Modular technology removes CO2, improves indoor air quality, and saves energy 

 Air conditioning units constitute around 6 per cent of the US’s yearly energy usage and come 2023, the country’s minimum HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) efficiency standards will need to increase. These changes indicate an increased need for retrofitting current systems, a challenge that building technology startup Carbon Reform plans to meet with its Carbon Capsule modular HVAC addition, which also improves indoor air quality.

The Carbon Capsule connects to a building’s existing HVAC system and – along with the traditional air purification process – captures and sequesters carbon dioxide, volatile organic compounds, and other pollutants. The sequestered carbon dioxide mixes with calcium hydroxide (lime) to form limestone, a material used in a variety of applications, including green construction. The clean air is then recirculated, saving resources by reducing the amount of additional outside air needed, as well as reducing the energy needed to cool or heat the current interior air.