Cooling is essential for our modern way of life, providing a comfortable indoor experience and regulating indoor temperature in important buildings such as data centers and pharmaceutical manufacturing. However, it is important to recognise that the technologies used for cooling can also have negative impacts on the environment. The World Green Building Council found that 28% of global CO2 emissions come from heating, cooling, and lighting in buildings. In Singapore, buildings contribute more than 20% of the country’s total carbon emissions.
The increasing demand for construction means that a more efficient and eco-friendly cooling solution is needed now more than ever. In the next 30 years, the demand for cooling is expected to triple. Building owners must prioritise a sustainable and intelligent cooling solution to meet this demand, and Cooling-as-a-Service (CaaS) can be a useful option.
A quick overview of Cooling-as-a-Service (CaaS)
Cooling-as-a-Service (CaaS) is an innovative way for building operators to provide cooling in their buildings without the need to purchase, install, and maintain the equipment themselves. This business model, known as servitisation, allows building owners to achieve more efficient and environmentally friendly cooling while also reducing operational costs.
This model is advantageous for building operators because they are not responsible for the cooling system and its performance as they would be with district cooling. The CaaS provider will supply and select the most suitable cooling system that aligns with sustainability goals and handle the maintenance of the system. Additionally, building operators can more easily conserve resources through the flexibility to redistribute equipment when needed, provided by the provider. All building owners have to do is specify the desired temperature and pay for the cooling on a pay-per-use basis. Simple and convenient.
The role of CaaS in providing a sustainable cooling system for buildings
Promoting sustainability is a crucial goal in the current world, and Cooling-as-a-Service (CaaS) plays a significant role in achieving it. By utilising big data, analytics, and artificial intelligence (AI), CaaS employs advanced technology to optimise the efficiency of a building cooling system. These technologies allow for optimal indoor temperatures that can adapt to different conditions, which is difficult to achieve with traditional cooling systems like district cooling, which mainly prioritise hardware usage.
Cooling-as-a-Service (CaaS) allows for the incorporation of solar power and recycled water in the cooling system. CaaS providers can utilise an AI-powered chilled water system powered solely by solar energy to cool retail centers, factories, offices, educational buildings, and community spaces.
CaaS providers can offer building owners a water-cooled chiller plant system in addition to a solar-powered cooling system. This system can be an effective way for building operators to achieve their sustainability goals.
Comparing CaaS to other centralised cooling systems
The traditional centralised cooling system can be expensive for building owners, who are responsible for purchasing, installing, and maintaining the system. Multiple contractors may be hired for different aspects of the system, making it difficult to hold any single party accountable for its performance. Additionally, sustainability improvements that could increase efficiency may be overlooked due to their cost.
CaaS offers an alternative for improved cooling
As we work towards a more sustainable future, it is important to find new and innovative ways to conserve energy. Cooling-as-a-Service (CaaS) has the potential to transform the way we cool buildings and significantly reduce our environmental impact. Currently, cooling accounts for 10% of global electricity use, and it is projected to consume 30% of ASEAN’s peak electricity by 2040.
To prevent a dramatic increase in electricity consumption and mitigate the effects of climate change, it is crucial for building owners to adopt clean and efficient cooling methods. CaaS offers a sustainable solution for accessing innovative and efficient cooling systems, benefiting individuals, businesses, and the planet.
