Emerging Climate Tech Startups Develop Next-Gen Cooling Solutions
July is shaping up to be the hottest month ever recorded, with over half of the US experiencing excessive heat warnings and advisories. As the climate crisis intensifies, finding innovative ways to keep people cool without further damaging the planet or straining the electrical grid has become imperative. While heat pumps have gained attention as a more efficient and lower-carbon cooling solution, several emerging climate tech startups are now developing next-generation technologies to address the pressing challenges involved.
Air conditioners currently consume about 6% of the US’s electricity supply, emitting greenhouse gases through the use of refrigerants with a global warming potential thousands of times more potent than carbon dioxide. While heat pumps have been praised for their energy efficiency, their current versions alone are not sufficient to ensure grid stability, lower emissions, and keep people cool. Recognizing the need for advanced cooling systems, startups are focusing on making cooling needs more responsive to power demand, optimizing humidity control, improving energy efficiency, and enhancing the flexibility of HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) systems.
One startup leading the charge is Blue Frontier, backed by Breakthrough Energy Ventures. Blue Frontier is developing a smart cooling and energy storage system that replaces refrigerants with a salt solution or liquid desiccant. This innovative approach not only enables energy storage but also efficiently cools rooms, reduces energy consumption by up to 90%, and extracts humidity from the air directly. By allowing utility companies to manage electricity consumption efficiently while empowering building users to control their thermostats, Blue Frontier’s technology meets both the grid’s needs and user comfort.
MIMiC Systems, another advanced HVAC startup, takes a different approach. Their solid-state heating and cooling system uses solid materials to transfer thermal energy, eliminating the need for moving parts like compressors found in traditional air conditioners. This fully modular setup can be tailored to individual temperature preferences, ensuring optimal comfort while reducing energy consumption.
Flexibility is a crucial factor in achieving energy efficiency. Flair, a startup addressing this challenge, offers smart vents that redirect air from one part of the house to another, avoiding wasted energy and overcooling particular rooms. By installing Flair’s system, customers have reported electricity bill savings of up to 30%. For homes with ductless mini split systems, Flair also sells a smart thermostat that enables temperature control via an app, facilitating integration into the grid and participation in load flexibility programs.
As the climate crisis worsens, fully variable HVAC systems that utilize smart heat pumps stand as a promising solution. Backed by Azolla Ventures, Gradient is an internet-connected window heat pump startup. Their units can participate in demand response programs, helping relieve strain on the grid during peak energy demand. In addition to optimizing energy consumption, Gradient’s technology prioritizes human comfort by considering factors like radiant temperature, air movement, and humidity.
While the urgency of keeping people cool in extreme heat is undeniable, it is crucial to develop sustainable solutions that do not exacerbate the climate crisis. The next wave of cooling technologies, developed by emerging climate tech startups, aims to achieve this delicate balance. By focusing on grid stability, energy efficiency, humidity control, flexibility, and human comfort, these startups are spearheading efforts to keep us cool without frying the planet or overtaxing the electrical grid.
With climate change projected to bring even more extreme heat in the future, the integration of advanced cooling solutions is of paramount importance. By combining innovation, energy efficiency, and user-centric design, these startups are poised to transform the way we cool our homes and buildings, ensuring a more sustainable and comfortable future.
