Carrier has been leading the Saudi market in term of energy efficiency by developing products that cater to the unique conditions of the region while exceeding efficiency standards.

Over the past few years, the Saudi Standards, Quality and Metrology Organisation (Saso) and the Saudi Vision 2030 have placed an increased focus on energy efficiency coupled with tougher benchmarks; and Carrier is committed to that vision, according to Giorgio Elia, vice-president, UTC Climate, Controls and Security – Middle East.

UTC Climate, Controls and Security is a wholly-owned subsidiary of United Technologies Corporation, headquartered in Florida, the US. Carrier is one of its brands that operates in Saudi Arabia through Arabian Air Conditioning Company and Carrier Saudi Service Company, its joint venture firms set up with EA Juffali & Brothers.

With nearly 70 per cent of the world’s population expected to live in cities by 2050, more buildings will be needed in urban areas, says Elia. “Buildings already consume 40 per cent of global energy but with the HVAC (heating, ventilation and air-conditioning) technologies available today, we can achieve efficiency savings of up to 30 per cent,” he states.

Amongst Carrier’s energy-efficient solutions are its chillers. The AquaEdge 19XR6/7 centrifugal chiller is a single compressor revolutionary offering featuring two-stage compression with economiser.

“This is the most competitive and energy-efficient solution with the lowest cost of ownership,” says Elia.

Also launched recently with the state-of-the-art variable speed drive (VSD) technology are the new-generation Carrier AquaForce 30XV air-cooled chillers, which contribute to significant energy-cost savings compared to fixed-speed chillers.

Carrier designs and manufactures variable refrigerant flow (VRF) systems that deliver high efficiency solutions (EER as high as 14) and can operate efficiently in the high ambient conditions of the Middle East. These have been tested for operation at 52 deg C.

In the inverter segment, Carrier inverter units can easily increase or decrease power to the compressor, ensuring more efficient and economical operation. An inverter air-conditioning system varies the speed of the compressors, delivering precise cooling or heating, using a fraction of the power required. This makes it more efficient in comparison to fixed-speed units, Elia points out.

Carrier also offers intelligent wifi controls on many of its domestic products. Its advanced thermostat software makes everything easy – from initial set-up to customising a comfort schedule and connecting to one’s home network. It also helps save money on utility costs through programming design, smart recovery and energy use reporting.

Because of its innovation and focus on efficiency, Carrier has been chosen for many projects across Saudi Arabia, including airports, the expansion of religious sites in Makkah, metro and rail projects. The Al Rimal Housing Compound project by the General Organisation for Social Insurance (Gosi) in Riyadh is just one example of the type of large mixed-use project for which Carrier’s products have been selected, says Elia.

He says Carrier has been operating in Saudi Arabia for decades and prides itself on being widely accessible. It has multiple branches and offices throughout the kingdom. Through its joint venture with EA Juffali & Brothers, Carrier also has a local HVAC manufacturing facility, the Saudi Arabian Manufacturing Company (Samco) – a world-class factory in Jeddah committed to manufacturing high-quality products for the kingdom and entire region.

Carrier is also the only company in the world to be a founding member of green building councils on four continents and was instrumental in launching the US Green Building Council (USGBC) in 1993, becoming the first company to join the organisation. Additionally, Carrier is a certified Education Partner of the USGBC and regularly provides Leed (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) training to building professionals throughout Saudi Arabia to encourage sustainable development. Leading by example, its office headquarters in Jeddah is Leed Platinum certified.