LG Electronics (LG) is enhancing its position in heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) research and development through partnerships with leading global universities. By engaging in collaborative programs, LG is promoting innovations in efficiency, sustainability, and indoor air quality, all in support of its broader vision for a Better Life for All.
A cornerstone of this effort is the Global Heat Pump Consortium, including the European Consortium for Advanced Heat Pump Research (ECAHR). Established in June 2024, the group recently completed a study of LG’s Air-to-Air Heat Pump (AAHP) in Norway. Results published in REHVA Journal showed that LG’s R32-based AAHP can consume up to 90 per cent less energy and reduce carbon emissions by about 99 per cent compared to conventional oil-fired boilers. LG intends to launch a new AAHP product targeting Northern European markets later this year.
Collaboration with academic institutions also extends to improving indoor air quality. LG and Yonsei University in South Korea have researched photocatalysed titanium dioxide as a method for reducing airborne allergens. The findings will inform future LG air care systems designed to capture and remove different allergenic inhalants.
In China, LG partnered with Tianjin University to examine long-term air purifier performance in homes. Data gathered over almost a year revealed that filters degrade quickly in kitchens with heavy oil fumes. Based on these insights, LG has developed advanced filters that maintain performance in high-particulate environments. Testing also showed that LG’s integrated dust and deodorisation filter worked nearly twice as fast and at double the capacity of conventional options, technology that is already applied in its latest air purifiers.
LG’s research partnerships also reach into North America. At the University of Florida, LG has studied air quality issues caused by forest fires. One focus has been the formation of secondary organic aerosols (SOA), fine particulates that can harm health and air quality. The team’s results, published in Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics and Science of the Total Environment, highlight the environmental variables influencing SOA formation.
“Through close collaboration with leading universities, we are advancing technologies that enhance HVAC energy efficiency and performance to create healthier, more sustainable living environments,” said Oh Sai-kee, Head of the LG ES R&D Lab.
