By Kevin Cha

SAUDI ARABIA is witnessing unprecedented transformation across various facets of everyday Saudi life. As the country marches on towards a new diversified economy that offers new avenues of consumer spending, it is a critical time to instill values of resource management and sustainability in the minds of millions of upwardly mobile Saudis.

According to a 2017 report in the Journal Energy Sources, more than 70 percent of Saudi’s electricity is consumed for air conditioning and cooling, and the summer demand is about twice the winter demand. Currently less than 65 percent of world’s electricity is produced by steam turbine generators by burning fossil fuels, whereas 100 percent of Saudi’s electricity is still generated from fossil energy sources. This is highly unsustainable and has created an ecosystem of waste on a massive scale. For decades, energy-efficiency and sustainability were the last thing on the minds of businesses in Saudi Arabia, and the often extreme conditions only made it tougher.

However, this is all set to change with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 plan for sustainable development and the country is taking massive strides to incorporate new, improved and technologically advanced products into various aspects of life. The biggest need remains energy-efficient air conditioning, where a majority of energy consumption currently occurs. With an already booming market for air-conditioning solutions and with the demand expected to accelerate in the coming years, tackling sustainability goals and global problems like climate change will depend on technological change in the way air-conditioners work.

Traditionally, air conditioning units of all shapes and sizes have struggled to adequately cool and save energy costs at the same time in the Kingdom. Detailed studies show that a large number of air-conditioning unit problems are due to the local environment, which is dust-laden, corrosive and has high ambient temperatures and relative humidity. This is where it is critical for manufacturers and technology pioneers to step in to raise the industry standards in Saudi Arabia and offer its citizens a new alternative lifestyle choice — one that is energy-efficient, consumes less resources and provides a more sustainable outcome for the people and the nation.

LG has been constantly innovating in the air-conditioning space since we first entered the market. But the particularly challenging environment of Saudi Arabia has been a valuable case study for us and has helped us invent revolutionary technologies that are making an impact on peoples’ lives. The LG DUALCOOL Inverter residential air-conditioning unit is one of our hallmark achievements, offering advanced, quick cooling even in the searing 65° heat outdoors.

LG’s Tropical Dual Inverter Compressor is able to cool a room in only a few minutes, thanks to its advanced design and unique operational efficiency. It offers 60 percent faster cooling while providing 65 percent energy saving. The inverter is so efficient that it rarely needs to restart to adjust temperatures, keeping the room cooler, at a stable temperature, for longer, drastically reducing energy waste. This means that users get the dual benefit of comfort and energy-savings, without compromising on quality.

With a host of practical benefits provided by LG’s Inverter technology, consumers will never have to worry about big concerns such as appliance maintenance and sky-high electricity bills. Its innovative technology will continue to make appliances more user-friendly and increase their ability to meet the demands of daily use for years to come.

LG believes that the path to sustainability and an environmentally-friendly future starts with the adoption of innovative technologies that mitigate the problems of waste. A simple change in one of the most basic needs in Saudi Arabia — air-conditioning — could be just one of the steps to a sustainable future.

It is a step that starts at home, within a small circle or family and friends and spreads. If Saudi Arabia can achieve this, they would be protecting environmental resources for generations to come across the world. Theirs would be the model for sustainability that others could follow and build on.

— The writer is president, LG Electronics, Middle East & Africa.