Unic Air is the first and only manufacturer of an air handling unit with an integrated cooling system that uses the natural refrigerant CO₂. With many years of experience, we deliver energy-efficient and environmentally friendly air handling units. This experience has allowed us to optimize significantly, enabling us to build our BLUE CO₂ air handling unit at a more affordable price. It features high-quality, well-tested components that ensure stable, quiet operation and easy maintenance.
At Unic Air, we design and deliver customized solutions for both comfort and industrial ventilation, tailored to each customer’s needs and wishes. That’s why we collaborate with our customers early in the idea and planning phases to achieve the optimal solution for the building as a whole. This ensures the ventilation adapts to the building’s conditions, not the other way around.
A significant part of the climate debate revolves around how we can reduce global warming. According to the private research organization Project Drawdown, phasing out refrigerants is one of the most effective solutions for reducing global warming.
The solution to this problem is clear: replace harmful HFC and HFO refrigerants with natural refrigerants like CO₂. CO₂ as a refrigerant has a Global Warming Potential (GWP) of 1, compared to many harmful synthetic refrigerants with a GWP of 1700–2200. By using CO₂ as a refrigerant, significantly fewer greenhouse gases are emitted, reducing the climate impact and protecting the ozone layer.
Note: The comparison is based on a Peugeot 3008 from 2018 with a CO₂ emission of 119g/km.
For R-410A, with a GWP of 2008, a 10 kg refrigerant leak is equivalent to driving 175,462 kilometers—that’s 4.5 times around the Earth.
In comparison, a 10 kg refrigerant leak of CO₂, with a GWP of 1, is equivalent to driving just 84 kilometers.
At Unic Air, we find this perspective thought-provoking and a clear illustration of how important it is to choose the right refrigerants to reduce global warming—and how achievable it can be.
With BLUE-CO₂, you get a future-proof air handling unit that is independent of the upcoming F-gas regulation, which aims to phase out all synthetic HFC and HFO refrigerants with a GWP above 150. This regulation will take effect as early as 2027, but CO₂ is not affected by the phase-out since it has a GWP of just 1.
Switching to CO₂ now can therefore be a financially advantageous decision, as the demand for and production of environmentally friendly solutions are expected to increase in the coming years.
Another significant advantage of CO₂ as a refrigerant is that it is completely free of PFAS, which are present in all synthetic HFC and HFO refrigerants. PFAS compounds can contaminate groundwater and food, posing risks to both humans and animals when ingested. Since PFAS cannot naturally break down in the environment, they accumulate over time in large quantities.
Denmark has taken the lead in the EU by advocating for a total ban on PFAS, which could have significant consequences for HFO and HFC refrigerants.
Choosing an air handling unit with CO₂ as the refrigerant provides significantly higher energy efficiency throughout the year compared to units using traditional refrigerants.
When operating in subcritical mode, a CO₂ based air handling unit achieves approximately 15–20% higher energy efficiency than units with synthetic refrigerants. During the few hours annually when the unit operates in transcritical mode, typically on the hottest days, energy efficiency may be 5–10% lower than with traditional refrigerants. However, the overall annual energy savings make CO₂ a highly efficient and environmentally friendly choice.
The BLUE CO₂ unit is ideal for any location where integrated cooling is used to cool the supply air, particularly when specific requirements are placed on the refrigerant’s GWP or the building’s green profile. BLUE can contribute positively to DGNB certification and strengthen the overall sustainability profile.
The unit is designed with a Plug & Play approach, with all functions and components built into the air handling unit at the factory. It is delivered fully equipped with automation and integrated cooling.
The BLUE CO₂ unit is also ideal in situations where it is not possible to transport the unit into an existing building, as it can be delivered as an on-site build. Furthermore, it is the only air handling unit with integrated cooling that can be built on-site, thanks to the revised F-gas regulation.
Below you can see a selection of our references for BLUE CO2 units
© 2025 Unic Air – Designet af Aveo web&marketing
