Medicines, including vaccines, require cooling and many industries are dependent on cooling. If we were to stop cooling datacenters, the Internet would collapse within a few minutes.

 

Artificial cooling is a relatively new phenomenon. The first air conditioning units for domestic use were introduced in 1914 and the first refrigerators in 1930. During the 1950s air conditioning had its breakthrough in the USA. Air conditioning was initially invented so that machines would operate efficiently, not for human comfort, but it quickly became clear that it also improved human efficiency.

 

Air conditioning even saves lives. Heatwaves can lead to health problems and cause increases in fatalities from heart, vascular and lung diseases.

 

Energy guzzler

Air conditioning consumes more energy than heating and demand for cooling, and particularly air conditioning, is growing exponentially, driven by a warmer planet and a rapidly growing middle class in more countries. Air conditioning is already responsible for approx. 40 % of the electricity consumption in Bombay, India. More than half of Saudi Arabia's summertime electricity consumption is used for air conditioning. Even in Great Britain, air conditioning and cooling is responsible for nearly 20 % of the total electrical use. USA (population 318 million) uses more energy for cooling than Africa uses energy in total (population 1.1 billion).

 

According to the EU, the energy that is used to cool buildings in Europe is likely to increase by 72 % in the coming 15 years, while the energy used for heating will reduce by 30 %. 

 

 

Cold in the right way

The challenge of increasing energy consumption going to cooling lies in trying to reduce the demand for cooling by designing improved buildings. It lies in increasing the efficiency of the cooling process and in ensuring that the energy used is as cle

 

an as possible. Well thought out design and new technology can minimize or even eliminate the need for air conditioning. For example by avoiding dark exterior surfaces, using trees to create shade, insulating buildings and using modern windows that allow light in but reflect heat. These can be expensive to install, but can reduce the need for colder air and therefore the cost of providing it.

 

An easy way to reduce the energy consumption of air conditioning is to minimize the losses of cooled air through doors and openings by using air curtains.

 

Air curtains - an invisible door

In a building where the door is opened and closed for people or machinery to pass through, or where the door remains open, a lot of energy is used for unnecessary cooling when the cold air flows out. With air curtains, an efficient and invisible door is created that keeps the air inside and prevents hot or moist air from the outside coming in. Air curtains are very efficient when they are used in air conditioned buildings or cold storages. Thermozone technology with its precisely adjusted air velocity gives even protection throughout the opening. Frico air curtains provide the most efficient separation with the lowest possible energy consumption, regardless of whether it is the heat or the cold that you want to keep indoors.