气候危机的一个残酷悖论是,随着世界变得越来越温暖,人们提高空调,这些空调会散发出温室气体,进一步加热地球。加热系统也发出有害气体:加热和冷却建筑物占15%全球温室气体排放量略高于运输。(当添加能源使用时,建筑运营占28%全球二氧化碳排放量。)保持我们的房屋和工作场所舒适最终使世界更加不舒服。
“有这个恶性循环,但不需要。”梯度舒适。这家位于旧金山的初创公司脱离了其他LAB,这是一个研究与创新实验室,专注于能源,机器人技术和制造业。“来自HVAC的排放可以与其提供的服务分离。该技术存在,并且不是按需要的速度或需要的程度来部署的,但是我们可以解决这个问题。”
渐变的第一个产品,旨在改善HVAC系统,重新考虑标准窗户空调。Gradient的版本将冷却系统与热泵结合在一起,该热泵使用气候友好的制冷剂将加热和冷却排放量最多减少75%。该公司估计,如果用户用可再生能源为单位提供动力,则该足迹可能会缩小99%。称为梯度舒适,它是消费产品类别的赢家德赢提款Fast Company的2022年世界改变想法奖。The redesigned window AC unit fixes some essential flaws widespread in existing products—primarily, the harmful refrigerants, high cost, cumbersome installation, and the fact that most units are just plain ugly to look at, with the tendency to block half of users’ windows. Gradient Comfort has a slimmer profile and sits below the window, letting in more light. While most window units use refrigerants that still have a high environmental impact—the standard refrigerant still in use today has a global warming potential比CO2高2,088倍,罗马宁注释 - 升级者使用低排放制冷剂,例如R-32,一种被认为具有“有”的制冷剂全球变暖的潜力低。”这超出了当前的监管要求。
Gradient表示,对一种新型的加热和冷却系统的兴趣很清楚:该公司拥有30,000多个电子邮件等待名单的产品。接下来,它计划在寒冷的气候热泵上加热足以在纽约最冷的冬季加热房屋。(梯度舒适度也将有一个热泵,但目前适合温暖的气候,因此主要补充了其他热源。)
“We always talk about our mission as to cool the world, because we want to look at not just the mitigation side of climate change, which is removing emissions, but the adaptation side of climate change, and that’s where the need for AC and heating in many climates comes in,” Romanin says. “There are a lot of areas that need building heating and cooling for people to be healthy and productive. And it’s just becoming more true as heat waves increase.”