Data Centers Power HVAC Growth as Residential Air Conditioning Sales Lag

A data center boom, driven by increased AI usage, is emerging as a key growth driver for cooling, helping offset Carrier Global Corp.’s soft sales to residential customers and lifting Johnson Controls International Plc’s profit outlook to a decade high.

Data center investments are being fueled by rising capital expenditures from technology companies ramping up AI investment, in turn boosting demand for industrial cooling solutions. Six of the largest US hyperscalers are forecast to spend more than $593 billion in 2026, a 45% increase from a record 2025, Bloomberg Intelligence said.