The World needs a better, radically efficient air conditioner

Lodha and RMI – a global independent, non-partisan, nonprofit that initiated the Global Cooling Prize with the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, and Mission Innovation to identify room air conditioners with 5X lower climate impact – have partnered to provide the data critical to address barriers to adoption of super-efficient air conditioners in the market.

Globally, temperatures are on the rise, leading to an increase in the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events. This trend is mirrored in India, which recorded its second-warmest year in 2023. The country is experiencing more frequent and severe episodes of extreme temperatures and higher humidity levels, both of which pose significant threats to human health. These environmental changes can be life-threatening and have profound implications for public health, infrastructure, and the economy. The correlation between rising global temperatures and localized climatic extremes underscores an urgent need for comprehensive strategies to mitigate and adapt to these changes.

Rising Demand for Cooling

Demand for space cooling is expected to surge over the next two decades in the country, making it the world’s fastest-growing air conditioner (AC) market. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), by 2050, space cooling is expected to account for ~45% of India's peak electricity demand, largely due to the adoption of ACs.

IEA 2018; The Future of Cooling , License: CC BY 4.0

This growth in cooling demand combined with an anticipated 2-2.5X growth in floor area of residential and commercial buildings by 2040 necessitates a whole systems approach that enables more thermally efficient buildings through both design and advanced materials as well as a transition to super-efficient air conditioners to decouple the increased ownership of ACs from accelerating greenhouse emissions.

Next-gen Cooling Solutions

The Lodha Net Zero Urban Accelerator is taking a whole systems approach to achieve its goal of making net-zero the new normal for the built environment. This includes the implementation of superior design and construction practices, the use of passive cooling strategies, and the integration of high-efficiency room air conditioners to ensure thermal comfort for residents. With support from the Clean Cooling Collaborative and leveraging the partnership between RMI and Lodha, the Accelerator is now a catalyst to jump-start the market for next-generation super-efficient air conditioners, aka products with attributes and performance levels demonstrated through the Global Cooling Prize. The Global Cooling Prize – an international innovation competition that successfully concluded in April 2021 – demonstrated that products that have significantly lower climate impact than the best available technology and up to four times more efficient than entry-level products (Prize baseline) are possible.

The exceptionally high efficiency was achieved, primarily, due to the unit’s ability to sense and control both temperature and humidity, particularly in warm and humid climate conditions. Despite this disruptive advancement, these models are not available to consumers. Even if such products were introduced to the market, they might not achieve widespread adoption due to limited awareness and understanding of their benefits and lower lifecycle costs. Additionally, being grouped into the highest energy efficiency label category could obscure its market impact, sending no clear signals about future demand.

Real-world testing at Palava

Through the Accelerator and with contributions from the Lodha Group, RMI in partnership with the Center for Advanced Research in Building Science and Energy, CRDF, CEPT University, India, is presently conducting a real-world comparative assessment of room AC products at Palava, India. [AK10] The goal of the study is to comprehensively demonstrate the actual performance of room air conditioners optimized for real-world conditions, especially in managing humidity, compared to those that are not. 

The field testing which commenced at Palava city in October 2023 is anticipated to conclude by June 2024.

Insights will be generated at an aggregate level from collected data and placed in the public domain in the coming months. 

Creating a Market for Next-Generation Super-Efficient ACs

The findings from real-world testing will be key to address barriers to adoption of next generation super-efficient air conditioners in the market.  It will aid in creating a performance specification for highly efficient air conditioners, serving as a guideline for manufacturers and the broader industry. The testing data and findings will also supplement the work to update performance metrics for next-generation room air conditioners and boost buyer confidence in the product's performance and cost over its lifetime. Aligning these market forces will ultimately  encourage AC manufacturers in India and globally to launch these advanced, super-efficient models into the market. 

We will soon publish our study findings to benefit the broader ecosystem.

Tarun Garg

tgarg@rmi-indiafoundation.org  

Tarun is a Principal at RMI India Foundation and leads the built environment workstream. He is deeply passionate about whole systems solutions to decarbonise India’s built environment. With over 14 years of experience managing diverse projects across India, Asia, and Africa. His work is dedicated to advancing energy efficiency, meeting NDC commitments, and achieving Sustainable Development Goals.

Ankit Kalanki

akalanki@rmi.org

 Ankit is a Principal with RMI’s Carbon-Free Buildings Program. He helped execute the Global Cooling Prize Initiative, leading the development of technical criteria and testing protocols, managing technical partners, and creating thought leadership pieces. He continues to expand RMI’s cooling work by focusing on market shaping activities that can eliminate the barriers to adoption and enable transition to high-efficiency air-conditioning technologies.

Lodha Net Zero Urban Accelerator, launched in July 2022, is a pioneering initiative with an overarching goal to maximize the building sector's contribution to India's 2070 net-zero emissions target. The Accelerator focuses on enhancing resilience, health, affordability, and access to energy services for all through actionable initiatives in five key areas: Embodied Carbon, Passive Design Solutions, Efficient Equipment, Clean Energy, and Clean Mobility.