New Year and new challenges in 2024
Looking back at the past year, we can foresee the challenges and opportunities we will encounter in the coming year in the indoor climate industry. In the context of current strong trends, it is clear that the coming year will be largely devoted to sustainability issues, as we gain deeper understanding of the diverse aspects of this area.
Energy Efficiency and Future Directions
Traditionally, our industry has focused solely on one aspect of sustainability, namely energy efficiency. Something that is obviously to be continued. As energy prices soar and climate issues become increasingly urgent, the pressure to save energy has created a rare impetus for our industry to move away from fossil fuels. One result is a curiosity about various heat pump solutions, and this trend will continue in 2024. As a manufacturer of these devices, we need to help share knowledge in this area on everything from practical aspects such as space requirements to energy-saving potential, managing heat pumps as an integral part of HVAC.
And speaking of HVAC, as products become more efficient, the remaining great opportunity to save energy is precisely this – to make our many technical installations in various parts operate harmoniously with each other. The potential here is great, and with the rapid progress of digitalization, we now have the technical means to effectively address the shortcomings of HVAC systems. With initiatives like the EU renovation wave, we also have a great opportunity to accelerate implementation levels that not only speak to sustainability programs but also make huge positive changes to the indoor climate where people spend nearly 90% of their lives.
The concept of sustainability in the construction industry in 2023 has evolved rapidly, and the agenda includes aspects not related to energy consumption, and this will be the case in the coming year as well. The carbon issue, which not so long ago was somewhat niche, has gained tremendous interest in the real estate sector. Solutions vary from low-carbon raw materials in technical equipment to alternative refrigerants and solutions for reviving and reusing installed products - all of which are rapidly growing. The recent agreement in the European Council and Parliament on the gradual phasing out of fluorinated greenhouse gases (F-gases) and what it means for the industry [link to new blog post] will also be in focus in 2024 and will generate great interest.
Interest in indoor climate and air quality is growing
Constantly chasing kilowatt-hours and carbon dioxide equivalents, there is a clear risk that we forget the fundamental goal of our industry – to provide healthy and productive places for people to spend time. And in fact, there is also a strong trend to recognize this, even if it may be less obvious than the energy saving trend. We are currently in the midst of a post-pandemic indoor air quality (IEQ) revolution, and one of the most specific examples is the first WHO European Conference on Indoor Air Quality. Studies on topics such as acoustics reveal the importance of all indoor environmental parameters.
The next challenge will be to design buildings with the least possible carbon impact, reducing energy consumption while ensuring a productive and healthy indoor climate for people to thrive. And, additionally, we must ensure that this delicate balance is maintained over time, as tenants change and when we make changes or renovate the building.
In conclusion - indoor climate has been our unmistakable focus since the beginning of this century, and it truly is the most dynamic and compelling point in time so far. At Swegon, we have the opportunity to make a significant contribution to the green transition, and in doing so, we understand how complex it is. Despite the challenges, one belief remains: 2024 will open up several interesting and important opportunities for us to continue our impactful work.
Original: https://blog.swegon.com/en/a-new-year-and-new-challenges-in-2024
Published: 09.01.2024