Spotted: As the United Nations (UN) highlights, on the whole, commitments made by governments to cut emissions haven’t been fulfilled, meaning we are falling short of net-zero goals for 2050. And, energy consumption and corresponding carbon emissions are only set to rise with the growing global population. Changes to existing energy-heavy practices are unlikely to be enough to stop or significantly slow climate change, which is where carbon capture comes in. However, direct air capture (DAC) technologies – where CO2 is extracted from the ambient air – often rely on energy sources like fossil fuels to work, making them unsustainable long term. Enter Fervo Energy.
The US-based company is already a leader in the next generation of geothermal power, and earlier this year announced plans for a fully integrated geothermal and DAC facility with financial support from the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI).
In DAC facilities, large fans are used to blow ambient air over carbon-dioxide-capturing materials. The sequestered CO2 is then heated, refined, and generally stored deep underground using a pump. In Fervo’s proposed designs, all of these processes would be fueled by geothermal power, in which heat from the Earth’s core is used to produce clean and renewable electricity. This makes it possible to clean our atmosphere of carbon without emitting any further pollution. As well as being a renewable source that is available 24/7, the company also emphasises that the use of geothermal power would allow DAC technologies to be operated at lower costs.
The recent grant from CZI will help make Fervo’s designs a reality, allowing the company to explore local geothermal reservoirs for underground carbon sequestration projects. Fervo aims to have a pilot facility up and running in three to five years, according to reports in the Washington Post.
Other innovations in the geothermal industry spotted by Springwise include a new ultra-deep drilling technique, and heating and cooling system designed for use by homeowners.
With climate change now firmly at the forefront of every architects’ mind, new innovations that help reduce carbon emissions are more critical than ever. While flashy façades and green roofs often take the headlines, it’s actually the hidden components of buildings — those elements concealed behind walls, in roof spaces, or within maintenance floors — where the most groundbreaking energy-efficient systems can be found.
Mitsubishi Electric’s Heat2O® Heat Pump Water Heater is a prime example. Through energy-efficient operation and reduction of on-site carbon emissions, this cutting-edge system significantly reduces the environmental impact of producing large volumes of Domestic Hot Water (DHW), a key consideration for hospitality, commercial and multi-unit residential projects.
Thanks to its modular design, the Heat2O system can be harnessed for complex adaptive reuse and renovation projects as well as new constructions. Notably, the technology was put to use in the iconic Hotel Marcel, a $50 million adaptive reuse of the historic Pirelli building, designed by Marcel Breuer. With the goal of becoming the first net-zero hotel in the United States, the installation of Heat2O is helping the building secure its LEED® Platinum certification.
Hotel Marcel, formerly the Pirelli building, designed by Marcel Breuer
Architizer spoke with the bright minds behind Mitsubishi Electric’s latest systems to learn more about how the brand is innovating to meet the increasingly ambitious environmental goals of its clients.
Architizer Congratulations on winning a 2022 A+Product Award! What does winning this accolade mean to you and your brand?
Mitsubishi Electric: As a company, Mitsubishi Electric Trane HVAC US works toward contributing to a more sustainable society by developing and promoting energy-saving all-electric products and systems that will reduce the use of fossil fuels in the heating and cooling industry. Being recognized for our efforts in this area is significant and means a great deal. Recognitions such as this confirm we’re on the right track and provide momentum in moving forward to reach our goals.
What inspired the design of your product?
Heat2O has been available overseas for several years. After witnessing its positive impact on a building’s energy efficiency and carbon footprint, we wanted to bring this technology to the U.S. market. Domestic Hot Water (DHW) required by multifamily buildings, hotels, hospitals, senior living facilities and other commercial spaces accounts for roughly 25% of these buildings’ annual energy usage. Until the introduction of Heat2O, the U.S. building industry lacked an energy-efficient solution to provide high-volume DHW for commercial buildings.
Tell us about the manufacturing process — What are the key stages involved and how do these help ensure a high quality end product?
To produce the Heat2O QAHV units, Mitsubishi Electric uses a “cell manufacturing process” whereby one person is responsible for each step of the assembly process. Each person is trained at a high level and has an electronic display to ensure they follow clear guidelines/instructions in the process.
Once the unit is assembled it goes through a full functionality test, including electrical safety and operational testing. All test data and unit information including the people who assembled the product are recorded and assigned to the serial number of the product. This ensures that an audit can be performed, and data retrieved post sale if required.
Mitsubishi Electric’s Heat2O® Heat Pump Water Heater
What detail of your product was most challenging to design, and why? How did you resolve it?
The most challenging aspect was the heat exchange between the CO2 refrigerant and water circuit. The heat exchanger is a unique and patented design and is called the “Twisted Spiral Gas Cooler.” The challenge was to provide the best possible efficiency while still maintaining a relatively small footprint. This was overcome by using a unique design and using a twisted coil approach, with six of the heat exchangers stacked above one another.
What makes your product unique and of great value to specifying architects?
The all-electric, cold-climate Heat2O Hot Water Heat Pump reduces the environmental impact of DHW through energy-efficient operation and using CO2 refrigerant. CO2, a natural and environmentally friendly refrigerant with a global warming potential (GWP) of one and an ozone depletion potential (ODP) of zero, helps commercial facilities qualify for rigorous sustainability certifications such as passive house status. Using Heat2O reduces on-site carbon emissions in the production of domestic hot water.
Bathroom in the new Hotel Marcel
What has the reception to your product been like from architects/clients/consumers?
We launched Heat2O in select markets. So far, the demand has been phenomenal. One of the most notable installations was in the $50 million adaptive reuse of the historic Pirelli building in New Haven, CT, into Hotel Marcel, which is projected to be the first net-zero hotel in the United States. Aiming for LEED® Platinum certification and a 60% increase in energy efficiency compared to code requirements, Heat2O was installed to achieve the project’s aggressive sustainability goals.
How do you see the product evolving in future?
Efficiency improvements will always be a driving factor and goal, together with evolving controls options. There are also many opportunities to combine QAHV with other future products in the Mitsubishi Electric portfolio.
To find out more about Mitsubishi Electric, visit MitsubishiComfort.com, and reach out to one of their experts to learn how to incorporate the Heat2O into your next project.
Spotted: Tidal energy is a source of renewable power in which energy is harnessed from either the natural rise and fall of ocean tides or the movement of tidal or ocean currents. Although not yet widely used, tidal energy has a huge potential for future electricity generation. Unlike wind and solar energy, tidal streams and ocean currents are predictable and continuous. First-generation tidal technologies tend to require strong tidal flows in order to be commercially viable. However, a new approach could greatly expand the energy potential of tidal flows.
Startup Minesto has developed a ‘kite’ with a turbine that ‘flies’ underwater to generate electricity from predictable tidal streams and ocean currents. The device is attached to a tether and uses the hydrodynamic lift force created by the underwater current to move. An onboard control system autonomously steers the kite in a figure-of-eight trajectory. This motion pulls the turbine through the water at a water flow several times higher than the actual stream speed – and this faster speed generates more power.
The tether contains cables for communication and power and is connected to the seabed foundation by a connector that can be easily latched and unlatched for installation and recovery. Electricity generated is sent to the grid using a power cable within the tether.
Minesto claims that its use of a wing design and its underwater ‘flight’ makes this technology more efficient than other tidal energy technologies. On its website, the company explains that, “This means that when the kite multiplies the relative speed which the turbine is pushed through the water, the electricity produced by the generator is several times greater compared to if the turbine would be stationary. By adding this step of energy conversion, Minesto expands the global tidal and ocean currents’ extractable potential.”
Other recent renewable energy innovations that harness the flow of water include a floating platform that harvests energy from rivers and a new design that could allow wave energy to be harvested from the open ocean.
Spotted: The International Energy Agency (IEA) calls heat pumps “the central technology in the global transition to secure and sustainable heating.” Although they tend to come with higher upfront costs than other heating options, their low rate of emissions and general high rates of efficiency are driving sales to record highs. Solar, wind, and hydropower are well-known renewables used to power many devices, and now French technology company Equium is introducing a new source. Thermoacoustic power transforms the energy of sound waves into heat or cold.
The company’s Acoustic Heat Pump compresses or expands high power sound waves in order to produce the desired temperature. The action requires very little power, and as the sound waves expand and contract, the movement produced is similar to that of a piston in a traditional engine, yet without the mechanical moving parts. It is possible to use the thermoacoustic pumps in most temperatures and climates, without the need for greenhouse gases.
The devices themselves are made from 100 per cent recyclable materials and are designed for extremely low maintenance, with expected product life spans of up to 30 years. They are also easy for owners to install without requiring advanced technical skills. The elimination of greenhouse gas refrigerants combined with minimal maintenance needs contribute to the new pumps’ efficiency, which further reduces long-term investment costs.
Making sources of renewable heat and electricity more affordable is a foundational element of many of the energy innovations Springwise is spotting, such as geothermal systems for individual homes, and tailored electrification plans.
Spotted: In the UK, Solar PV capacity reached 12 gigawatts of energy in 2021. Yet, the MCS (Microgeneration Certification Scheme) estimates that only around 900,000 of the 24 million homes in the country currently rely on solar power. There is much room for improvement, and one of the easiest ways to incorporate renewable energy generation into a home or building is by embedding the technology into construction materials.
Professor Tapas Mallick and Dr. Hasan Baig, two University of Exeter researchers, have created Build Solar in order to do just that. Built with patent-pending technology, the Solar Squared glass brick is a direct replacement for traditional glass building materials. Solar Squared bricks let light through, just like current glass building materials do. The difference is that Build Solar’s new blocks generate sustainable energy as well. The bricks are available in several patterns and colours, in addition to the typical clear glass.
Usable in a variety of structures, including commercial spaces, public transport hubs, and housing, the Solar Squared blocks improve a building’s thermal insulation efficiency while providing daylight and renewable energy. The company’s goal is to contribute to carbon-neutral construction and building management and is currently seeking sites in which to test and showcase the technology.
Springwise has spotted other innovations seeking to make renewable energy more accessible, including nailable and wearable solar panels.
Spotted: Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries were first developed in 1985 and have since become ubiquitous in products such as toys, wireless headphones, electric vehicles, and electrical energy storage systems. However, one issue with these batteries is the fact that they contain numerous toxic metals, which make their manufacture, recycling, and use environmentally problematic.
Startup Form Energy, which was spun out of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), has found a way to make an alternative battery technology, metal-air batteries, more viable. Today’s metal-air batteries, such as the zinc-air batteries used in hearing aids, use fewer toxic materials than Li-ion batteries but are not rechargeable as they corrode quickly. The MIT researchers, however, have found a way to reverse the corrosion process, creating rechargeable iron-air batteries.
Iron was chosen for use in the new design because it is cheap and abundant, with the new batteries likely costing around $20 per kilowatt-hour, compared to up to $200 for Li-ion batteries. The company says they will be perfect for grid-level energy storage as they excel at long-term energy storage and can deliver more than three milliwatts output capacity per acre of batteries.
Form CEO Mateo Jaramillo explains: “We believe that to meet supply chain challenges and to run the grid reliably and affordably, we need new domestically manufactured energy storage technologies (…) The active components of our iron-air battery system are some of the safest, cheapest, and most abundant materials on the planet – low-cost iron, water, and air.”
Improving battery technology to make it cheaper, safer, and more efficient is the impetus behind a growing number of innovations spotted by Springwise. Some recent developments include a green method for recycling the materials used in Li-ion batteries, and improved, high-performance hydrogen fuel cells.
Energy savings achieved by insulating UK homes appear to be cancelled out within a few years by an increase in energy use, according to a study by the University of Cambridge.
The study, which analysed the gas-use patterns of more than 55,000 homes across England and Wales, found that the fall in gas consumption achieved by retrofitting wall insulation was voided within four years.
Retrofitting lofts proved half as effective, with any gains becoming “insignificant” after year two, the researchers said.
Further research is now needed into the causes of this “rebound effect”, which is preventing energy savings from continuing long-term.
But the study posits that it could be due to the simultaneous construction of home extensions, which can increase a household’s energy consumption by around 16 per cent.
“We found that energy efficiency retrofits are often combined with home improvements that actually increase consumption, such as extensions,” explained Cristina Peñasco, an associate professor in public policy at the University of Cambridge, who co-authored the study.
Home insulation “not a magic bullet”
Other possible causes include the fact that 18 per cent of English households have conservatories, which according to the study negate any energy savings within the first year, as well as the possibility that energy and cost savings could in turn encourage increased consumption.
To achieve a long-term reduction in gas use and the associated emission – in line with the UK’s mission to reach energy independence and net-zero emissions – the researchers argue that insulation thus needs to go hand-in-hand with the installation of heat pumps and regulations to change people’s behaviour.
“However, home insulation alone is not a magic bullet,” she added. “In the long term, simply funding more of the same insulation roll-out to meet the UK’s carbon reduction and energy security targets may not move the dial as much as is hoped.”
Wall insulation causes seven per cent drop in gas use
Published in the Energy Economics journal, the study is the first to track the long-term effects of insulation in households across England and Wales, according to the researchers.
Their analysis is based on data collected by the UK’s Department of Energy and Climate Change, tracking households’ gas use for five years before and after insulation was installed.
Factoring in the age and size of the building, as well as the weather and gas prices at the time, the study found that cavity wall insulation was the most effective, leading to an average seven per cent drop in gas use in the first year.
In comparison, retrofitting loft insulation saw an initial fall of only four per cent.
“Insulating the lofts and cavity walls of existing UK housing stock only reduces gas consumption for the first year or two, with all energy savings vanishing by the fourth year after a retrofit,” the study concluded.
Retrofits must include heat pumps
In low-income households, these savings were even smaller – an average of three per cent during the first and second year post-retrofit – suggesting that any savings are immediately redirected into keeping the home warmer for longer.
This proves that insulation is effective in democratising access to heating and fighting fuel poverty, the researchers argue, especially in light of the current energy and cost-of-living crises.
But the study also shows that, to actually cut down on gas use and emissions, insulation retrofits must go along with energy reduction targets for households and waivers on energy bills for low-income households, the researchers argue.
In addition, they argue electric heat pumps should be installed alongside insulation to decarbonise residential heating, which is responsible for around 14 per cent of the UK’s carbon emissions.
The country’s housing stock is among the oldest and least energy efficient in Europe, which has long led industry groups including the Royal Institute of British Architects, the Construction Leadership Council and the Architects Climate Action Network to call for a comprehensive national retrofit strategy.
Alongside insulation, they argue a holistic approach would must include the addition of “low-carbon” heat pumps and triple-glazed windows at the same time.
The third Monday of January is considered by some to be the most depressing day of the year. And, although the concept of ‘Blue Monday’ is a marketeer’s invention, energy consumers in Europe will certainly have been feeling glum in the face of a challenging outlook for energy prices.
The current energy crisis has heightened awareness of energy consumption and the need for improvements in energy efficiency. And this has translated into government action to slash energy demand in the short term. The EU, for example, has introduced voluntary measures to cut overall electricity use by 10 per cent in the EU by the end of March 2023, with obligatory reductions of 5 per cent during peak hours.
Longer-term energy efficiency improvements are also on the agenda. The UK plans to cut its energy usage by 15 per cent by 2030. And the European Commission plans to increase the EU’s binding target for energy efficiency improvements by 2030 from 9 per cent to 13 per cent (compared to a 2020 baseline). Some groups in the European Parliament want to increase it even further to 14.5 per cent.
Looking globally, the International Energy Agency (IEA) highlights that that Government ambition on efficiency has grown in 2022, with global investments in energy efficiency increasing by 16 per cent compared to 2021. And, while the energy crisis has been felt most acutely in Europe, energy efficiency affects the whole world. According to the IEA’s Sustainable Development Scenario, energy efficiency represents more than 40 per cent of the emissions abatement needed by 2040.
Efficiency gains in industry will play an important role in reducing emissions. But innovation is also needed to deliver energy savings in the home. Read on to discover some of the most exciting solutions that are making our homes consume energy more efficiently.
Heating and cooling
In the US, heating and cooling rooms accounts for 38 per cent of domestic greenhouse gas emissions. Finding more efficient ways to manage the temperature of our homes is therefore an important area for innovation. One solution is better insulation, and, in the UK, the issue has become so charged that it has spawned Insulate Britain, a group demanding that the Government insulate all social housing by 2025.
And while fresh research has cast doubt on the long-term effectiveness of insulation for reducing natural gas consumption, new materials that reduce reliance on energy-guzzling heating and cooling systems have been an important area of development. Swiss-Belgian startup Gramitherm, for example, makes bio-based carbon negative insulation out of grass, and engineers from Germany and China have developed a new wood-based cooling foam that could reduce the cooling needs of a building by a third.
Another approach is to make temperature management systems themselves more efficient. And in the US, a startup called Carbon Reform has developed a process to retrofit traditional HVAC systems to work more efficiently.
Energy monitoring
In order to implement energy efficiency measures, consumers need to be able to monitor their consumption. Smart meters – devices that track price and consumption data and provide automatic meter readings – have become increasingly popular in recent years. And Springwise has spotted ‘bridge’ devices that connect hard-to-reach areas with smart meter infrastructure. But beyond smart meters, Springwise has spotted a range of other solutions for tracking and acting on energy usage data.
UK startup measurable.energy has developed smart socket technology for commercial use that can safely monitor the electricity use of each socket, helping organisations save energy and money. And in Tunisia, a startup called Wattnow has developed an AI-powered system that tracks energy usage in a building. Through a dashboard accessible via both mobile and desktop, the system identifies ways to consume energy more efficiently and sends early alerts when maintenance is needed. The AI also puts together predictions for future use patterns.
Making the most of government incentives
In both the UK and US, government initiatives are encouraging the adoption of energy efficient practices. And innovators are on hand to help consumers make the most of them.
In the UK, grants are available to help retrofit the least energy-efficient homes to make them greener. But funding for the scheme is not open-ended meaning that the grants need to be targeted where they can make the most difference. To help with this, UrbanTide has developed artificial intelligence-based software that identifies homes and areas with the poorest energy efficiency. It does this by combining anonymised smart meter data with other data streams to produce detailed fuel poverty risk maps.
Meanwhile, in the US, Elephant Energy is helping homeowners electrify their properties to benefit from rebates introduced by the recent Inflation Reduction Act. The company develops customer-tailored electrification plans incorporating measures such as the installation of heat pumps, hybrid water heaters, EV chargers, and induction hobs.
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Spotted:Small power refers to unfixed electrical equipment, products, and appliances, commonly plugged into the electricity network. In an office environment, there may be thousands of these devices left turned on 24/7, and they can account for up to 40 per cent of energy usage. Yet, it is not practical to go around turning these devices on and off all the time.
To lower the energy usage of small power, startup measurable.energy has developed a smart socket designed specifically for commercial use that incorporates machine learning to automatically measure and eliminate small power waste. The sockets work like a normal socket but contain software that can automatically identify devices plugged into the sockets, monitor their energy use, report granular real-time data, and automatically turn devices on or off to avoid wasted energy.
The sockets can measure the exact usage of small power energy per socket, showing when and where energy is in use or wasted. Organisations can then use this data to decide the best way to cut back on energy usage.
On its website, measurable.energy emphasises that its hardware and software is designed to help individuals and businesses adjust their behaviour to use more renewable energy. The company writes that their solution, “pays back within two years and allows businesses to reduce electricity bills by at least 20 per cent.”
Nowadays, it seems like just about every appliance and device has smart capabilities. When used correctly, many of these can help people save energy and money. Some recent smart devices Springwise has spotted include a smart cooking pot that helps users save energy, and a self-powered smart pillow that monitors sleep.
Promotion: creative think-tank Be Open has launched an international competition inviting students and graduates to come up with innovative ways of advancing sustainable energy systems.
The Better Energy by Design competition is open to students, recent graduates and young professionals from across the globe who specialise in the fields of art, design, architecture and media.
In launching the competition, Be Open hopes to raise awareness of the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – namely the seventh goal (SDG7), which aims to ensure that everyone has access to affordable and clean energy.
Participants are tasked with devising new technologies and designs that will advance SDG7 by speeding up the move towards low-carbon energy infrastructures.
The competition aims to spotlight the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals
“It is agreed by the world’s leaders that SDG7, calling for affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all by 2030, lies at the heart of all of the SDGs, and without progress on SDG7, it will be impossible to achieve the 2030 Agenda,” said Be Open.
“We strongly believe that creativity is integral to the shift to a sustainable existence,” the foundation continued. “To attain the UN’s SDGs, we need to think outside of the box.”
Entrants are tasked with designing low-carbon energy systems
Submissions are free of charge, and must be based on one of three themes: Powered by Renewables, Save More Energy or Reducing the Energy Gap.
Entrants have the choice of entering individually or as part of a team. If entering as part of a team, each individual within the team may also submit their own project, in addition to the team project.
Those who wish to take part must submit their entry online via the competition website by 31 January 2023.
Cash prizes ranging from €2,000 to €5,000 are available for winners
An international jury will make 50 honourable mentions out of all submissions before selecting first, second and third prize winners, who will be awarded €5,000, €3,000 and €2,000, respectively.
There will also be a Be Open’s Choice prize worth €3,000 – the winner will be chosen by the foundation’s community members out of 50 honourable mentions.
A further Public Vote prize worth €2,000 will be awarded, based on a majority vote from votes cast online.
The competition is open to students and recent graduates who specialise in creative fields
Better Energy By Design is just one of a series of competitions that Be Open has run over the past four years, with each competition focusing on a specific SDG in a bid to further the UN goals.
