Low-GWP refrigerant alternatives and refrigerant lifecycle management
Buildings waste enormous amounts of energy
Buildings consume about 40% of global energy and produce roughly the same share of carbon emissions. Most of this energy gets wasted through poor insulation, inefficient heating and cooling systems, and outdated design practices.
The building sector moves slowly — most structures last decades, and retrofitting existing buildings is complex and expensive. Meanwhile, billions of people worldwide still rely on polluting fuels for basic needs like cooking and heating water, creating both climate and health problems.
Solving building energy waste requires both cutting-edge technology and practical approaches that work at massive scale. The opportunity is enormous: dramatically reducing emissions while making buildings more comfortable and affordable to operate.
Heating and cooling still run on fossil fuels in most buildings
Most buildings worldwide still burn gas, oil, or coal for heat, or use electricity from fossil fuel power plants for cooling. This creates direct emissions and locks in decades of future pollution.
Electrifying building heating and cooling is essential for decarbonization, but requires new technologies that work efficiently in different climates and building types.
Low-GWP refrigerant alternatives and refrigerant lifecycle management
Replacement chemicals for air conditioning and heat pump systems that have much lower global warming potential than current refrigerants. This includes natural refrigerants like CO2 and ammonia, as well as new synthetic options. Proper handling, recycling, and disposal of refrigerants prevents potent greenhouse gases from escaping to the atmosphere.