Baltimore Aircoil Company (BAC), a U.S.-based manufacturer of CO2 (R744) evaporative and adiabatic cooling equipment, has advocated for the accelerated adoption of natural refrigerants in its first Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Report.
“BAC supports reducing usage of high-GWP refrigerants to combat global climate change,” said the manufacturer. “We advocate for a faster transition to refrigerants with low GWP and high system efficiency such as CO2 and ammonia [NH3/R717] and maintain standards for their safe application.”
According to a statement from the company, the report highlights some of its 2021 initiatives and accomplishments that are “necessary to achieve [its] vision of reinventing cooling to sustain the world.”
“We are very proud to publish our inaugural ESG Report where we, as the global leader in evaporative cooling, the most sustainable cooling technology in the market, have an obligation to innovate and lead the industry towards a more sustainable future,” said Don Fetzer, the President of BAC. “Our ESG Report is one building block to our mission of advancing truly sustainable cooling – inspired by nature and powered by our people.”
Emissions reductions
With a goal of reducing its scope 1 (direct from its operations) and scope 2 (indirect, or use of electricity provided by power plants) emissions by 50% by 2030, BAC has set many goals to reduce its future environmental impact.
“As the world faces increasing challenges, our customers, suppliers, employees and other stakeholders are seeking companies with sustainable practices,” explained BAC.
Efforts to reduce its emissions include developing more sustainable products, improving its facilities, decarbonizing its electricity supply and cultivating a more sustainable supply chain.
Energy savings
“More than 90% of the carbon footprint of [our] products is generated during operation,” said BAC. “Therefore, we can [have the] biggest impact by focusing on developing products and solutions that are more energy efficient than their predecessors and applying those solutions to maximize system efficiency.”
For example, BAC’s Trillium Adiabatic Condenser – part of its TrilliumSeries Adiabatic Products portfolio that was launched in 2005 – can reduce the energy consumption of a CO2-based system by 18%.
Since 2015, users of the Trillium Condenser have reduced energy consumption by 5.7GWh, compared to dry cooler alternatives, said the manufacturer.
“[The] Trillium Adiabatic Condenser has made a significant impact on the supermarket industry’s environmental footprint,” it added.
BAC’s direct-drive systems, such as its Nexus Modular Hybrid Cooler, are also helping to boost energy efficiency.
According to the company’s ESG report, direct-drive systems have helped its customers save more than 43GWh in energy since 2015, avoiding 30,000 metric tons of CO2e, compared to traditional belt- or gear-drive systems.
“The absence of wear and tear [on] parts also increases reliability [while] eliminating 95% of drive maintenance costs,” said BAC.
