Sanjay Sharma, Director Marketing-Commercial HVAC India, Carrier

"We are creating retrofit opportunities that can be easily plugged in an existing HVAC system"

As the inventor of modern air-conditioning and a world leader in heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC), Carrier has been driving innovation in air quality in commercial buildings for more than a century. “We are building on that legacy through our Healthy Buildings Program,” according to Sanjay Sharma, Director Marketing-Commercial HVAC India, Carrier. The Program provides an expanded suite of advanced solutions to help deliver healthier, safer, more efficient and productive indoor environments across key vertical markets including commercial offices, healthcare, hospitality, education and retail, says Sharma, as he shares more…

Please tell us about the recent innovations made for viral disinfection in your products.
At the onset of the pandemic, Carrier introduced the OptiClean™ Air Scrubber and Negative Air Machine for hospitals treating COVID-19 patients to help these medical facilities protect caregivers, workers and patients. OptiClean plugs into a standard wall outlet and has a footprint of less than 3 ft. It can improve the indoor air quality of classrooms, restaurants, dental offices, commercial buildings and more, by pulling in air, scrubbing it using a HEPA filter, and then exhausting cleaner air back into the room, reducing contaminants in the air and offering further protection as part of an overall mitigation strategy.

OptiClean is one of many solutions offered through Carrier’s Healthy Buildings Program, an expanded suite of advanced solutions for commercial and light commercial applications to help deliver healthier, safer, more efficient, and productive indoor environments. It was recognized by TIME as one of the best inventions of 2020.

Are there any other similar technologies the company is developing to combat the issues of air pollution, dust and infection?
As part of the Healthy Buildings Program, we focus on addressing nine foundational aspects of buildings. Carrier offers a full suite of products and services designed to help customers create healthy building environments.

As an extension of the Healthy Buildings Program, Carrier India launched a range of high-capacity air purifiers for commercial applications that can purify an area of up to 4,400 sq ft. We also introduced UV lights in our existing range of air purifiers to remove bacteria and viruses, along with a real-time display of PM2.5 levels. Our comprehensive filtration product range includes solutions suitable for a wide range of businesses, from production and office facilities to restaurants, hospitals, laboratories, retail outlets and even homes.

Apart from offering products and solutions, we are helping businesses with air quality assessment of their buildings to develop and implement upgrades for optimal filtration, ventilation, airflow and controls. Most important, we are creating retrofit opportunities that can be easily plugged in an existing HVAC system to transform a building into a healthier environment.

How did the company perform last fiscal and what are your target avenues and growth prospects for FY 21-22?
As businesses reopen, the need for healthier buildings is going to increase. We see potential in the government sector, pharmaceutical industries and the healthcare industry. Segments such as retail and commercial real estate will eventually recover from the pandemic. With solutions such as Indoor Air Quality Assessment, Airside Audit, UVGI-led products and air purifiers, there is potential for growth in the next few years.