The world is in a pickle when it comes to cooling: We need more cooling as temperatures rise – with some of the world’s most populous cities expected to see increases between 2°C and 8°C by 2050 – yet we risk contributing to global warming even more if we emit more greenhouse gases through air-conditioning and refrigeration.

Not to mention, demand for cooling will further increase as it becomes more accessible to emerging economies. Electricity demand for air conditioning worldwide is projected to increase by more than 140% by 2050. Left unchecked, the related emissions could nearly double in comparison to 2016. These challenges are why EP100, our global initiative with the Climate Group for companies committed to doing more with less energy, elevated its focus this year on sustainable cooling solutions.

And a new report, released by the Climate Group in partnership with the Alliance, highlights how energy efficiency can make sustainable cooling possible. The briefing, “Efficient cooling in a warming world: why and how businesses are taking action,” showcases the experiences of EP100 Cooling Challenge participants in India and the Middle East; companies signed up to pull harder on cooling efficiency to help them reach their energy productivity goals.

Energy efficiency is a vital tool for chiseling out of the cooling pickle. Cooling is the fastest growing consumer of energy in buildings, especially non-residential buildings. That means there’s a lot of cost and emission savings on the table for companies that take steps to improve their cooling efficiency to reach their energy productivity goals. Globally, the International Energy Agency estimates that efficient cooling practices and technologies offer cost savings potential of up to $2.9 trillion in the power sector between 2016 and 2050.

The diversity in EP100 Cooling Challenge participants demonstrates the wide range of possibilities for improving cooling efficiency. For instance, EP100 member Godrej Industries plans to modify its operations schedule at its chemical facility in Ambernath, India, so that it can turn its chiller off for at least 24 hours each week. This could save more than $20,000 in energy cost savings per year.

Another member, Mahindra & Mahindra, has upgraded 120 of its air-conditioning units to more efficient models at its automotive plant in Nagpur, India, to reduce the units’ energy use by 8%. In the retail sector, Majid Al Futtaim in Cairo, Egypt, plans to install flowmeters at its Dandy Mega Mall to better inform control of the pumps used within its cooling system. This is expected to lead to 3,600 MtCO2e of emissions savings annually.

The common theme across all EP100 Cooling Challenge participants is their commitment to continued improvement in energy performance. And the great news is the EP100 Cooling Checklist is available to any company as a first step toward identifying opportunities to improve cooling efficiency.

Beyond that first step, companies that have the most success in executing their cooling efficiency goals lean on tried-and-true energy performance protocols, such as conducting yearly energy audits on their facilities, setting both company-wide and staff-level energy performance goals, and hosting monthly meetings to assess progress. It’s exciting to see the EP100 Cooling Challenge participants forging ahead as cooling efficiency beacons, and more companies must be game for cooling efficiency in the long-haul to curb planet-warming emissions.

Download the briefing to learn how your company can lower emissions and increase its competitiveness through energy efficient cooling.