R290 Split Air Conditioners Resource Guide (Update 2025)

Discover the future of air conditioning with the R290 Split AC Resource Guide. 

Room air conditioners gain global popularity and the need for environmentally friendly solutions becomes urgent. Alarmingly, air conditioning accounts for 20% of energy consumption in buildings and is projected to triple by 2050. Traditional refrigerants like R22, R410A, and R32 contribute heavily to greenhouse gas emissions, but R290 (propane) offers a sustainable alternative with superior energy performance and almost zero Global Warming Potential (GWP). 

This guide clearly shows that single-split room ACs equipped with R290 exhibit significant environmental advantages through good energy performance and a GWP close to zero. The guide contributes to addressing and demystifying all aspects relevant for the successful introduction of R290 split Air Conditioners. It also showcases successful R290 implementations, such as India's leading energy-efficient model with over 600,000 units sold safely. With the phase-down of harmful refrigerants under the Kigali Amendment, R290 stands out as the future-proof choice for residential and light commercial air conditioning. Explore this guide to understand the advantages of R290 and join the movement towards sustainable cooling solutions.

While there is an urgent need for action in the sector, there are several barriers to a market transition, such as safety concerns about the flammability of R290, lacking awareness and uncertainties about new technologies, as well as limited understanding of the proper treatment of the refrigerants in the processes of manufacturing, installing, operating, and disposing of appliances. There is often a hesitance to invest in such technology, despite significant reduction potential in energy costs.

The objective of this resource guide is to inform relevant stakeholders about the factors that are deemed crucial for a successful market transition to energy-efficient R290 split ACs. The guide addresses:

• Political decision makers who are confronted with energy efficiency and refrigerant policy making, and who would like to improve their understanding about R290 split ACs in order to take informed consultations with the industry and other relevant bodies.
• National standardisation, custom and certification bodies that are tasked with the development and issuance of standards on performance testing, product safety, and technician skills required for R290 split ACs.
• The split AC industry, including manufacturers, assem- blers, contractors, and installation companies, which are considering to transition or expand their business to manufacture, sales, and servicing of R290 split ACs.
   

This guideline intends to address knowledge gaps as well as the concerns that hinder the introduction and application of R290 split AC. This guide tackles all topics relevant to R290 split AC and provides a set of references for more detailed information at the end of each chapter.