Water remains an effective cooling medium

Kishore Chandrasekharan, Head of Commercial Air Conditioning at Voltas, discusses changes in the HVAC industry, like energy efficiency, IoT integration, and sustainability. Advancements in compressor technology, BLDC motors, and water-cooled systems are reducing environmental impact. Government regulations and growing consumer demand are making air conditioning more accessible and eco-friendly in India.

What new developments have you made recently?

Voltas displayed its complete range of residential and commercial air conditioning products at ACREX 2025. Our display covered everything from compact one-TR split units to large 500-ton centrifugal chillers. We featured an extensive selection of VRFs, one-to-one units, and premium cassette systems. Additionally, we introduced our latest water-cooled product line.

Please brief us about the water cool system.

The business is often air-cooled. However, there are opportunities where water is also available, and water is always a more effective cooling medium than air. The HVAC industry is experiencing a significant transformation, particularly in energy efficiency and smart technology integration. Air conditioning accounts for nearly 70 percent of energy consumption in building services, making it the most critical factor in energy management. Initially, advancements focused on compressor technology, progressing from reciprocating to rotary, then scroll compressors, leading to substantial energy savings.

Today, the focus has shifted towards optimising every component, including motors. Most of our air conditioners now feature BLDC motors, especially in residential models, reducing energy consumption even in small fan motors.

Further, IoT-based trends are happening in HVAC systems. For example, if a room has five occupants and they leave after 30 minutes, conventional air conditioners run unnecessarily. IoT technology can detect occupancy and accordingly modulate the air conditioner energy requirements, improving efficiency, sustainability, and energy conservation.

Regarding cooling methods, air-cooled systems are predominant, but where water is available, it remains a more efficient cooling medium. However, water availability is a constraint in locations. Where feasible, water-cooled systems offer cooling solutions. Our product range includes water-cooled chillers, package units, and ductable splits, available only in higher capacities. Recently, we have observed increasing demand for smaller-capacity water-cooled ductable splits, leading us to introduce these systems.

How are you implementing AI and IoT in your air conditioning systems?

For air-cooled systems in the HVAC industry, water remains a more effective cooling medium where available. However, these systems cannot be implemented due to varying water availability. In areas with available water, air conditioning efficiency is significantly enhanced. As a result, water-cooled chillers, packaged units, and ductable split systems have gained prominence. Previously, water-cooled ductable splits were only available in higher capacity ranges, but there is growing demand for smaller capacities, leading to their introduction and display at industry exhibitions.

What are your thoughts on sustainability and its impact on the HVAC industry?

Any energy saved in a system depicts sustainability. Energy conservation is central to sustainability, and the HVAC industry has significantly reduced power consumption. As compressor and motor technologies advance, overall energy demand decreases, leading to lower dependency on power plants—whether coal, nuclear, or thermal—thereby reducing carbon emissions.

Sustainability is not just about energy saving. It can be human comfort and indoor air quality. Advanced air conditioning systems can assess the required temperature and airflow, modulating them for maximum comfort and efficiency. Another critical sustainability factor is refrigerants. Over the years, the industry has transitioned from ozone-depleting refrigerants to eco-friendly alternatives. The next step is adopting refrigerants with lower Global Warming Potential (GWP), further reducing environmental impact. Eventually, HVAC systems with zero environmental effects will result from these combined efforts.

So, this transition is happening towards sustainability. Sustainability in HVAC can be seen from three key perspectives: energy efficiency, which reduces power consumption; human comfort and indoor air quality, ensuring optimal living conditions; and environmental impact, including the protection of the ozone layer and the reduction of global warming potential through eco-friendly refrigerants and technologies. There is tremendous progress happening across this industry so that we will eventually reach a day when we will have a product that will not harm our society.

Is the Indian government implementing strategies to reduce emissions to maintain air quality?

The Indian government is actively implementing strategies to regulate emissions and maintain air quality. Organisations like the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) and the Ozone Cell oversee industry standards and ensure sustainability goals such as Net Zero emissions compliance.

One key initiative is the Star Labelling Program, which helps consumers identify the energy efficiency of products. Future developments may include carbon footprint indicators, allowing users to understand the environmental impact of their choices. Further, regulations now mandate minimum efficiency standards, restricting the sale of energy-intensive products. These measures reinforce the government’s commitment to sustainability. So, the regulations are happening and playing a critical role in Indian society.

Indian market is a very price-sensitive market. Can Indian customers easily afford your price-sensitive equipment?

It is a fact that the Indian Air Conditioning industry we are taking care of today – may be seven to 8 percent of the total number of people. India remains a highly price-sensitive market, and air conditioning penetration is still limited to around 7–8 percent of the population. It indicates a significant untapped market with room for growth. HVAC manufacturers cater to a broad consumer base, offering affordable entry-level split ACs (e.g., 3-star models) for budget-conscious buyers and high-end VRF systems and centrifugal chillers for premium applications. This diverse product range ensures accessibility for different economic segments. We take care of their entire bandwidth.

What innovative technologies and future trends do you see in cold storage?

The cold storage is transforming. The sustainability of food will eventually become essential. Food security depends on cold storage. Households maintain storage capabilities. The nations need to build extensive, environmentally friendly cold storage facilities. India currently experiences significant food wastage due to inadequate cold-chain logistics. Investing in reliable storage and transportation systems is crucial for reducing these losses. Today, the waste is too much. Thus, cold storage plays a significant role in the development of our society.

Sustainability in cold storage is also progressing, particularly in refrigerant technology. Future developments will likely replace traditional refrigerants with natural alternatives such as CO₂-based refrigeration. Though not mainstream in India, this transition is inevitable and will contribute to environmentally friendly cold storage solutions. We can eventually say that we are not harming our atmosphere. We are using natural refrigerants to take care of our society.

When will India reach its aim of sustainability?

The corporations and the Indian government have set ambitious sustainability targets. Voltas, for instance, aims to achieve net-positive sustainability by 2045. India has set its goal for 2070 at the national level, focusing on minimising resource consumption and implementing greener technologies. As part of the Tata Group, Voltas remains committed to playing a t role in achieving these national objectives through innovation and sustainable development.