KOVA, which makes a variety of external and internal building components, announced a new product: a unit HVAC system that installs between standard wall studs and uses artificial intelligence to manage behavioral, environmental, and unit-specific occupancy inputs to personalize comfort and energy use.

The KOVA Comfort combines existing energy efficiency capacities with AI and a variable-speed compressor and fan, the company said, significantly minimizing the energy needed to meet heating or cooling loads. 

By fitting between standard wall studs, the slim-profile unit has a wall-integrated sleeve and quick-connect mechanism that is supposed to speed installation while reducing material and labor costs. However, because the units of necessity replicate a compressor and fan, there could be additional operating expense over an optimized central unit.