Cooling for a greener future

Discover how low-GWP refrigerants are helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and drive sustainability in the HVAC industry. As the sector evolves to enhance energy efficiency, minimise emissions, and improve indoor comfort and cooling, innovative solutions are becoming essential. According to Daniel Chen, Carel’s Head of Regional Marketing HVAC & Regional Platform Manager (APAC), adopting low-GWP refrigerants, digitalised building management systems, and advanced technologies plays a crucial role in decarbonisation while ensuring optimal performance and sustainability in both residential and commercial buildings.

How do low-GWP refrigerants help reduce greenhouse gas emissions?

Low-GWP refrigerants minimise contributions to global warming and combat climate change. These refrigerants have significantly lower Global Warming Potential (GWP) values compared to traditional options like hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). As a result, their environmental impact is much smaller. Adopting low-GWP refrigerants is critical for helping the world meet its climate targets.

How can the green transition increase indoor comfort?

Air handling units consist of several essential components, including fans, filters, and heat recovery systems, designed to ensure optimal indoor comfort while maximising energy efficiency. The fans, heat recovery system, and control system play crucial roles in performance.

Efficient air circulation uses fans with continuous speed control, which adjusts operation based on system load variations. This approach minimises energy consumption, especially when lower airflow is required.

Heat recovery systems transfer heat and humidity from exhaust air to incoming fresh air, reducing reliance on traditional heating and cooling systems and significantly improving energy efficiency. Advanced control systems continuously adapt the unit’s operation based on real-time conditions, optimising component performance and minimising energy use.

Further, a digitalised building management system is essential for achieving the highest performance. Such systems enable local and remote control, integrated management of various installed systems, and real-time data analysis, leading to enhanced equipment and system performance throughout their lifecycle.

How can design improve the building environment?

Sustainable design emphasises selecting materials with low environmental impact and high durability, which reduces the carbon footprint, increases the building’s lifespan, and enhances occupant comfort.

Modern buildings must operate at peak efficiency, balancing operational needs, environmental conditions, and energy consumption. A digitalised building management system is critical to achieving this. It allows for local and remote operation control, seamless integration of different systems, and real-time data collection and analysis. These capabilities optimise equipment performance throughout its lifecycle.

Furthermore, renewable energy systems such as solar PV and wind power are becoming increasingly common in urban areas. When paired with energy storage, these systems ensure consistent power despite intermittency. Integrating renewable energy with smart technologies optimises performance, reduces costs, and enhances resilience while supporting broader sustainability goals.

Why is decarbonisation a top priority in the HVAC industry?

Decarbonisation is a top priority in the HVAC industry due to its critical role in limiting global warming.  One suggestion is that developing highly efficient equipment and systems requires integrating advanced technologies like BLDC motors and electronic expansion valves to enhance performance and reduce energy consumption. Transitioning to low-GWP refrigerants is also crucial in minimising the environmental impact of HVAC systems. Embracing electrification by moving away from carbon-based energy sources further supports sustainability efforts. Additionally, implementing digitalisation through data collection and analysis optimises system performance, efficiency, and sustainability throughout its lifecycle.