CEO of home-grown brand Airleo talks about its groundbreaking technology that aims to change the future of cooling.
Singapore may have been dubbed the air-conditioned nation, and indeed, aircon has become a staple in our homes.
The good thing that came out of this is that there is no shortage of research and development to create better, more environmentally friendly air cooling products.
One of the latest ones is Airleo by home-grown company Airleo Technology.
Launched at the end of August 2022, Airleo markets itself as the world’s first air cooling system that generates cool air without producing hot exhaust air while running on one-eighth the electricity needed by conventional aircon.
We find out more from CEO and Chairman Joel Ho.
What was the impetus for Airleo?
Conventional air-conditioners require extensive installation and spatial considerations, and portable air-conditioners use an exhaust hose or vents that emit hot air, contributing to surrounding heat.
Our goal was to remove the constraints and complexities and develop a product that provides consumers with a hassle-free experience to enjoy aircon-like cold air without the need for an exhaust hose.
The crux of our research and development journey was to bring down the exhaust temperature. This led us to develop the world’s first Low-Temperature Evolutionary Ozone technology.
In the course of our R&D, our top priorities were to address the high energy usage of air-conditioners as that contributes to almost half of consumers’ electricity bills and the environmental impacts of air-conditioners that lead to global warming.
Tell us more about Airleo as a company.
We are a team of almost 20 people with various expertise – research, design, manufacturing, engineering and sales – that focuses on bringing consumers a product that meets the highest quality and user experience standards.
Airleo took us almost 10 years of research, trials and re-modelling until it was launched in the market. We are concerned about the environment. We try to bring innovation, effciency, and a new cooling system.
How does Airleo’s energy consumption translate into our electricity bill?
Compared to a portable aircon or a single split aircon, Airleo easily helps consumers save a significant chunk of their cooling bill, subject to their usage pattern and environment.
Airleo’s website presents an electricity consumption comparison table, comparing Airleo to a generic portable aircon vs split system aircon.
| Electricity Consumption | SP Electricity Tariff | Days | Hours | Price/year | |
| Airleo | 0.2 kWh /hour | $0.32/kWh | 365 | 8 | $186.88 |
| Portable Aircon | 14 kWh/ day | $0.32/kWh | 365 | 8 | $1,635 |
| Split Aircon | 2.1 kWh/ hour | $0.32/kWh | 365 | 8 | $1,962 |
*SP’s current electricity price is $0.3182 per kWh for Q4 2022 from Oct 1 to Dec 31, 2022.
How is Airleo better for the environment?
Every refrigerant has a GWP (Global Warming Potential) number to it. This is the metric of its potential impact on our ozone layer, leading to global warming.
The lower the number, the better it is for the environment. Most of the air conditioners in the market have a refrigerant with a GWP of about 2,000, while the newer refrigerant used these days has a GWP of over 600.
Airleo uses a highly efficient refrigerant with a GWP of four, which barely affects the ozone layer, making it an environmentally friendly product.
Is Airleo a cross between an aircon and air purifier?
Airleo is not here to replace an aircon, portable aircon or air purifier. It has the same function of providing cold air with an added value of an UVC module.
Airleo is a dedicated cooling system that gives out cold air, creating a dedicated cooling zone. Its objective is to cool users without the need to cool down the whole room, which translates to greater energy savings.
Unlike split aircon, the generated cold air need not fill out the four walls in your room to cool down its occupants. Thus, even outdoors, the cooling is still effective. Your balcony is the best place to use it outdoors.
What’s next in the pipeline for Airleo?
We’ll take the positive feedback and suggestions from our consumers for the development of our future products, staying true to our mission of innovating energy-efficient and environmentally friendly products and revolutionising the lifestyle of consumers.
