HVAC Efficiency?
AI and smart climate control are powerful tools for improving HVAC efficiency and performance, but they’re not the only ones. One thing that far too many people neglect is the importance of regular HVAC maintenance. A well-maintained HVAC system will always work far better and have fewer issues that reduce its efficiency or create the risk of it breaking down. Specific issues, such as air duct leaks and dirty AC coils, can easily lead to a reduction in efficiency of at least 25%. Over time, a neglected HVAC system will typically develop numerous issues that can lead to heating and cooling bills being twice as high.
Ensuring that you install the correct size of HVAC system for your home or business is also crucial for overall efficiency. Undersized systems use significantly more energy because they don’t cool/heat effectively enough and have to run more frequently. An oversized system typically consumes more energy than an appropriately sized system. Another issue with oversized systems is that they often end up short-cycling or continually turning on and off, which further increases their energy consumption.
Thinking About Upgrading? Start with the Basics
Even without smart climate control, taking steps like scheduling seasonal tune-ups and having your ductwork resealed can significantly impact your heating and cooling costs. A smart thermostat can make a system more efficient, but it’s not a replacement for proper care and maintenance.
Suppose you’re looking to improve your HVAC efficiency. In that case, some steps you can take are to schedule regular maintenance checks and consider upgrading to a more energy-efficient system. Installing a smart thermostat can also be beneficial, but not all HVAC systems are compatible with them. That’s why it’s important to consult with a professional before buying any smart HVAC devices.
Where AI in HVAC Is Headed
AI and HVAC technology continue to advance at a rapid pace. What’s considered advanced right now will likely be regarded as old, outdated and inefficient within just five to 10 years. While it’s impossible to predict the future, these are some of the major trends to look for in the coming years.
- More accessible learning thermostats
- Automated zoning systems for multi-level homes
- Integration with solar panels and energy storage
- Self-diagnosing systems that can recommend service before breakdowns occur
Contact Us to Learn More
AI is an exciting trend that shows much promise, but it’s not yet to the point where it’s something every home or business must have. The things that still matter most are maintaining your HVAC system to keep it running efficiently and choosing more efficient upgrades in your budget that meet the needs of your space.
Whether you’re interested in smart HVAC technology or just looking to improve your year-round comfort, Scott-Lee Heating Company is here to help. We offer reliable, energy-saving HVAC solutions tailored to the needs of your St. Louis home or business, and we will help you explore and find the right option. To learn more or schedule any indoor comfort service, contact us today.