Growth of Nonresidential Construction Spells Good News for Sensors in HVAC Applications

Palo Alto, CA — Opportunities for sensors in heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) applications in North America are on the rise, driven primarily by the rapid growth of nonresidential construction and increasing concerns about indoor air quality.

New analysis from Frost & Sullivan (www.sensors.frost.com), North American Sensor Opportunities in HVAC Applications, reveals that the total sensor market for HVAC applications generated revenue of $302.2 million in 2004 and should reach $692.8 million in 2011.

For a virtual brochure which provides manufacturers, end-users and other industry participants with an overview of the latest analysis, send an e-mail to Tori Foster — Corporate Communications at tori.foster@ frost. com with your full name, company name, title, telephone number, fax number and e-mail address.

Building automation is becoming sophisticated with engineers and facility managers looking to manage and optimize the control systems using feedback from sensors. Electronic controls that require “intelligent” sensors for better accuracy and system performance are increasingly replacing conventional mechanical systems.

“The impact of the new commercial construction growth rates on the overall building automation market revenue is expected to drive the sensor market,” says Frost & Sullivan industry analyst Dr. Rajender Thusu. “As the number of new constructions increases, so will the unit demand for electronic controls over the course of the forecast period.”

Demand from the automotive sector is another driving force. Almost 99.1 percent of all vehicles manufactured for the North American market are factory-fitted with air-conditioning systems, increasing the demand for advanced automotive climate control (ACC) units. Although the cost of the sensors used in such units is admittedly rather low, the sheer volumes generated by these applications are driving revenue growth.