Ambi Climate seeks to bring 'smart air conditioning' to Hong Kong
A device that can reduce air conditioning energy consumption by up to 30 per cent, Ambi Climate is the product of a Hong Kong startup
It’s a common predicament in Hong Kong - walk along one of the city’s crowded streets, and sooner or later you’re bound have a few unwelcome water droplets splash on your head.
The culprit? An overhanging, overworked air conditioning unit.
Hongkongers are strongly reliant on air conditioning, and this is especially noticeable in the hot summer months when falling AC condensation is most common. With indoor temperatures cranked to frigid degrees only to be switched off and then back on again when users get too cold or hot, AC usage in the city often wastes both energy and money.
Essentially a smartphone controlled device, Ambi Climate comes with learning technology that can interact with an air conditioning unit via infrared sensor, analyse a user’s AC habits and predict the most appropriate settings accordingly.
“In a typical Hong Kong household, AC is used the most between 8pm and 8am,” says one of the founders of Ambi Labs, Hongkonger Julian Lee. “Hypothetically, an Ambi Climate user can set a timer indicating that he will be home by 8pm, and the device will select the right time and settings to switch on the AC so that the conditions are within the user's range of comfort preferences when he gets home.
