As buildings currently consume 40% of the world’s energy, with HVAC systems accounting in turn for 40% of that figure, smart control of HVAC systems has a significant impact on global energy efficiency.

According to EN ISO 52120-1:2022, smart building automation and controls systems (BACS) have a material impact on the energy efficiency of HVAC systems. They can save between 29% (Class C) and 55% (Class A) of energy consumption in comparison with systems without controls. Belimo field devices play a decisive role in achieving these savings. To calculate the energy savings they realize in applications, our field devices are used in different percentages in each class, resulting in a total weight savings of approximately 44%.

In most regions of the world, regulations increasingly support raising energy efficiency standards for HVAC equipment and encouraging energy-efficiency-driven building renovations. Here, Belimo field devices are making a difference.

Climate change affects all of us. As our field devices help to reduce CO₂ emissions from buildings’ HVAC systems, Belimo has a particularly strong commitment to helping limit global warming to less than 1.5° Celsius.

During the transition to a low-carbon economy, however, we will have to adjust to living on a warmer planet with more extreme heat. Already today, an estimated two thirds of the global energy consumption of HVAC systems is used for cooling applications and only one third for heating applications. A hotter global climate, in combination with continuously tighter building envelopes, means the shift of global energy demand from heating toward cooling will continue. Although better-insulated buildings lower the primary energy input, they also increase the need for ventilation, which is where Belimo field devices contribute to energy-efficient solutions.

As populations shift across the globe from rural to urban areas, more and more people are leading modern, urban lifestyles and are spending 90% of their time indoors. State-of-the-art building automation and reliable HVAC components are indispensable for satisfying increasing demands for pleasant room climates and healthy environments.

Urbanization means more buildings on less land or smaller footprints with unusual designs, mixed use and increasing complexity. This poses new challenges for protecting lives and assets, making technical fire protection through motorized fire and smoke control dampers more important than ever before. At the same time, high-performance HVAC systems and proper humidification strategies are required to maintain a stable, safe, and healthy indoor air quality.

Digitization in the building automation industry offers new powerful toolsets for analyzing and optimizing HVAC systems. The applications for smart performance devices are seemingly endless, whether they be in the form of data analytics, monitoring, predictive maintenance, ease of installation, or digital support during the commissioning and system integration phase.

Belimo contributes to SDG 3 “Good Health and Well-Being” by ensuring optimum indoor air quality and well-being in rooms. Its intelligent HVAC components control the major factors affecting room climate: temperature, humidity, air flow, CO₂, and VOCs. High-performance HVAC systems and proper humidification strategies are required to maintain stable and healthy indoor air quality. For ensuring optimum conditions, Belimo sensors serve as a critical link between the HVAC system and the zones it serves.

Buildings and their HVAC systems play a critical role in the doubling of the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency stipulated by SDG target 7.3. An estimated 30% of all energy used in buildings is lost due to insufficiently controlled systems. By providing smart HVAC-controls, Belimo makes an active contribution to SDG 7 “Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all”.

With its sustained economic growth and the continuous creation of new and attractive workplaces, Belimo contributes to SDG 8 “Decent Work and Economic Growth.” Other contributions include the empowerment of our employees, the fostering of their skills, and equal employment practices.

With respect to SDG 9 “Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure”, Belimo sets standards in HVAC damper actuator, control valve, sensor and meter technologies. While the majority of Belimo field devices drive the energy efficiency of buildings, it is its fire and smoke actuators that contribute to their resilience.

By 2050, two thirds of all humanity – 6.5 billion people – will live in cities. The megatrend of urbanization actively drives the number of people living and working indoors and, with it, the necessity of intelligently controlled HVAC systems – namely, Belimo applications. Concerning SDG 11 “Sustainable Cities and Communities”, Belimo helps make cities more sustainable and safer by providing products such as the Belimo Energy Valve™ or a wide range of safety actuators for motorized fire dampers and smoke control dampers.

Belimo contributes to SDG 12 “Responsible Consumption and Production” by upholding sustainable procurement practices and localized sourcing, minimizing waste, and optimizing logistics through the modularization of its product ranges and by applying environmental management standards at its main production sites.

Buildings are responsible for 40% of worldwide energy consumption and for the climate changes caused by their CO₂ emissions. Of this, another 40% is consumed by HVAC systems. The application of Belimo products saves energy in HVAC systems in buildings, thereby creating measurable sustainability benefits and significantly contributing to SDG 13 “Climate Action”.