Using CO2 for heating and cooling in urban areas

02. Carbon dioxide is commonly used as an industrial liquid refrigerant but could also be effective in heating and cooling buildings in urban areas. A prototype developed by EPFL researchers shows the feasibility of this concept. CO₂ is known to be the primary greenhouse gas, but it could also help slow global warming. Commonly used as a 'clean' liquid refrigerant in supermarkets, carbon dioxide turns out to be an efficient vehicle for transporting the energy needed to heat and cool buildings, particularly in urban settings. EPFL researchers have demonstrated that a heating and cooling distribution network using CO₂ could lead to over 80% in final energy savings. Their work is backed by a prototype and simulation run in the commercial district of Geneva.