Daikin's 4 step plan to decarbonizing residential heating

Daikin unveils a 4-step plan to transform residential heating and cooling for a greener Europe. The goal is to decrease CO₂ emissions from residential buildings by raising the share of renewable heating and cooling systems to 40 % by 2030. This is in line with the increased EU-goal of cutting CO₂ emissions from 40 % to 55 % by 2030, as recently signed in the European Climate Law on April 21.

Brussels, Belgium / Vienna, Austria, May 2021 – The majority of residential housing is still heated with outdated systems, often using polluting fossil fuels such as coal and oil. A fact that contrasts sharply with the new EU-goal of cutting CO₂ emission. As of today, the European building stock is responsible for approximately 36 % of all CO₂ emissions in the EU. Whereas renewable heating via heat pumps has already become the new standard in new builds in some European countries, their potential still calls for more exposure in the replacement market.

Patrick Crombez, General Manager Heating and Renewables at Daikin Europe N. V.: “A clear and accessible strategy for decarbonizing residential heat is needed and renewable technologies are playing an essential role in achieving the EU’s targets, especially in the replacement market. Daikin has adopted the ambitious new targets and takes the lead with a 4-step guide to transform residential heating.”

How to decarbonize residential heat? 

1. Strengthen new build rules on energy use. Today, Daikin estimates that heat pumps already have up to 50 % market share in new (single family) houses across Europe. Reinforcement of the current rules must therefore be put in place, to make heat pumps the standard.

2. Double the replacement rate from 1 % to 2 % by 2030. As the replacement of old systems by more energy-efficient ones will naturally lead to emission cuts EU citizens have to be motivated to choose renewable solutions by showing them comprehensible reasons why renewable heating systems, like heat pumps, are efficient, cost-effective and established solutions.

3. End fossil fuel incentives. Currently, due to direct or indirect incentives oil or gas-based boilers are cheaper than heat pumps. Additionally, the gap between electricity and gas prices in many member states is too high to make heat pumps accessible for all EU citizens. Therefore a level playing field is also needed for renewable technologies.

4. Make renewable heating the standard in replacement. Daikin believes that heat pumps are the best solution. Indeed, they are increasingly capable of delivering high efficiencies even at lower outdoor temperatures. They are therefore a good fit for any type of house or apartment.

Daikin's 4 steps to decarbonizing residential heating. Copyrights Daikin Europe N. V.

Clear actions are needed

Daikin offers innovative solutions for sustainable cooling and heating and simultaneously aims to become a carbon-neutral company on a global scale by 2050. In order to increase its impact, the industry leader calls on stakeholders and decision makers to take action and support the 4 step plan of decarbonizing residential heating. “We are working on a daily basis to help making these 4 steps a reality. Technology is in place, our investments support this. Furthermore we motivate our network of installers to contribute to this plan. Heat pumps are the future in the replacement market and we aim to convince stakeholders of the benefits for the society, the environment and consumers. Clear actions are needed now. This is the only way we can make Europe climate neutral by 2050”, says Crombez.

“It is a positive signal that governments in 13 of our 16 markets in Central and Eastern Europe provide subsidies for heat pumps in the four-digit Euro range as attractive incentive for the refurbishment of buildings with state of the art HVAC-R technology. Nevertheless the conditions for subsidies vary significantly from country to country not only in the amount but also for the requirements”, emphasizes Carl Lievens, Managing Director of Daikin Central Europe.

Media contact (Daikin Central Europe)

Doris Passler
Corporate Communications Central Europe
Daikin Airconditioning Central Europe HandelsgmbH
+43 664 24 56 444
passler.d@daikin.at
Lemböckgasse 59/1/1
1230 Vienna, Austria

About

Daikin Europe N.V.

Daikin Europe N.V., Daikin Central Europe’s mother company, is a major European producer of air conditioners, heat pumps and refrigeration equipment, with approximately 10,000 people employed throughout Europe and 14 major manufacturing facilities based in Belgium, the Czech Republic, Germany, Italy, Turkey, Austria and the UK. Globally, Daikin is renowned for its pioneering approach to product development and the unrivalled quality and versatility of its integrated solutions. With more than 90 years‘ experience in the design and manufacture of heating and cooling technologies, Daikin is a market leader in heat pump technology. Daikin VRV and Daikin Altherma are the most sold heat pump systems in Europe, with over 500,000 systems delivered to date.

Daikin Airconditioning Central Europe

Daikin Airconditioning Central Europe was founded in 1999 with its headquarters in Vienna, Austria. The company’s portfolio comprises products and solutions for heating, cooling, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration. More than 450 professionals are in charge of pre-sales, sales and after-sales-services in 16 countries across Central and Eastern Europe in Austria, Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Moldavia, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia and Slovenia.