Sustainability Targets
Belimo has made it its mission to create healthier, and more comfortable indoor environments that reduce energy consumption. In 2024, Belimo has committed to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions at the latest by 2050 with near- and long-term reduction targets aligned with SBTi Net Zero Standard. Currently, Belimo is preparing for the validation and approval of the targets by SBTi.
Belimo has developed a Group-wide methodology for GHG accounting. From the 2024 financial year, this balance sheet will be updated and disclosed annually as part of the external annual report. The Belimo GHG balance provides a comprehensive picture of all emissions (scope 1 to 3) caused by company activities over the course of a financial year. This includes:
- The supply chain (procurement, upstream, intercompany, and downstream transport).
- Assembly activities at all Production/Logistics and Customisation locations.
- The use phase of devices in the field.
- Device end-of-life treatment.
- Business travel, company vehicles, and employee commuting.
Belimo decided to commit to the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) in 2024. This commitment is an important step towards climate change mitigation and ensures compliance with international regulations while also meeting stakeholder expectations.
- Belimo aims to push the HVAC industry towards Net-Zero and is committed to the Net-Zero Target by 2050 outlined in the SBTi (Science-Based Targets initiative).
- Over the next 6-12 months, Belimo will submit near- and long-term targets for validation and approval by the SBTi.
The challenge of achieving this ambitious goal is substantial and requires all stakeholders to contribute actively towards it.
With the help of the SBTi's internationally recognized and scientifically grounded approach for setting greenhouse gas reduction targets, companies can define a reduction path that is both ambitious and achievable, reducing greenhouse gas emissions both in their industry and along the value chain, and thus contributing to society's net-zero target.
Quantifying our impact
To quantify the energy leverage of its field devices and assess their impact over the entire lifecycle of a typical HVAC system, Belimo established an impact model in 2019. The internally developed energy-impact model is used to quantify the greenhouse gas (GHG) impact of our field devices over their lifecycle in a typical HVAC system vs. the energy saving contribution and associated GHG emissions in a typical HVAC system. The model is structured along six phases of a device’s lifecycle, conservatively assumed to be 15 years, while actual Belimo field devices deliver for 20 years or more.
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Review of the CO2 Impact Model of Belimo Field Devices
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Belimo CO2 Impact Calculator 2023 (English only)
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The model considers “gray” energy content included in materials used to build a typical field device (steel, copper, aluminum, plastics, electronics, and cardboard).
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Our model also considers the energy needed to manufacture, assemble, and test the field devices:
Our new goal is to achieve a 80% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in Belimo-owned buildings by 2025 (Hinwil and Danbury; as measured in CO2e relative to the 2019 output).
In 2023, we implemented additional energy efficiency measures in our Hinwil and Danbury facilities, which allowed us to further reduce consumption and achieve our scope 1 and 2 reduction targets of 5.8% compared to 2022, putting us on track to meet our overall reduction goal.
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The model considers the average amount of transportation energy needed to deliver a Belimo field device to the customer.
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The model calculates the energy a Belimo field device uses during operation, taking into account the energy used in standby mode and when it is actuated.
We are striving to further reduce energy consumption per field device in standby and operation modes (both measured in kWh/year per Newton meter of torque).
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Even though typical HVAC systems operate much the same across the world, significant variations arise due to differences between climate zones and power generation. Annual energy savings are therefore calculated based on the consumption of a common HVAC system that operates with a global average heating and cooling load profile and with ordinary electrical power consumption.
We are striving to increase the overall savings factor of our field devices in their applications and to improve the tracking of the CO2 impacts of retrofit projects in the future.
Our goal is to double total avoided GHG emissions from our field devices sold in HVAC applications by 2030 (basis 2021; measured in CO2e).
In 2023, based on our energy-impact model, we have contributed with our field devices to avoiding around 7.7 million t CO2e, a decrease of 8.5% compared to 2022. Due to decrease of sold field devices in the reporting year, we are currently below plan to achieve our 2030 target.
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Belimo strives to minimise waste generated at the end of life of its products. This often coincides with the end of life of an entire HVAC system and is difficult to manage and track.
The commitment to sustainable buildings
A showpiece of energy transparency and efficiency
To optimise the HVAC system at the Belimo headquarters, we went the extra mile with an innovatively designed and controlled cooling plant that showcases our energy-efficient HVAC field devices and the energy transparency they enable.
In 2018, we began the planning of a new chilled water supply plant. Its goal was to address demanding and persistent comfort issues in the main production building in Hinwil (Switzerland) and to replace the 18-year-old plant. At the same time, we kicked off a move to a new building automation solution.
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Belimo Story: Future-Proof Chilled Water System
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Belimo's lighthouse project in India
The Mumbai hub, our 3,800 square metre Indian headquarters, was first conceptualised in 2016 as part of our 2030 accelerated growth strategy. The building, built as a showcase for state-of-the-art HVAC solutions and sustainable design, was an exciting opportunity to design an eco-friendly structure from the ground up.
The building comprises office and factory space, including a Belimo customer experience center, created to actively support the customer journey toward creating healthier indoor comfort with less energy. It also offers OEMs and academics a venue to collaboratively design, build, and test the next generation of Belimo products.
One of the largest solar power generating systems in Connecticut, USA
The 876 kW solar power plant at the Belimo Americas headquarters, which incorporates 2192 high-output solar modules, has an annual output of around one megawatt hour of electricity. Used to offset a portion of Belimo’s energy needs with solar power, it will save 857 tons of greenhouse gas emissions, equivalent to the annual needs of around 100 homes in Connecticut.
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LEED Gold, Belimo Americas Expansion Project (Danbury/USA)
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LEED Gold, New Construction: Belimo Aircontrols (Sparks/USA)
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Creating healthier indoor comfort with less energy
Buildings are responsible for 40% of global energy demand and greenhouse gas emissions. And because we spend up to 90% of our time indoors, they powerfully impact our comfort, health, and overall well-being. At Belimo, we have made it our mission to create healthier, more comfortable indoor environments that consume less energy. With a product portfolio naturally geared toward addressing several UN Sustainable Development Goals, we enable highly energy-efficient building automation and control systems (BACs) that cut the power requirements of HVAC solutions by up to 55%.
