The ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE), in collaboration with the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) hosted an AC Webinar on 15 February 2024, as part of the Cleaner Energy Future Initiative for ASEAN (CEFIA) Flagship on Healthy and Energy Efficient AC System. This new flagship was first introduced at the 5^th CEFIA Forum in Bali, Indonesia, in August 2023 and aims to promote the implementation of Energy Efficiency and Conservation (EE&C) best practices in air conditioning systems.

The two-hour webinar attracted 105 participants from various sectors in ASEAN and Japan, including government institutions, private companies, industries, academia, and researchers. Led by Mardika Firlina, Associate Officer of Conservation and Energy Efficiency (CEE) Department at ACE, as the moderator of the webinar, there were four (4) presentation sessions delivered by experts and a panel discussion inviting two (2) university professors.

The webinar began with opening remarks and a brief presentation from the representative of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) of Japan, Haruna Yoshizawa. She introduced the CEFIA initiative and its objective, one of which is to provide capacity building for accelerating the deployment of cleaner energy and decarbonisation technologies in the ASEAN region.

Giannetti Niccolo from Waseda University as Presenter

The first presentation, entitled Overcoming Global Warming Altogether, was delivered by Giannetti Niccolo, Associate Professor of Waseda University. He stressed the urgency of reducing CO₂ emissions to prevent global warming and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. To achieve these goals, he provided an illustration of energy supply and demand to emphasise the importance of promoting efficient energy through education and global collaboration. 

Rio Jon Piter Silitonga from ASEAN Centre for Energy as Presenter

Rio Jon Piter Silitonga, Research Analyst of CEE Department at ACE was the second presenter. Discussing the Regional Context of AC MEPS (Harmonisation of Minimum Energy Performance Standards) and Initiatives in ASEAN, he highlighted the projected surge in air conditioner energy consumption within the region’s residential sector. Therefore, the deployment of energy-efficient AC can significantly reduce electricity usage and CO₂ emissions. He further discussed the initiatives aiming to promote stringent MEPS regulations across ASEAN. 

Koji Hatano from JRAIA as Presenter

The third presentation session was conveyed by General Manager of International-Affairs Department of Japan Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Industries Association (JRAIA), Koji Hatano. Focusing on the industrial perspective, he discussed the crucial need for improving AC efficiency and promoting Low Global Warming Potential (GWP) refrigerants to prevent ozone depletion. Additionally, he emphasised the importance of developing technology that can maintain comfort at high–temperature settings, effectively reduce building energy demands, and prevent overcooling. 

Hiroyuki Tanaka from Daikin as Presenter

The last presentation was presented by Hiroyuki Tanaka, Sales Planning Department, Global Operations Division of Daikin. His presentation on Healthy and Energy Efficient AC System for ASEAN Market, introduced Energy Recovery Ventilation (ERV) to replace normal ventilation, which can achieve energy savings while providing comfort by reducing heat load and humidity from outdoor air. He further discussed the impact of this technology in reducing CO₂ in the ASEAN market. 

Dr. Prapat Pongkiatkul (left) and Dr. Ha Anh Tung (right) as Panellists

The final session featured a panel discussion with Dr. Prapat Pongkiatkul from King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi, Thailand, and Dr. Ha Anh Tung from Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology, Vietnam. 

Dr. Prapat shared findings from a study conducted in a high-humidity environment in Phuket, highlighting that while increased ventilation reduces pollutant concentrations, it also increases energy consumption. He then introduced the Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Star initiative, which aims to improve health and work efficiency in buildings through optimised ventilation strategies. Meanwhile, Dr. Ha discussed the importance of Energy Recovery Ventilation (ERV) technology and Excessive Cooling Protection (ECP) in air conditioning systems. He explained that uneven air distribution within rooms can lead to excessive cooling, highlighting the crucial role of this technology in addressing this issue. 

The webinar was closed with closing remarks by Septia Buntara Supendi, Acting Manager of CEE Department at ACE. He expressed his gratitude to all the webinar presenters and participants. Encouraging that the valuable insights and best practices shared in the webinar will serve as a practical solution for government and private sector action towards carbon neutrality and a secure energy future for the ASEAN community. He also highlighted the urge to achieve a 32% reduction in energy intensity by 2025, which is in line with the ASEAN Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation (APAEC) Phase II 2021-2025 target, mainly in the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Program Area.