Contribution to Energy Efficiency
Management Approach
As global warming rises and building envelopes become increasingly tighter, the shift in global energy demand from heating to cooling will continue. While improved insulation reduces primary energy use in buildings, it also increases ventilation requirements. Belimo’s field devices contribute to energy-efficient solutions by enhancing HVAC system efficiency and helping reduce the building-related GHG emissions — supporting Belimo's commitment to mitigating global warming.
Belimo's commitment to energy efficiency is demonstrated across three levels:
- At company level, Belimo is in the process of revising a model to quantify avoided emissions in accordance with the latest internationally recognized guidance.
- At project level, Belimo demonstrates its impact on energy, carbon, and cost savings during the use-phase through selected RetroFIT+ case studies.
- At product level, Environmental Declarations – Type III (Environmental Product Declarations) and Environmental Declarations – Type II (Manufacturer Self Declarations) serve as essential tools used for showcasing relevant environmental product information.
Company Level - Avoided Emissions
Buildings account for 40% of global energy consumption, with HVAC systems accounting for 40% of that demand. Smart control of HVAC systems significantly impacts global energy efficiency. As defined by EN ISO 52120-1, BACS can achieve savings between 29% (Class C) and 55% (Class A) of energy consumption compared to systems without control functionality.
Belimo’s field devices play a decisive role in achieving these energy savings and reducing emissions. Belimo discloses carbon savings across the whole lifecycle of its field devices. By calculating the average savings of an air-side and a water-side actuator multiplied by units sold, Belimo's field devices contributed to avoiding 8.7 million tons of CO2e in 2025 (2024: 7.8 million tons of CO2e).
In 2026, Belimo will refine the methodology and documentation of its avoided emissions reporting, in accordance with the latest available guidelines.
Project Level - RetroFIT+ Case Studies
With only 2% of the world’s annual building stock comprised of newly constructed buildings, retrofitting in buildings represents the most significant solution to reducing GHG emissions and increasing energy efficiency. However, to meet the ambitious climate targets stipulated by initiatives such as the European Green Deal, the renovation rate must double. Upgrading existing buildings requires highly skilled engineers, leading to capacity limitations. Consequently, Belimo’s RetroFIT+ initiative aims to help customers overcome bottlenecks and simplify retrofit processes.
In 2024, Belimo developed the RetroFIT+ Assessment Tool to report transparently and consistently on energy, carbon and cost savings achieved thanks to RetroFIT+ projects. This tool provides the foundational data for case studies.
Find out more about RetroFIT+ case studies: Belimo RetroFIT+ Case Finder
Product Level - Environmental Declarations Type II and Type III
The Environmental Declaration Type II (ISO 14021) is an internationally recognized standard that enables companies to self-declare the environmental performance of their products. Based partly on Life Cycle Assessments (LCA), the self-declaration includes several environmental attributes such as CO2 data, materials declaration, and information on REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals) and RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) regulations. However, it is not externally verified. Belimo has developed manufacturer self-declarations for its entire product portfolio, available on the Belimo website.
Environmental Product Declarations (EPD) are Environmental Declarations Type III (ISO 14025, EN 15804) that document a product’s environmental impact based on Life Cycle Assessment (LCA; ISO 14040 series). EPDs are externally validated by a certified program operator and remain valid for five years. Belimo is currently implementing an EPD program across its entire product range.