A Heat Pump for Europe's Winters

In Europe, particularly in France, Germany, and Sweden, governments are recommending heat pumps as a method to slow pace of global warming. Being a company continually striving to develop energy-efficient solutions to meet the specific climate and situational needs of each region, in 2006 Daikin introduced a residential-use, air to water heat pump system for hot water heaters and heating systems.

Daikin's system, one of the most energy efficient in the world, delivers enough interior space and water heating power for even sub-zero temperatures and, unlike combustion systems, can be used for air conditioning in summer.

To bring the benefits of this new system to as many people as possible, in January 2008 we established the sales company Daikin Sweden A.B. The Swedes' keen consciousness to environment makes the country a promising market in which to launch our new product. We are currently aggressively marketing it in Sweden with the goal of tripling net sales between 2006 and 2012. Because this new system can provide cooling and heating in a single unit, it is garnering attention in France, which has suffered through a series of heat waves over the past few years.

Daikin is also considering releasing heat pump driven interior space and water heating systems, adapted to local climates, in North America and China, countries in which Daikin has made only minor market penetration. By adapting the new system to specific regional needs, we plan to have products on the market by 2010 in North America. For China, we are conducting research into the heating market in an effort to develop a heat pump heating system geared to local needs.