Australia building world-first ‘green’ air conditioning system

10 August 2009

Ground-breaking technology is being used for a world-first ‘green’ Australian air conditioning system, which is expected to be up to twelve times more power efficient than the traditional systems currently in use.

This work is taking place under the Australian Government’s $75 million Climate Ready program, which offers matching grants to industry of up to $5 million to help develop innovative solutions to climate change.

The privately-owned Australian company, Air Change, is receiving a grant of over $400,000 to build the new system, dubbed ‘The Green Machine’.

Australia’s Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, Senator Kim Carr, said that Air Change will use a combination of technologies, including solar, to significantly reduce power consumption.

“This system will eliminate the need for refrigeration compressors, with the only external energy requirement being to drive the fans,” Mr Carr said. 

He added that the technology is not only for use in new developments, but can be retrofitted in existing buildings.

The Climate Ready program is part of the Clean Business Australia initiative – a $240 million partnership between government and industry to deliver energy and water-efficient projects with a focus on productivity and innovation.