German clean cooling pioneer, Efficient Energy, has announced the world’s first climate neutral chiller.
The clean tech company will produce its eChiller product series from 2022.
The refrigeration and air-conditioning equipment used by the global refrigeration industry accounts for around eight per cent of the world’s CO2 emissions. But these are only the direct and indirect emissions caused by the fluorinated refrigerants and energy-intensive processes used by conventional technologies:
If the emissions of a chiller life cycle analysis are used as the basis, and the entire net impact on the environment – from raw material extraction to disposal – is calculated, the bottom line is even more alarming.
Together with climate protection expert ClimatePartner the carbon footprint of the entire eChiller product family was calculated and documented, from the raw material and logistics data through to packaging and disposal.
The CO2 equivalent emissions of these products were then offset by a recognised climate protection project that is certified in accordance with international standards and, additionally to climate protection, also contributes to many of the United Nations’ Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs).
By combining the use of water as a climate-neutral refrigerant and the use of green electricity, Efficient Energy can offer its customers comprehensive, climate-neutral cooling that allows the operator to reduce its carbon footprint in this area to zero, according to Efficient Energy CEO, George Dietrich.
“Not only are we pioneers of sustainable refrigeration technology and stand for water as a refrigerant, but holistic climate protection and sustainable business belong to our unambiguous corporate values,” he said.
“With Efficient Energy itself having been climate neutral since 2020, it’s the next logical step of our Green Pledge that our products should also be climate neutral.
“I hope as many companies as possible will be as resolute as us in implementing their sustainability goals, and will have the courage to take the next steps towards a climate-neutral industry.”
As a climate-neutral company, Efficient Energy has already been helping the climate protection project in Virunga National Park in Congo to construct small hydropower plants since 2021.
The aim of the climate protection project is to use the hydroelectric power plants as an alternative energy source, and thereby avoid deforestation for lignite production – saving trees that serve as the habitat of a third of the mountain gorillas still living in the wild, thus providing them with protection.
Head of sales and member of the Efficient Energy executive board, Thomas Bartmann, said eChiller products carry the independent label climate neutral, thereby rendering their climate neutrality transparent for customers allowing them to learn more about the climate protection project.
“Efficient Energy’s eChiller product range employs BlueZero technology which allows water to be used as a refrigerant and dispense entirely with environmentally harmful and sometimes hazardous F-gases,” he said.
“BlueZero technology is ideal for cooling data centres and server rooms, industrial processes, machines and switch cabinets as well as for building air conditioning.”