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Sustainability

Leaders in sustainability

At Carrier, we incorporate sustainability into all that we do. To us, it’s only natural.

From innovative solutions to green factories to services developed to increase efficiency, Carrier is a leader in sustainability. Solutions are our business. We pioneered the use of natural refrigerants in the food retail world, and continuously invest in research and development to improve our products and processes while protecting the natural environment.

Reduced environmental impact and greater energy efficiency? Sounds cool.

As a company that does business with the environment in mind, it makes sense that the inspiration for one of our most sustainable technology breakthroughs came from the atmosphere itself. We’re talking about carbon dioxide – a gas that is naturally occurring in our atmosphere, available worldwide, and now, the refrigerant in our environmentally sustainable refrigeration systems. 

A pioneer in CO2 commercial refrigeration technology, Carrier has invested extensively in the development of transcritical CO2 systems for more than 10 years. In that time, we have leveraged advanced manufacturing processes, new, patented components and new materials to make CO2 a viable refrigerant. The result is the latest generation of the CO2OLtec® Evo refrigeration system.

The Carrier CO2OLtec Evo system represents one of the industry’s most energy efficient and environmentally sustainable solutions for commercial refrigeration, thanks to our patented modulating ejector technology and a CO2 pump. Perhaps most impressive of all, CO2OLtec Evo helps customers achieve this impressive level of sustainability while maintaining optimal performance and reliability, and reducing energy costs by an average of 30% in mild to cold climates. These climates include the majority of Europe – areas above the well-known “CO2 equatorline” with average annual temperatures of up to 15 degrees C. 

Transcritical CO2 systems have become a mainstream solution in European commercial refrigeration applications since the first Carrier system was installed back in 2004. However, such systems have not always been viable for warmer climates as a result of the historical CO2 efficiency equator previously described. In order to bring viable CO2 technology to all of Europe, Carrier has worked to eliminate the CO2 equatorline in Southern Europe and design CO2 systems that are at least as efficient as conventional refrigeration technologies in this region. The CO2OLtec Evo systems represent Carrier's next generation of transcritical systems, which eliminate the CO2 equator and provide attractive and improved energy performance in all climates. 

CO2OLtec Evo systems with supersonic modulating vapor ejector technology, assisted by a subcritical pump, have raised the bar in terms of high-efficiency, natural refrigeration system performance, whilst simultaneously breaking down long-standing barriers against the uptake of CO2 technology in warmer climates and reduce furthermore system complexity. With CO2OLtec Evo, customers across the globe can now have confidence in their ability to invest in fully-natural refrigeration systems which are not only environmentally responsible and legislatively compliant, but which are also efficient, easy to understand and economical in terms of operation.

Producing cold…and heat at the same time!

Carrier’s CO2 technology allows for full heat recovery to further impact energy optimization and carbon footprint. Up to 100% heat recovery on the PowerCO2OL system, representing 2 MW of free heat, can be used for sanitary water, air-conditioning, building heating and even district heating – with 4 levels of heat recovery (up to 85°C, 45-60°C, 15-20°C).

Heat_recovery_system  

How does it work?

CO2 and its excellent thermodynamic properties including high discharge gas temperatures, allows to recover up to 100% of the heat generated and on a continuous basis at high temperature. 

These features mean the system can simultaneously produce heat for space/floor heating and domestic hot water through several heat exchangers. 

Various configurations are possible with or without bypass gas-cooler and can be equipped with a set of anti boiling bypass valves. Pressure drop on water side calculated lower than 50 kPa.




HE10 

High grade heat recovery (sanitary hot water)

HE20 

Medium grade heat recovery (heating)

HE30 

Air cooled gas cooler

HE40 

Low grade heat recovery (floor heating)

HE130 

Low grade heat recovery (floor heating)


Enthalphy diagram of a heat recovery system

Diagram_Heat_Recovery_System

At Carrier, we practice sustainability inside and out.

Carrier’s approach to sustainability is rooted partially in the idea that green products must start at a green company. Since being acquired by Carrier and becoming a part of United Technologies in 2004, Carrier Commercial Refrigeration has continuously set realistic and achievable goals and objectives that reduce our environmental impact.

Across all of our operations, Carrier is dedicated to programs and initiatives relating to our environmental, health and safety (EHS)performance.

We continuously measure and report our performance toward our sustainability goals, which include targeted reductions for greenhouse emissions, water consumption and industrial waste generation and promote employee safety. Beyond our operations, we extend our environment, health and safety commitment to our suppliers.

Our global supplier EHS initiative is focused on ensuring that 100% of all critical suppliers meet our expectations, which include safe working conditions for all employees and minimizing impact to the environment.

So what do these environmental objectives and achievements mean to you? As a customer, you can rest assured that you’re working with a partner who does more than simply talk the talk when it comes to sustainability. It’s part of who we are, over and over again.

Environmental regulations are constantly changing. Our commitment helping you to stay compliant is not.

In Europe, regulatory initiatives related to the environment and energy efficiency of products and buildings are numerous and complex. To make matters more difficult, these regulations are evolving over time. Fortunately, Carrier offers sustainable products and services to help ensure that regulatory issues are a non-issue for you.

Here’s a quick look at some of the latest European regulation trends:

  • EcoDesign and Energy Labeling Regulations: Adopted by the European Union Commission in October 2019, the implementation of the EcoDesign directive for “refrigerated display cabinets with a direct sales function” will be applicable from the 1st of March 2021. The objective of the EcoDesign directive is to bring manufacturers to design energy efficient products so as to reduce their environmental impact throughout their life cycle. The directive is setting guidelines relating to Energy labeling, Product design, Product life cycle and Customer information
  • The European F-Gas Regulation EU/517/2014 for the 28 European Union member states imposes a phase-down scheme and specific use restrictions in stationary refrigeration and air conditioning applications for HFC refrigerants and requires more frequent mandatory leakage checks of HFC refrigeration systems with a proper recording of the refrigerant charge refills and frequencies.
  • Several European countries have enacted or proposed taxes based upon the Global Warming Potential of HFC refrigerants used in refrigeration and air conditioning systems.
  • Some EU countries are offering tax incentives or subsidies for the use of natural refrigerants and energy efficiency improvements of such systems.

Carrier solutions can help you easily avoid issues and even take advantage of the financial benefits of government incentives. Our CO2OLtec® solutions, for example, use the natural refrigerant carbon dioxide, which has a GWP of 1. By implementing a CO2OLtec® solution, you are protecting yourself;from GWP-related taxes, F-Gas Regulations and any new regulations related to HFCs that may emerge in the future.

CO2OLtec® is just one example of the innovative Carrier solutions that can help you reduce energy consumption and environmental impact to avoid the headaches frequently associated with regulatory issues. As your partner for commercial refrigeration solutions, Carrier is happy to work with you to better understand changing regulations and how our products and services can help you navigate them.

European EcoDesign and Labelling regulations
Carrier position on the new EU F-Gas regulation
Discover BREEZtec® air circulation system