HVAC Controls: Out with the Pneumatic, In with the Digital

June 4, 2025

When a building’s HVAC system is working correctly, no one should notice. Modern HVAC makes facilities cool when it’s warm outside and warm when it’s cold, but outdated controls and building automation systems can draw a lot of attention to themselves, whether it is due to fluctuating temperatures, excessive maintenance, or increasing energy bills. 

Pneumatic systems were once the standard in controlling a building’s heating and cooling 70 years ago, but are quickly becoming outdated and obsolete. Upgrading to direct digital controls (DDC) can significantly improve your building’s comfort and its energy efficiency. 

Energy Efficiency: Savings Over Time

Modernizing commercial building automation systems can lead to significant energy savings over time. In a building with variable air volume (VAV) devices, using sensors to monitor temperature, humidity, air flow, and air quality can automatically adjust the building’s central plant to maximize energy use and meet the specifications of your building without requiring manual adjustments or monitoring. By integrating this smart technology to buildings of all ages and sizes, building engineers and property managers have seen significant reductions in energy consumption and operating costs. 

How Do You Work This Thing?

Transitioning away from pneumatics also gets ahead of maintenance issues that are prevalent with older systems. Modern training programs rarely cover pneumatic technology, leaving technicians guessing or in the dark when they encounter it in buildings. The ability to service the antiquated systems is becoming increasingly specialized and rare, and in turn more expensive. Updating to DDC building automation equipment helps future-proof your facility and  will prevent larger cost discussions down the line. Installation and maintenance costs rarely, if ever, decrease for old equipment, while the availability of new technology makes it more accessible and affordable.  

Project Spotlight: Driving 33% Energy Savings for HealthPartners Headquarters

The HealthPartners headquarters in Bloomington, Minn., originally constructed in the 1960s, consists of multiple office towers totaling 530,000 square feet. As part of an extensive remodel, HealthPartners partnered with Egan Company’s Building Automation team to replace its legacy pneumatic controls system with direct digital control (DDC) technology, offering numerous advantages. The upgrade has resulted in a 33% reduction in energy consumption along with other significant cost savings. In addition, the troubleshooting and maintenance of 650 VAV boxes throughout the complex was made significantly easier for the building engineers, using graphic screens, trending, and the other tools that a state-of-art BAS provides. With improved digital controls, the longstanding HealthPartners headquarters has seen notable improvements in both operational efficiency and occupant comfort.

Upgrade Your Building’s Comfort

As legacy pneumatic devices continue to become obsolete, building costs, maintenance requirements, and comfort levels all become negatively affected. If the HVAC systems in your commercial building are demanding your attention, it may be time to consider upgrading to DDC technology. Get in touch with Egan Company’s Building Automation team and make a plan to phase out antiquated equipment.