Air-conditioner manufacturers today are deploying technologies which are focused not only on achieving a desired level of climate control _ but also sipping less power while doing so. Energy efficiency with emerging technologies will undoubtedly play a dominant role in influencing air-conditioning research, design and development in the near future.
Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) systems
Specifically engineered for mixed-use real estate properties and the hospitality industry, HVAC systems like the CITY MULTI VRF (Variable Refrigerant Flow) divides the entire space in a building into individual cooling or heating zones, while providing each individual zone with a personalised comfort system. This ensures total comfort for the occupants of offices, schools, hospitals, assisted-living facilities, hotels operating in the building.
Zoning offers maximum individual comfort and energy savings, because each zone receives air-conditioning only when it needs it. Each zone of the CITY MULTI VRF system has its own indoor unit or group of indoor units that precisely controls the indoor temperature, while operating with minimal energy usage. One has to only set the comfort level and then sit back while the technology takes over. VRF saves 40 to 50% less power than conventional HVAC systems.
Zero OPD refrigerants: Newly developed cooling agents like the R410A refrigerant are chlorine-free, non-flammable, environment friendly. The R410A is labelled as zero ODP (ozone depletion potential) _ and is about 20% more energy efficient compared to conventional air-conditioners.
Inverters
Inverter technology systems developed in Japan, produce the right amount of output to match the exact requirements in any commercial or residential space.
In this system, the compressor remains on, but will consume only that much power required to keep the temperature stable at a desired level. It automatically adjusts itself based on the requirement of the room, thus drawing much less power and consuming lesser units of electricity. These systems work so efficiently that they don’t waste valuable energy by over heating or over cooling; resulting in greatly reduced running cost. Inverter technology can save up to 30 to 50% of electricity over a regular air conditioner.
Econo-cool smart save systems
The Econo-cool smart save system is a one touch operation (system), which automatically adjusts the direction of airflow based on the temperature at the air outlet. The set temperature can therefore be two degree Celsius above the conventional temperature settings without the loss of comfort and with 20% increase in energy efficiency.
Advanced compressors and DC motors
The latest innovation in compressor technology helps improve efficiency by using a DC brushless motor. This reduces standby power consumption by a heating compressor instead of a crankcase heater. The Re-engineered shape of the bell-mouth hood has improved static pressure at the exhaust air outlet facilitating a reduction in fan input power.
Environment temperature control technology has also reduced the energy consumption by controlling the refrigerant temperature according to the operational load and raising evaporating temperatures. This product engineering gives an edge over conventional HVAC units in the market.
With the HVAC market in India pegged at around Rs 7500 to Rs 8000 crore and poised to grow at 13.6% over next five years, manufacturers are wooing customers with the promise of long-term cost saving. Some companies like Mitsubishi Electric have managed to strike a fine balance in offering performance, reliability, low power consumption and a long operational life.
The Environmental Vision 2021 is an initiative that was launched by Mitsubishi Electric way back in 1991 as a 30-year effort to build a greener planet. It sets dramatic goals for reducing green house gas emissions (reducing carbon dioxide emissions from product usage by 30%), recycling resources and raising environmental awareness by 2021.
