May 2021

The demand for cooling in the UK and globally is rising, rapidly. As the climate warms, this demand growth is set to continue. Not only is the world becoming warmer, but populations are growing, and incomes are rising. This combination means sales of air conditioning (AC) units in emerging economies are rising too. In 2018, the global market size for refrigeration and air conditioning exceeded that of solar panels [1].

Cooling is now the fastest-growing use of energy in buildings. AC and electric fan usage account for about 20% of the total electricity in buildings globally – or 10% of all electricity consumption [2].

This is not good news for the planet.

DAMAGING GHG EMISSIONS

AC units result in greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) from their use of energy and ‘F-gas’ refrigerants. This has led to cooling in buildings, industrial processes and supply chains currently accounting for 7% of global GHGs [3].

The International Energy Agency (IEA) predicts that global electricity demand for space cooling alone is forecast to triple by 2050, and by 2060, could match that of heating. If we continue with current methods of cooling at this rate of growth, the surge in greenhouse gas emissions would hamper our ability to manage global warming and the environmental impact could be devastating.

CLEANER SOLUTIONS

But there are solutions. Not all cooling applications contribute to climate change. We can look to alternative, cleaner cooling methods and address energy efficiency across cooling technologies. Efficient and clean development of cooling can make a significant contribution towards respecting the 1.5°C and 2°C temperature limits in the Paris climate agreement [4].

Instead of using AC and mechanical systems, space cooling can be provided passively [5]. Passive cooling refers to any technologies or design features adopted to reduce the temperature of buildings without the need for power consumption. Embedding passive cooling in new dwellings has been proposed by the 2021 MHCLG Future Buildings Standard consultation [6] but is not yet in legislation for existing buildings.

LIGHT COOLING

One method of passive cooling is ‘light cooling’ (also referred to as ‘non-condensing cooling’).

Light cooling is a form of gentle cooling used to cool down a room without having to use a lot of energy. It’s ideal for pairing with low-temperature heating systems.

Light cooling occurs when the water temperature is consistently higher than the condensing temperature (or dew point), usually around 15°C depending on weather conditions, and therefore no condensation water is formed. The energy consumption is much lower than with air conditioning units, especially in combination with a heat pump so it’s much better for the planet.

DYNAMIC BOOST HYBRID

This method of environmentally friendly light cooling is achievable with Jaga’s revolutionary new radiator booster set – Dynamic Boost Hybrid (DBH).

This pioneering technology utilises small electric thermal activators placed inside the Jaga Low-H2O radiator to significantly boost the output without increasing radiator size, which is often done when a heat pump is installed to compensate for the lower water temperatures.

DBH is an enhanced version of Jaga’s former Dynamic Boost Effect (DBE) technology which has helped provide rapid heating in winter for thousands of buildings across the UK, but it now has the added benefit of providing refreshing cooling in summer – all from the same compact radiator.

As DBH enables high outputs with all water temperatures, hot and cold, it is perfectly suited to heat pumps that can supply cooling water, and can be retrofitted to almost all energy-efficient Jaga Low-H2O radiators to provide two to three times more output at the same compact size.

If the weather is mild and neither heating nor cooling are needed, DBH can offer an alternative via the ‘Breeze’ mode configuration. Breeze mode provides light air movement, helping circulate the air around the space by running the fans regardless of water temperature. Therefore, it is particularly useful where there is no cooling water in the system (i.e. no heat pump).

GET IN TOUCH

To learn more about Jaga’s new DBH heating and light cooling technology, click here or get in touch with our expert team today. We’ll be happy to help you find the most efficient and environmentally friendly cooling solution for your space.

REFERENCES

1. Economist Intelligence Unit (2019). ‘The Cooling Imperative: Forecasting the size and source of future cooling demand’.
2. International Energy Agency (2018). ‘The Future of Cooling: Opportunities for energy-efficient air conditioning, https://www.iea.org/reports/the-future-of-cooling
3. Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (2021), ‘Sustainable cooling’, https://post.parliament.uk/research-briefings/post-pn-0642/
4. Guertler, P. (2019). ‘Why demand for cooling could make the world hotter’ https://www.carbonbrief.org/guest-post-why-demand-for-cooling-could-make-the-world-hotter Carbon Brief.
5. Bhamare, D. K. et al. (2019). ‘Passive cooling techniques for building and their applicability in different climatic zones—The state of art’. Energy and Buildings, Vol 198, 467–490.
6. MHCLG (2021). ‘The Future Buildings Standard: Consultation on changes to Part Land Part F of the Building Regulations for non-domestic buildings and dwellings; and overheating in new residential buildings.’ https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/956037/Future_Buildings_Standard_consultation_document.pdf