Cooling the Climate: 3-Pronged Approach for a Decarbonising HVAC System
As the spotlight on sustainability intensifies, the concept of "decarbonisation" is becoming a buzzword in today's green revolution.
But what does it mean in the world of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC)? More importantly, how do we attain it?
Decoding Decarbonisation in HVAC
Decarbonisation, at its core, signifies the removal of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases from processes or products. Today, this concept is increasingly associated with the ambition to shrink the carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) footprint of our buildings and operations. When it comes to HVAC, decarbonisation implies reducing the CO2e emissions intensity linked to HVAC equipment and operation.
So, how do we bring down these emissions in heating, cooling, refrigeration, and ventilation? There are three key strategies that we can employ: energy efficiency, refrigerant management, and electrification.
The Triad of Decarbonisation in HVAC
Energy Efficiency: While energy efficiency has been a consideration in HVAC for ages, the primary driver has been energy cost savings. Today, we have an additional motivation: reducing our carbon footprint. Decreased energy consumption means lowered emissions from fuel combustion, making efficiency a crucial aspect of decarbonisation.
Refrigerant Management: This is a crucial but often overlooked aspect of decarbonisation. Fugitive emissions from leaked refrigerants can significantly contribute to a building's carbon footprint. Given the high global warming potential of many commonly used refrigerants, even minor leaks can have a significant impact. Employing low-GWP refrigerants and minimising leakage through proper maintenance are vital steps towards effective refrigerant management.
Electrification: This is an emerging decarbonisation strategy, particularly for heating. Electrical grids are steadily becoming less emissions-intensive as carbon-free energy sources like solar and wind replace high-emissions fuels like coal and oil. This trend makes electricity a preferred energy source for environmentally conscious HVAC owners. Using electrified HVAC equipment offers an opportunity for passive emissions reduction in the future, as electrical grids continue to transition towards carbon-free generation.
Why Decarbonisation is the Need of the Hour?
The compelling drive for decarbonisation across industries is environmental sustainability. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) warns that human-induced climate change is affecting weather and climate extremes globally, with potentially catastrophic implications unless we achieve deep reductions in CO2e emissions. HVAC contributes to about 15 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, highlighting the importance of decarbonisation in this sector.
In response, policymakers are introducing new laws to encourage decarbonisation, including refrigerant phase-down rules, natural gas bans, all-electric or electric-preferred stretch and reach codes, carbon caps, and taxes, and renewable portfolio standards (RPSs).
Moreover, HVAC equipment owners are now facing growing Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) expectations. With sustainability becoming a public concern, companies and property managers are under pressure to report emissions, set sustainability goals, and implement transparent, measurable actions to reduce emissions.
Decarbonisation in HVAC isn't just a trend—it's an imperative. By adopting energy-efficient practices, managing refrigerants responsibly, and moving towards electrification, we can help create a sustainable, climate-friendly future.
Remember, every change starts with a single step. Let's make our HVAC systems a part of the solution, not the problem.