NEW YORK, May 1, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- A new study by RMI and the Global Cooling Efficiency Accelerator (GCEA) reveals that next-generation air conditioners (ACs) use 60% less energy than conventional units and cut lifetime energy costs by more than 50%--a breakthrough in energy-efficient cooling technology.
The nine-month study, conducted in Palava City, India, in partnership with Lodha and CEPT University, tested high-efficiency AC prototypes under extreme summer conditions and compared them to standard units. The results show that super-efficient ACs not only consume significantly less energy but also improve comfort and grid reliability. Key findings include:
-- Super-efficient ACs used 60% less energy than a typical AC in real-world
conditions over the nine-month testing period. Unlike typical units, the
super-efficient ACs consistently achieved the target temperature and
relative humidity for optimal comfort.
-- Typical ACs use significant extra energy to control humidity--a factor
not captured by current AC performance metrics. Testing revealed that up
to 25% more energy is used just to manage humidity in conventional
units.
-- In addition to energy savings, super-efficient ACs reduce peak
electricity demand by 50% compared with typical ACs. This helps prevent
power outages and avoids costly infrastructure upgrades by lowering
stress on the grid.
-- Over their lifetime, super-efficient ACs can save consumers more than
50% on energy bills, resulting in a substantially lower total cost of
ownership.
-- These findings show that next-generation ACs could transform cooling
worldwide. If the 3 billion ACs expected to be installed globally by
2050 were super-efficient models, we could avoid 68 gigatons of
emissions--more than the world's total annual emissions today.
Air conditioning is set to become the world's second-largest driver of electricity demand by 2030--behind only electric vehicles and generating over three times the load of data centers. If current technologies persist, rising cooling needs will fuel a cycle of higher demand, rising costs, and pressure on already-stressed power grids. This study shows that scaling super-efficient ACs offers a clear solution: cutting energy use, lowering costs, improving comfort, and easing strain on the grid.
Read the report: https://rmi.org/insight/bringing-super-efficient-air-conditioners-to-the-market/ [https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=4418286-1&h=1647664383&u=https%3A%2F%2Frmi.org%2Finsight%2Fbringing-super-efficient-air-conditioners-to-the-market%2F&a=https%3A%2F%2Frmi.org%2Finsight%2Fbringing-super-efficient-air-conditioners-to-the-market%2F]
About RMI:
Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) transforms global energy systems through market-driven solutions to secure a prosperous, resilient, clean energy future for all. RMI works with businesses, policymakers, and communities to scale renewable energy solutions, reduce energy waste, and boost access to affordable clean energy.
Media Contact:
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