Spotted: Almost 25 per cent of the energy produced worldwide is used to heat and cool homes and commercial buildings. And the process of generating this energy is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions. District heating and cooling systems are one potential solution. These generate heat centrally and distribute it across a network of buildings in the same neighbourhood, which is more efficient than heating or cooling buildings individually. Usually, such systems use water to transfer heat, but now, Swiss cleantech startup ExerGo is using CO2 as an energy transfer fluid for its closed-loop system.
The CO2 is the basis of a thermal network powered by renewable resources and waste heat. By using liquid and vapour CO2 as a working fluid, the system increases energy transport efficiency over conventional water-based systems. This greater efficiency, in turn, allows for the use of small and more flexible piping, which can save up to 60 per cent in installation costs and time, while reducing noise and air pollution. ExerGo claims that its compact network can save up to 80 per cent in primary energy consumption over comparable fossil fuel-based systems.
In October last year, ExerGo won the European Heat Pump Association‘s Heat Pump City of the Year Award for the successful implementation of its technology in Sion, Switzerland.
Springwise has spotted other technologies that are helping to decarbonise the energy-intensive cooling and heating systems used around the world, including a heat pump that is powered by sound and affordable geothermal heating and cooling systems.
Spotted: In the US alone, around 74 per cent of all energy is used by buildings, and of that figure, 50 per cent of the peak hour consumption is used keeping buildings cool with air conditioning. This is where startup Nostromo Energy comes in, with its new methodology for energy storage that could relieve the power grid of some of the strain – and environmental cost – of cooling buildings. The company’s ‘IceBrick’ system utilises off-peak hours energy to freeze water in an ice brick array, which can then be used to chill water for cooling at a later point.
Today’s commercial-scale air conditioners are energy-intensive because they constantly run ‘chillers’ to cool water, which then circulates in a building, cooling the air. Nostromo’s system reduces the use of chillers by creating ice in an array of capsules at off-peak times – a process that ‘stores’ cooling energy. The building’s circulated water can then be passed through the array to be cooled at peak times, without the energy drain of constantly running the chillers. In fact, the chillers can be turned off when the IceBrick is in use, reducing electricity consumption at key moments.
The system is extremely modular and can be fitted to a building’s available rooftop and basement space. The technology also has good longevity as water can be frozen and unfrozen for many years with only minimal degradation.
A cloud-based management platform is used to control the system and make adjustments depending on the business’s particular goals. For example, the system can be optimised for financial gains or to reduce carbon emissions, maximise electric vehicle charging capacity, or provide enhanced backup. Nostromo works with a business’s engineers to install the IceBrick system on new builds or as a retrofit, with the company taking care of permitting and installation.
Springwise has also spotted other innovations using ice for cooling, such as fridges for areas without constant power. The Springwise library also contains other innovations reducing the impact of air conditioning, such as a system that uses salt water to remove moisture, and a 3D-printed air conditioning system.
Spotted: Kenya has a thriving livestock industry that employs half of all agricultural workers in the country. But gaps in the cold chain contribute to large volumes of food being wasted, with Sub-Saharan Africa losing 36 per cent of all food post-harvest, and 94 per cent of that figure being caused by inefficiencies across the supply chain. With the goal of finding a way to reduce waste and improve income for local communities, Kenya-based company Baridi has created a means of using Africa’s sunshine to preserve meats.
The startup’s solar-powered cooling solutions keep fresh meats cold or frozen, and the solar chillers come in three different sizes: a ‘Nano’, ‘Mini’, or ‘Mega’. The Nano is 10 square feet, while the Mini is 20 square feet and the Mega 40 square feet.
Mindful of the range of sizes of operations run by farmers and distributors, Baridi makes it possible to buy or rent a unit via a leasing agreement. And as part of founder Tracy Kimathi’s work to involve more women in the country’s meat supply chain system and boost economic opportunities for families, Baridi also offers a pay-as-you-store model for smallholder farmers and smaller distributors.
Each solar-powered unit the company installs reduces annual meat spoilage by more than 290,000 kilogrammes and decreases public market losses by up to 15 per cent. The units are Internet-of-Things- (IoT) enabled to allow remote monitoring of temperatures and humidity, as well as door openings. Baridi plans to install more than 60 of the cooling units within the next five years at locations across the country.
As temperatures rise around the world, refrigeration becomes even more important to the healthcare and food supply chains that crisscross the globe. From creating ways to store vaccinations and other medicines as solids to portable, solar-powered refrigerators, innovations in the Springwise database showcase the importance of bringing sustainable cooling solutions to communities everywhere.
Spotted: As the world heats up, there is a rapidly increasing demand for more cooling technologies. However, nearly 20 per cent of the electricity used in buildings around the world is already going to air conditioners and fans, with cooling accounting for around 7 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions. What is needed is more efficient cooling technologies, and this is exactly what US startup SkyCool hopes to deliver.
SkyCool grew out of research in the lab of Aaswath Raman at the University of Pennsylvania. The technology is based on infrared radiation and could improve the efficiency of cooling systems. All objects give off heat in the form of infrared radiation, and this heat is then trapped by the atmosphere. However, radiation given off in wavelengths of between 8 and 13 micrometres is able to escape into space. Raman and his team have developed a proprietary material that converts the infrared light leaving a surface into this wavelength range, allowing the heat to escape into space and cooling the object in the process.
The company’s technology can be applied in several ways. First, the company has developed a system of cooling panels, covered in SkyCool’s dual-mode film, that can improve any air conditioning or refrigeration system. The panels reflect sunlight and emit infrared radiation to the cold sky. Together these mechanisms keep the panels, and cooling fluid pumped through them, up to 15 degrees Fahrenheit below the ambient temperature with zero electrical input. As an add-on to an existing cooling system, SkyCool’s panels can improve efficiency by 10 to 40 per cent. And, in some situations, the panels can replace existing cooling systems altogether, in which case energy savings can reach up to 90 per cent.
The company’s optical film can also be used in other applications separate from the panels. For example, it can be applied to batteries, outdoor shade structures, metal roofs, or refrigerated vehicles, bringing the benefits of solar reflectivity and infrared radiation to these surfaces.
SkyCool has recently completed a $5 million Seed funding round, which will allow the company to move from the commercial-scale pilots to scaled deployments of its panel and film products. The company is focusing on deploying panels in commercial premises such as grocery stores, refrigerated warehouses, data centres, and similar buildings that require consistent cooling.
Cooling cities and other areas more efficiently is becoming a vital component to achieving net zero. Other innovations that are addressing this issue include insulation made from sheep wool and paint that passively cools buildings.
Spotted: The International Energy Agency (IEA) says that in the net zero by 2050 scenario, direct air capture (DAC) needs to reach almost 60 megatonnes of CO2 every year by 2030. Currently, the 18 direct air capture plants in operation around the world are only sequestering 0.01 megatonnes of CO2. While experts consider 60 megatonnes of CO2 captured per year to be an attainable amount, additional large-scale plants are needed to reach that volume.
As well as building new plants, retrofitting old structures could be another way of reducing global emissions. German company NeoCarbon has built a system that integrates with existing cooling towers to capture carbon dioxide from the circulating air. As well as being ten times less expensive than a new carbon capture plant, NeoCarbon’s design could remove several billion tonnes of CO2 if it was applied to Europe’s current industrial manufacturing infrastructure.
NeoCarbon works with businesses to set up the carbon capture system and requires no upfront costs. Carbon dioxide is removed from the air as it circulates throughout the cooling towers, reducing companies’ emissions footprint without requiring any additional building expenses.
NeoCarbon transforms captured emissions into newly usable formats, including industrial chemicals and food-grade materials. Brands can buy removal credits as well as the captured carbon dioxide for use in their plants, and the NeoCarbon team says that their technology is mass market ready.
Sequestering carbon is an exciting area of growth, with Springwise spotting innovations improving ways emissions are captured, as well as expanding the uses of the waste carbon. In the fashion industry, one company is replacing traditional polyester fabrics with a net-positive version made from carbon dioxide. And another organisation is using geothermal energy to sustainably power its direct air capture systems.
Record-high utility prices have homeowners eager for short- and long-term solutions to reduce costs and improve the efficiency and value of their home. Operating an HVAC system takes the largest toll on energy use in most homes and drives up utility bills. And it’s absolutely crucial to the occupants’ comfort. Debunking a few common heating and cooling myths reveals ways to lower energy costs and lessen the impacts of climate change.
MYTH #1 My other appliances don’t impact how well my HVAC works
Most appliances and tools use energy even when not in active use. Items that require a lot of energy to operate (e.g., dryer, dishwasher, EV charger) increase a home’s peak load, i.e., how much electricity it needs to pull from the local grid at a given moment. Running several energy-intensive or inefficient appliances at once, particularly at a time when energy costs are high (summer afternoons, for instance) can not only trigger higher bills and strain the grid, but also cause the appliances themselves to run less efficiently.
Look up your utility’s rate schedule to understand when costs and demand are high, and try to plan around these windows. Not every task can be completed overnight, but waiting to charge your EV or run the dishwasher will help you avoid peak pricing and keep other appliances and systems, like HVAC, more efficient and effective.
Whole home energy monitoring devices and platforms provide a deeper understanding of how energy is being used and wasted in your home. These are available at a variety of price points and identifying simple actions that could lower utility bills may make that upfront cost worth it! In the same way, upgrading to smart appliances with advanced technology and those with ENERGY STAR certifications could prove worthwhile investments in the long term.
MYTH #2 I won’t notice a difference in energy costs with a smart thermostat
The US Energy Information Administration estimates that HVAC operations account for over 50% of home energy use. That’s a large portion of your utility bill and an area where even small changes to your habits can make a big difference.
Smart thermostats have grown in popularity in recent years. These devices are designed to take the guesswork out of saving energy while also keeping your home comfortable. Many come with suggested eco-friendly settings or profiles that run automatically and will raise or lower your set temperature during portions of the day to maintain efficiency and keep costs low.
Even just upgrading from a traditional thermostat to one that allows for programmable digital temperature controls can help lower costs over time. While you may not notice an immediate difference on your next bill, the consistent changes will reduce costs and preserve the health of your HVAC system. For instance, setting a thermostat back 7-10 degrees for eight hours a day can lower utility bill costs by 10% annually.
MYTH #3 Relying on space heaters in drafty parts of my home is more efficient
Space heaters are notoriously inefficient and expensive to run. If you’re bringing in space heaters to keep areas of your home warm while your heating is also running, you have a larger weatherization problem. Drafts come from improper or worn sealing on doors and windows, in attics and even around electrical outlets. Cranking up your heat or plugging in those space heaters is not a long-term fix and will cost you more over time as heat continues to escape in these places.
The same goes for summer. If you find yourself turning to window or wall units and additional fans because your central air conditioning isn’t up to the job, insulation issues are to blame.
Addressing these issues can be simple. Look for DIY weather-sealing solutions like adhesive barrier tape that can be applied to windows and doors. A professional home energy audit may also come in handy here if initial repairs don’t do the trick. These assessments can cost as little as $100 to $150 and identify places where larger, planned repairs can lead to terrific cost savings over time. According to the EPA, air sealing and insulation upgrades in attics, crawlspaces, and basement rim joists can save homeowners an average of 15% on heating and cooling costs.
MYTH #4 Setting my thermostat higher/lower will heat/cool my home more quickly
Maintaining a consistent, eco-friendly temperature is always the smarter choice for energy efficiency and the health of your HVAC system. The DOE recommends a set point of 68 degrees during winter months and 78 degrees for summer. While it can be tempting to bump the temperature down several degrees on a hot day when you’re returning home from running errands and craving a blast of cool air, doing so will not cool your home faster and, in fact, a lot of energy can be wasted in the process.
Even if you want variation in your home’s climate throughout the day—keeping things cooler at night or warmer on winter days when you work from home, for instance—try to stick to a schedule and consistent set points when you do make changes. This is another instance where a smart thermostat with automated and programmable options can help you save energy and reduce bills by sticking to your plan. No matter what type of thermostat you’re using, you can also look to fans, shades, dehumidifiers, and other tools to help maintain comfortable temperatures in your home.
Easing the path to savings
To begin addressing these myths, you simply need to commit to behavioral changes that require little to no financial investment. There are also larger upgrades and projects, including installing renewable energy technologies and storage to lower a home’s carbon footprint and decrease utility costs over time. But that undertaking will always be preceded by an energy and weatherization audit and any needed improvements.
While many homeowners still may be unsure where to start, the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) introduced last year extended a 30% tax credit for rooftop solar and energy storage, and expanded rebates and tax credits for a range of home improvements and technologies. By easing the point of entry for millions of homeowners, the IRA offers attractive options for bolstering home efficiency and value through clean energy.
The author:
Greg Fasullo is CEO of Elevation, a whole-home energy solutions company that provides energy efficiency repairs, solar panels, and energy consumption education across the country.
Spotted: Fluorinated gases (F-gas) are so harmful to the environment that the EU is phasing out their use, aiming to get down to 20 per cent of the 2014 amount by 2030, and banning their use in new devices where “less harmful alternatives are widely available.” German company Magnotherm is one of the companies creating alternatives that provide refrigeration without the environmental toxins.
Taking advantage of the magnetocaloric effect (MCE) – a process in which some materials heat up when magnetised – the Magnotherm team uses surges in magnetic fields to heat and cool products. The process uses no F-gases and produces zero direct carbon dioxide emissions. When materials are placed in thermally insulated chambers and a magnetic force is applied, the materials heat up. Extracting the heat then allows for products to be heated or cooled, as needed.
The company recently introduced its first product available for commercial sale. The Polaris refrigerator is a fully magnetic beverage cooler that holds up to 150 drinks and cools them down to five degrees Celsius. Importantly, the system requires little power for its low-pressure processes, making it almost noise-free. Magnotherm builds bespoke cooling systems that can be set to specific temperatures, making the technology usable in many industries. Efficiency remains steady regardless of the size of the system.
Cooling is so important to the modern food industry that innovators are improving almost every aspect of the cold chain. Springwise has spotted a supercooling system that prevents ice formation as well as solar-powered refrigerated trucks.
Spotted: Cooling, including refrigeration and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, is essential for human health and food safety. It is also estimated to account for up to 10 per cent of global CO2 emissions. However, in industries such as food production and delivery, it is impossible to turn down the thermostat as products need to be kept at constant temperatures to avoid spoilage. But now there is a product that can help users save energy and reduce waste.
The Therma Cooling Intelligence Platform is a wireless system that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to monitor and optimise refrigeration and HVAC systems. It offers 24/7 temperature and humidity tracking, alerts users to faulty equipment, reduces energy consumption, and moves electricity usage to off-peak hours. Energy data is sent directly to a user-friendly dashboard, allowing operators to track energy bill savings and energy consumption, while empowering them to adjust usage as required.
As Therma founder and CEO, Manik Suri, points out: “The massive growth of refrigeration and air conditioning globally will greatly accelerate climate change unless we revolutionise cooling technologies.”
Therma’s system has already been deployed with more than a thousand customers across restaurants, hospitality, education, and food manufacturing, and the company recently completed a $19 million (around €17.9 million) funding round led by Zero Infinity Partners.
Therma° is not the only company working to reduce energy consumption. Springwise has spotted other innovations in this space, including solar powered refrigerated trucks, and an off-grid solar refrigerator.
Spotted: As global temperatures continue to rise, the demand for air conditioning is skyrocketing. In fact, according to a recent study, the use of air conditioners is expected to quadruple by 2050. This increased demand will not only strain the world’s energy resources – it will also contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. In response, engineers in China and Germany have designed a new type of foam made from wood-based cellulose nanocrystals.
The new foam is lightweight and reflective, meaning it can deflect solar radiation and allow heat to escape. The material is also thermally insulating. In fact, during trials the material reflected 96 per cent of sunlight and emitted over 90 per cent of the infrared radiation absorbed. If widely adopted, this technology could help to reduce the cooling energy needs of buildings by more than a third. As the world looks for ways to mitigate the effects of climate change, this foam has the potential to be a game-changer.
When placed over an aluminum foil-lined box, the researchers found that the material was able to keep the temperature inside the box 16 degrees Fahrenheit cooler than the outside. And when the air was humid, the material kept the inside of the box 13 degrees Fahrenheit cooler. The team estimates that placing the foam on the roof and exterior walls of a building could reduce its cooling costs by up to 30 per cent. So far, the material has only been tested in small spaces. But if it can be scaled up to commercial applications, it could provide a much-needed break for our overburdened air conditioners.
The researchers believe the foam can be adapted to work in a wide range of environments, making it an ideal solution for a variety of applications.
The study also provides an important proof of concept for the use of cellulose-based materials in thermal management, and it is hoped that this technology will eventually lead to significant reductions in energy consumption.
Other recent heating and cooling innovations spotted by Springwise include a smart building management system that heats and cools offices as needed, a smart roof coating for better energy saving, and a window coating that blocks infrared light.
In our latest Dezeen Lookbook, we’ve rounded up 10 of the most refreshing outdoor swimming pools that architects have designed for houses around the world, including a private lagoon, a “Roman bath” and hillside infinity pool.
Casa Xólotl, Mexico, by Punto Arquitectónico
This outdoor pool weaves in and out of the stone walls of Casa Xólotl, a Mexican house that Punto Arquitectónico renovated after finding it in a state of disrepair.
The water is accessed by steps down from an outdoor living area or it can be enjoyed from an overhanging hammock. On one side of the pool, a waterfall feature has been incorporated within the doorway of the home’s former cistern.
Find out more about Casa Xólotl ›
Los Vilos House, Chile, by Cristián Boza
The late 20th-century retreat of architect Cristián Boza nestles into a cliffside in Chile that overlooks the South Pacific Ocean.
One of its key features is its circular, stone swimming pool that slots into the hillside, which is accessed via an elevated bridge that extends from a roof terrace. For residents who prefer wild water swimming, a large staircase leads down from the top of the site to the oceanfront.
Find out more about Los Vilos House ›
Casa B, Malta, by Architrend Architecture
A rooftop swimming pool is the focal point of Casa B, a concrete house that Architrend Architecture has slotted within a traditional terrace in the seaside town in Malta.
The pool is visible from street level through a glass side that is framed by a square concrete arch, while its glass-bottom allows residents to observe bathers from inside the home’s double-height entrance lobby.
Find out more about Casa B ›
Oak Pass House, USA, by Walker Workshop
This picturesque infinity pool stretches 22 metres along the edge of the roof terrace of a Californian home, which Walker Workshop has carved into a hillside in Beverly Hills.
The pool sweeps beneath and reflects the bough of one of biggest of 130 protected oak trees abutting the site, around which the entire house was designed.
Find out more about Oak Pass House ›
Casa Monterry, Mexico, by Tadao Ando
Tadao Ando’s Casa Monterry features a long, linear pool that juts out from its hillside setting to provide uninterrupted views of the Sierra Las Mitras mountains.
Its minimalist appearance complements the geometry of the house behind it, which is composed of various horizontal and vertical concrete planes that appear to emerge from the landscape at different heights – including the poolside patio.
Find out more about Casa Monterry ›
Canal House, USA, by Studio MK27
One of the most unusual private pools in Dezeen’s archive belongs to Canal House in Miami Beach. The natural swimming pool takes the form of a lagoon within which residents can swim with fish.
It measures 30 metres in length and is surrounded by vegetation to provide an “authentically manicured” natural environment, while concrete columns with in it support a meandering walkway overhead.
Find out more about Canal House ›
Jellyfish House, Spain, by Wiel Arets Architects
This large glass-bottomed pool cantilevers from the roof of the Jellyfish House in Marbella to offer clear views of the Mediterranean Sea over neighbouring houses.
It overhangs a semi-enclosed terrace adjacent to the entrance of the home, bathing it in rippling light projections and shadows of overhead swimmers. It also shares a glass wall with the first-floor kitchen to provide glimpses of bathers inside the house.
Find out more about Jellyfish House ›
Villa Molli, Italy, by Lorenzo Guzzini
Architect Lorenzo Guzzini designed a minimalist infinity pool for this grey-stone villa in Italy, which helps to retain focus on the panoramic views of Lake Como.
According to Guzzini, the pool “is not a mere cliche, but it has an architectural and symbolic function, uniting visually to the wild ‘aqua dulza’ of the lake”.
Find out more about Villa Molli ›
Ruckers Hill House, Australia, by Studio Bright
The elongated outdoor pool at Ruckers Hill House in Melbourne is designed to mimic a “collonaded Roman bath”, lined with tall, white-brick walls inset with upturned arches.
It was built by Studio Bright as part of its extension of an existing Edwardian-era home and is framed through a large glass window within an open-plan kitchen and dining room.
Find out more about Ruckers Hill House ›
Panorama, Argentina, by Fernanda Marques
A 10-metre-long pool shares a thick glass wall with the double-height living area of this Argentinan apartment, resembling a giant aquarium.
It was sewn into a narrow space in the apartment’s garden while Fernanda Marques was carrying out an interior renovation. It is accessible from either the home’s second floor or a statement folded stair in the garden.
Most appliances and tools use energy even when not in active use. Items that require a lot of energy to operate (e.g., dryer, dishwasher, EV charger) increase a home’s peak load, i.e., how much electricity it needs to pull from the local grid at a given moment. Running several energy-intensive or inefficient appliances at once, particularly at a time when energy costs are high (summer afternoons, for instance) can not only trigger higher bills and strain the grid, but also cause the appliances themselves to run less efficiently.
Greg Fasullo is CEO of 
