Blue Star unveils energy-efficient air conditioner

After spending ₹20 crore and two years in research, Blue Star has developed the next generation ‘full’ inverter air-conditioner — VRF IV Plus.

Announcing the launch, B Thiagarajan, Executive Director and President of Blue Star, said this is the first ‘Made in India’ and ‘Made for India’ VRF (variable refrigerant flow) air-conditioning system, “Which we are sure will be the benchmark product in the international air-conditioner market.”

Manufactured at the company’s Dadra plant, the 100 per cent inverter VRF system is an intelligent system that will cool large multi-zone spaces with varying heating and cooling needs. It will deliver non-stop cooling even at a peak ambient temperature of 54 degree Celsius, he said.

Apt for commercial and multi-room residential purposes, the technology was introduced in Japan. The technology is very efficient in terms of energy consumption, quick installation, ease of operation with the flexibility of choosing variable temperature in rooms.

While the system is 15-50 per cent more expensive depending on its capacity (tonnage), it is 50 per cent more energy efficient than the currently available inverter air-conditioners. For example, a four-room residential unit will have to spend at least ₹2 lakh for four units of 1.5-tonne inverter air-conditioners, whereas a 6-tonne VRF IV Plus system would cost ₹3 lakh. However, one can recover the additional investment within a year or two through its energy efficiency, explained CP Mukundan Menon, Executive Vice-President.

Thiagarajan said the VRF system market in India accounts for 6 per cent of the ₹15,000-crore air-conditioner market in the country. With the commercial establishments showing a strong inclination, this segment is likely to grow at 15 per cent year-on-year for the next few years.

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