Studies show that transmission of viruses, such as the coronavirus causing COVID-19, can be prompted by air-conditioned ventilation. In developing member countries (DMC), the risks of virus transmission are higher because of poor hygiene including the use of old air-conditioning equipment, lack of regular maintenance, and overcrowding in closed spaces. Additionally, inefficient centralized air-conditioning (CAC) systems in many DMCs account up to 50% of energy consumption in public buildings. Advanced air-conditioning systems with energy-saving technologies used in combination with demand-side management techniques could bring up to 45% energy savings. CACs also rely heavily on hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), a greenhouse gas potentially thousands of times more potent than carbon dioxide. Proper management of HFCs are critical to addressing greenhouse gas emissions from CAC systems.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is implementing a knowledge and support technical assistance (TA), Regional Support to Build Disease Resilient and Energy Efficient Centralized Air-conditioning Systems, to promote disease-resilient clean energy development in developing member countries of ADB. The TA supports DMCs of ADB to improve energy efficiency, mitigate the risks of virus transmission, and ensure safe working conditions in public buildings by deploying efficient, clean, and smart CAC systems.

Objectives

Third of a series of webinars, Webinar 3 – Smart HVAC Systems aimed to increase awareness on the use of smart digital technologies and innovations for centralized air-conditioning systems towards improving disease resilience and energy efficiency in buildings with centralized air conditioning systems in ADB developing member countries. Speakers talked about innovations in monitoring and control of centralized air-conditioning systems and present real-world examples smart, clean, and disease-resilient centralized air-conditioning systems in public buildings.