Menerga’s CO₂ Heat Pump Win Signals a Greener Future for HVAC

PADUA, Italy – November 26, 2025 – In a move that underscores the accelerating pace of sustainable innovation, Menerga, a specialist firm within the Systemair group, has secured the prestigious "Heat Pump Innovation of the Year" award. The recognition, bestowed at the ATMOsphere Europe Summit, celebrates the company's groundbreaking CO₂mpass air-handling unit, a technology poised to redefine energy efficiency and environmental responsibility in commercial buildings.

The award, presented at a summit renowned for championing natural refrigerant solutions, is more than a corporate accolade; it's a powerful signal that the HVAC industry is undergoing a fundamental transformation. For decades, the sector has relied on synthetic refrigerants, many of which are now known to be potent greenhouse gases with high global warming potential (GWP) and contain persistent chemicals known as PFAS. Menerga's win highlights a viable, high-performance alternative that could render these legacy technologies obsolete.

The New Climate for Cooling: Why Natural Refrigerants Matter

The shift away from synthetic refrigerants like hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) is not just a trend; it's a global imperative driven by tightening environmental regulations and growing climate consciousness. The European Union's updated F-Gas Regulation, for instance, is aggressively phasing down the use of high-GWP gases, creating urgent demand for future-proof alternatives. This is where natural refrigerants, substances that occur in the biosphere, enter the picture.

Among these, R-744—the technical designation for carbon dioxide (CO₂)—is emerging as a frontrunner. With a GWP of just 1, it is thousands of times less harmful to the climate than many of its synthetic counterparts. Furthermore, it is non-toxic, non-flammable, and entirely free of the PFAS “forever chemicals” that are facing increasing public and regulatory scrutiny. By using R-744, the Menerga CO₂mpass provides a solution that is not only compliant with current laws but is secure against future environmental regulations.

"We are deeply grateful for this recognition," said Roland Kasper, CEO of Systemair, in a statement following the award ceremony. "ATMOsphere is a global, independent accelerator promoting natural-refrigerant solutions, making this acknowledgement especially meaningful. This milestone reflects our ongoing commitment to sustainable innovation."

Engineering a Breakthrough: Inside the CO₂mpass

While CO₂ is an ideal refrigerant from an environmental standpoint, its adoption has been historically hampered by technical challenges. R-744 systems operate at significantly higher pressures than traditional HFC units, demanding a complete re-engineering of system components and architecture. Menerga's innovation lies not just in choosing CO₂, but in mastering its application.

The CO₂mpass unit integrates high-efficiency components specifically designed and optimized for the demanding conditions of R-744. This meticulous engineering overcomes the pressure challenge and unlocks CO₂'s excellent thermodynamic properties, enabling the system to achieve an exceptional Coefficient of Performance (COP) of up to 7. In practical terms, this means the unit can deliver up to seven units of heating or cooling for every single unit of electricity consumed, representing a dramatic leap in energy efficiency.

First unveiled at the ISH 2025 trade fair in Frankfurt, the CO₂mpass is a unique all-in-one design. It's not simply a heater or a cooler; it's an integrated climate control system. This is particularly transformative for its initial target market: public swimming pools.

Transforming Public Spaces: The Impact on Pools and Beyond

Public aquatic facilities are notoriously energy-intensive. They require constant, powerful dehumidification to protect the building structure and ensure visitor comfort, alongside massive energy inputs for heating both the pool water and the vast quantities of domestic hot water for showers. Traditionally, these functions are handled by separate, often inefficient, systems.

The CO₂mpass consolidates these tasks into a single, hyper-efficient loop. The unit's primary function is dehumidifying the pool hall air. The waste heat captured during this process, which would typically be vented outside, is intelligently recovered and repurposed. It is used to heat the pool water and to generate domestic hot water, effectively turning a major energy liability into a valuable asset. This integrated approach drastically reduces a facility's overall energy consumption and operational costs.

As Roland Kasper noted, "The Menerga CO₂mpass AHU optimises comfort and wellbeing while dramatically reducing energy use, underscoring that the good indoor air quality does not have to come at the expense of efficiency." For municipalities and public facility managers grappling with tight budgets and ambitious carbon-reduction targets, this technology offers a clear and compelling path forward. It enables them to modernize infrastructure, lower long-term expenses, and meet their environmental obligations simultaneously.

A Strategic Win in a Competitive Market

The ATMOsphere award is significant because it is voted on by industry peers and recognizes technologies poised for significant market impact. Menerga's victory, against a strong field of nominees that included innovations in rotation heat pumps and alternative natural refrigerant compressors, solidifies Systemair's position as a leader in the sustainable HVAC market. It's a validation of the company's strategic focus on R&D and its bet on natural refrigerants as the technology of the future.

This award demonstrates that the market is ready to move beyond incremental improvements. The CO₂mpass is not just a better version of an old idea; it represents a new paradigm for climate control, where environmental stewardship and economic performance are inextricably linked. As regulations continue to tighten and energy costs remain a critical concern, the demand for such integrated, sustainable solutions is set to expand far beyond swimming pools into hotels, data centers, and other commercial buildings. Menerga's success with the CO₂mpass is a clear indication that the future of building technology is not just about being smart, but about being fundamentally sustainable.