**The Challenge and Opportunity:**

Emission of buildings is estimated to be as much as 30% of total UK emissions (BEIS, 2021). Seasonal cooling demand in the UK is driven by the need to cool offices and retailer outlets, with the most recent summer heatwave being a driver. Air conditioners in addition to space cooling, are also used for ventilation of supercomputers and chilled foods. With regard to refrigeration, 70% of energy consumed by supermarkets in the UK is utilised for refrigeration (EGB, 2021). The demand for cooling and refrigeration in public and commercial buildings such as hospitals and retail outlets, has made it very challenging to reduce emissions from such buildings due to the lack of a whole systems approach as a result of the unchanged emissions profile since 1990 (BEIS, 2021). Reducing public and commercial building emissions due to cooling and refrigeration requires a holistic system approach to the challenge, to reach net zero by 2050\. This creates the need for whole systems design of low-carbon renewable cooling and refrigeration solutions for public and commercial buildings.

**The Solution:**

Ventairge proposes a project titled **Lo**w-carbon **Re**newable **Co**oling & **R**efrigeration **S**ystem for Public and Commercial Buildings **(LoReCoRS).** LoReCoRS is focused on systematically developing and modelling a low-carbon renewable cooling and refrigeration solution. The project will comprise developing a high-fidelity model that will utilise solar technologies, storage modules, ancillary components and control systems in a systematic and holistic manner. Such a solution will support future integration into public and commercial buildings.

**The key aspects of the system are:**

* Delivers renewable energy for build cooling and refrigeration;
* Utilises the sun as an energy source;
* The system includes high storage energy density mediums;
* Sophisticated control system for interaction and temperature balance.

**The benefits offered by the system are:**

* It supports the move towards carbon neutrality of public and commercial buildings;
* It is energy efficient and can significantly reduce pollution;
* It can achieve efficient interaction between heating and cooling;
* The system can improve end users' experience, health, safety and well-being;
* It can significantly reduce emissions and save energy bills.