Air conditioning has come a long way since its inception. First used to dry ink on newspaper magazines, this handy appliance has since become a staple in millions of homes around the world. And there’s no signs of it slowing down.

That being said, the evolution of air conditioning units is a dynamic one. Once a bulky, noisy, and expensive appliance, a standard air conditioning unit now enjoys a quieter operation, a small and compact size, and a high degree of accessibility.

Furthermore, there are multiple different AC units that homeowners can pick from—each having its own distinct features, price points, and functionalities.

While its primary purpose is clear, air conditioning units continue to undergo marked improvements over time. Just look at the evolution of A/C units from the early 2000s to the ones of today—there’s a noticeable shift in their efficiency thanks to new technology.

If you want to know the full extent of the future of air conditioning, read on. We’ll explore the trends and future technologies of this cooling appliance in more detail.

Let’s get into it.

1) Increased AC Demand

There’s no denying the effects of climate change, and unless there’s a worldwide, collective effort to usurp this environmental phenomenon, the world will trend hotter and hotter with each passing year.

We’ll preface this by saying that a few AC models also contribute to ozone-depleting emissions into the air. But humans need to keep cool, especially amidst sweltering conditions. Unsurprisingly, an A/C unit is the primary appliance that helps provide this cooling comfort in a home environment.

The rising temperatures across the world will require people to get air conditioning units. As the population across both urban and rural areas spike up, more buildings will be erected and rooms will be made. In turn, there’ll be an increased demand for air conditioning units. It’s no longer a suggestion, but a requirement in some areas that experience intense humidity and heat.

Furthermore, there have been efforts by brands to integrate innovative and eco-friendly features into their air conditioning unit catalogue. This advanced technology and commitment to environmental responsibility can inflate demand for the product—thus increasing its sales and pushing forth a new era of sustainable cooling.

2) More Eco-Friendly Refrigerants

Using outdated A/C units traps people in a negative cycle: the more of it we use, the more negative emissions get released into the atmosphere. This is because these A/C units rely on old refrigerants like R-410, which has a high global warming potential of over 2000.

In essence, when we try to cool ourselves with these AC units, we inexplicitly make the planet we live in hotter as a result.

Fortunately, a lot of modern-day AC units are starting to employ refrigerants that don’t contribute to global warming—or are not as drastic.

Government regulations have also regulated brand manufacturers to no longer release A/C products that have a GWP of over 700, meaning most air conditioning units nowadays are not as harmful to the planet.

In the future, it’s likely that more brands will continue to innovate their product to use refrigerants with even lower global warming potential.

The government can also enforce an even stricter GWP standard in the future—so AC brand manufacturers have to be on top of their game to ensure that they can innovate a sustainable cooling solution before these stricter laws get passed.

3) Smart A/C Systems

This decade has brought about significant improvements in machine learning and artificial intelligence—and these improvements have penetrated the home appliance sector, and airconditioning units as an extension.

For one, a lot of modern AC units can be controlled through a smartphone application. Users can switch their AC off and on or change the temperature to their preferred setting with the click of a button.

Furthermore, some high-tech AC units also have geo-tracking possibilities, allowing the air conditioning unit to switch on whenever a user’s smartphone is within a certain distance from the vicinity.

Predictive maintenance features are also a new trend found in modern AC systems. This feature highlights components of the AC unit that may be deteriorating or in need of repair. This allows users to act fast and get air conditioning service before their unit breaks down.

A/C units will only continue to develop over time, with more features getting added to improve the quality of life of people. For instance, A/C units of the future could automatically clean their filters, removing the need for a manual replacement. But of course, this is just a speculation for now.

4) Space-Saving Designs

Space is a valuable resource, and tiny homes and small rooms often vastly prefer compact AC units to meet their needs without compromising on space or mobility. Currently, many AC units can meet this expectation—but it’s very likely that future models can get even slimmer.

Many brands are starting to take notice of the demand for smaller and more compact AC units—and they’re likely planning to integrate that into their lineup in the future. The reason why smaller AC units are better in this situation is because of the increased migration to urban settlements, thus leading to an increasing population and smaller rooms per person.

With that new norm being a likely phenomenon in the future, brands are starting to ramp their efforts into making smaller AC units to fit these apartments. There’s also an increase in multipurpose appliances that can perform both heating and cooling in one machine.

In the future, a smaller but still high-performing AC unit will likely become the norm in many studio units and urban homes.

5) Quiet and Minimalist Design

As mentioned earlier, A/C units of the past were bulky and noisy. Early iterations of this appliance were only present in public areas like theatres, cinemas, hospitals, and shopping centres for this reason (plus, they were also quite expensive).

While there have been significant improvements in a standard AC unit’s design in recent years, it can still be quite unsightly in smaller rooms.

Box-type AC units are also quite noisy, especially when their filters and coils are dirty or clogged. These noise levels can be quite uncomfortable when you’re trying to focus or sleep in a private and small room.

It’s speculated that modern and next-generation A/C units will employ a quiet and minimalist design, making them more suitable for home and personal spaces. A reduction of bulk and noise helps enhance the unobtrusive nature of the AC, making the ambience of rooms feel much more coherent, peaceful, and aesthetic.

6) Contribution to Urban Growth and Changing Social Dynamics

Airconditioning units have profoundly influenced the lifestyles of people throughout various cities and countries, particularly in arid countries. It has made entire populations productive when indoors—thriving in places that may be too hot to live in otherwise.

With A/C units becoming more widespread and mainstream in the modern day, it’s likely that these urban cities can grow and become hubs of industry and commerce. This development can cause a domino effect, creating jobs to support the economy and attracting people from other parts of the country (or the world) to settle into these zones.

Furthermore, AC units have made home life and leisure a more attractive option. Becoming a housewife (or househusband) has garnered appeal as after chores, people can easily find themselves lounging in a comfortable and cool room.

In the future, it’s very likely that tropical and hot regions will continue to gain traction as long as there’s economic prosperity within these lands. It’s also likely that more activities will be housed in a cooled area indoors to stay comfortable from the intense outside weather.