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Technology Options for Doubling the Energy Efficiency of Room Air Conditioners

As cooling demand rises, improving air conditioner efficiency can cut energy use, lower electricity bills, and avoid billions of tons of emissions.

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This report explores pathways to double the global rate of energy efficiency improvement, focusing on room air conditioner (AC) technologies that deliver substantial efficiency gains. It analyzes the technical potential of ultra-efficient room ACs in China, showing efficiency could improve by up to 40% within a decade with only a 10% increase in cost. The report also examines market implications and estimates the associated carbon reduction benefits from reduced energy consumption.

Key Findings

  • Room ACs are becoming more efficient thanks to better compressors, inverter technology, larger heat exchangers, and electronic controls. They are also becoming more climate-friendly due to the uptake of low-GWP refrigerants.
  • Efficiency improvements now focus on optimizing the whole system instead of individual parts, using smarter design and controls to reduce energy use.
  • Some technologies are already widely used and can improve efficiency by 15–25%, while newer smart control technologies could deliver up to 40% efficiency gains in the future.
  • Different refrigerants require different design approaches to maximize efficiency and reduce costs.
  • Room AC efficiency is expected to continue improving over the next decade, with the potential to reduce electricity use and cut up to 3.7 gigatons of carbon dioxide emissions.

Recommendations

  • Governments should support high-efficiency air conditioners through incentives, rebates, and policies that encourage climate-friendly refrigerants and smart technologies. This can lower consumers’ energy bills, reduce pressure on power grids, and significantly lower greenhouse gas emissions.
  • Countries should strengthen energy efficiency standards and align them with the best available technologies while keeping products affordable.
  • Governments, industry, and researchers should work together internationally to share knowledge, develop common standards, and speed up the adoption of efficient cooling technologies.