Richard Halsall, CEO of Exhale Fans, joined Net Zero Compare to discuss how modern cooling technologies are evolving and what actually impacts building performance in practice.

As cooling demand continues to rise globally, especially in urban and warmer regions, building operators are under increasing pressure to reduce energy consumption while maintaining comfort and indoor air quality. While much of the industry focus has been on improving HVAC generation technologies, this conversation highlights a less discussed but critical factor: how air is distributed within a space.

This discussion was hosted by Net Zero Compare as part of its ongoing series exploring practical approaches to energy efficiency, emissions reduction, and building operations.

🎥 Watch the Full Conversation: For a deeper understanding of how cooling systems perform in real-world conditions, the full interview provides additional context and technical explanation. Richard Halsall shares detailed insights based on both engineering principles and deployment experience, including examples from large-scale installations. Watching the full discussion can help clarify how these concepts apply across different building types and climates.

Cooling Demand Is Increasing, but the Core Problem Remains Unaddressed

Cooling is becoming a larger part of building energy consumption, yet it has historically received less attention than heating and insulation.

One of the key issues identified in the discussion is that most HVAC systems are designed around a simplified approach to airflow. Traditional systems rely on linear distribution, typically pushing air from vents without addressing how it behaves once inside the space.

This creates a mismatch between system design and physical reality. Buildings are three-dimensional environments, but air distribution is often treated as a two-dimensional problem.

As a result, thermal stratification occurs. Cold air settles near the floor while warm air rises toward the ceiling. This leads to uneven temperature distribution and forces HVAC systems to work harder to maintain perceived comfort.

Energy Efficiency Depends on Thermostat Flexibility, Not Just Equipment Performance

A key takeaway from the discussion is that meaningful energy savings often come from reducing how hard HVAC systems need to work, rather than only improving their efficiency.

If indoor air is distributed more evenly, occupants can remain comfortable at higher thermostat settings in summer or lower settings in winter. This reduces the overall load on the system.

According to the data referenced in the conversation, increasing the thermostat setpoint by a few degrees while maintaining comfort can lead to measurable reductions in energy use. This is because HVAC systems do not need to operate continuously at high intensity.

There are additional operational benefits:

• Reduced runtime lowers wear on components such as compressors

• Equipment lifespan can increase due to lower duty cycles

• Energy costs decrease without requiring major system replacements

This shifts the focus from upgrading generation systems alone to optimizing how existing systems are used.

Air Distribution Directly Affects Indoor Air Quality

The conversation also highlights how airflow patterns influence indoor air quality, which is often treated as a separate issue from energy efficiency.

In many buildings, air circulation is limited. Return vents are typically placed high on walls, capturing only a portion of the air within a room. This leaves areas where particulate matter, humidity, and airborne contaminants can accumulate. Poor distribution contributes to several issues:

• Higher humidity levels in certain zones

• Increased risk of mold and dust mite growth

• Limited dilution of airborne particles

Improving air movement throughout the full volume of a space can help address these problems. By circulating air vertically and horizontally, systems can improve filtration effectiveness and reduce localized buildup of contaminants.

This creates a link between energy efficiency and occupant health that is often overlooked in building design and operation.

Modern Cooling Technologies Focus on Generation, Not Distribution

There have been clear improvements in how cooling and heating are generated. Technologies such as heat pumps, improved compressors, and geothermal systems have increased efficiency at the source.

However, these advancements do not fully address how air behaves once it enters a building.

The discussion emphasizes that distribution remains a gap across many solutions. Even highly efficient systems can underperform if airflow is uneven or poorly managed. In practical terms, this means that:

• Cooling systems may overcompensate for uneven temperatures

• Occupants experience discomfort despite high energy use

• Efficiency gains from advanced equipment are partially lost

This suggests that improving distribution can be a complementary approach to existing technologies, rather than a replacement.

Cost and Payback: Focus on Simplicity and Measurable Impact

From a building owner’s perspective, decisions are driven by cost, implementation complexity, and return on investment.

The discussion highlights that many energy-saving solutions involve significant upfront investment or system modifications. These can include building management systems, automation, or infrastructure upgrades.

In contrast, simpler interventions that improve how existing systems operate may offer faster payback. Key considerations for decision-makers include:

• How quickly the solution reduces operating costs

• Whether it requires major changes to existing infrastructure

• The expected lifespan of the solution

• The balance between upfront investment and long-term savings

The broader point is that not all efficiency improvements need to be complex. In some cases, addressing fundamental inefficiencies can deliver meaningful results with lower implementation risk.

Retrofitting Existing Buildings Is a Critical Opportunity

A large portion of the global building stock is already constructed, which makes retrofit solutions particularly important.

The conversation highlights that implementation feasibility often depends on simplicity. Solutions that can be added without replacing existing HVAC systems are more likely to be adopted. In practice, this means that building operators are more receptive to technologies that:

• Integrate with existing systems

• Require minimal structural changes

• Deliver measurable savings without long-term disruption

This aligns with the broader need to improve energy performance across existing buildings, rather than relying solely on new construction.

Common Misconceptions in Cooling Technologies

One of the recurring challenges discussed is how cooling solutions are perceived.

A common misconception is that increasing airflow intensity or system output will solve comfort issues. In reality, this often leads to inefficiencies, as air still follows the same physical behavior regardless of how forcefully it is delivered.

Another issue is how products are categorized or understood. For example, technologies may be associated with familiar but inaccurate mental models, which can create resistance or misunderstanding.

These misconceptions can slow adoption, even when solutions address real inefficiencies.

Scaling Hardware in the Sustainability Sector

Scaling physical products presents different challenges compared to software-based solutions.

The discussion includes an example of deployment in a university setting, where physical constraints such as ceiling infrastructure required design adjustments. This illustrates a broader point: hardware solutions must adapt to real-world conditions, which are often variable and complex. Challenges include:

• Installation constraints in existing buildings

• Integration with other systems and infrastructure

• Variability across building types and layouts

Despite these challenges, successful deployments can provide measurable data, which helps validate performance and support further adoption.

Practical Takeaways for Building Operators

The conversation points to a set of practical actions that building operators can consider:

• Evaluate how air is distributed, not just how it is generated

• Identify areas where thermal stratification is reducing efficiency

• Adjust thermostat strategies based on actual comfort conditions

• Consider solutions that improve airflow without major system changes

• Integrate distribution improvements with existing building management systems

The central idea is to align system performance with physical reality rather than relying solely on increased output or newer equipment.

Conclusion

The discussion with Richard Halsall highlights a key gap in how building energy efficiency is approached. While significant progress has been made in improving HVAC technologies, the distribution of air within buildings remains under-addressed.

By focusing on airflow and thermal behavior, building operators can improve comfort, reduce energy use, and extend equipment lifespan without necessarily replacing entire systems.

For organizations managing energy costs, emissions, and indoor environments, this represents a practical and often overlooked opportunity to improve performance using existing infrastructure.