In light of the recent official launch of LG’s new line of DUALCOOL inverter-based air conditioners, Changho Lee, General Manager, RAC Sales Division at LG Electronics, Gulf, on March 28, 2017, elaborated on the company’s global strategy to phase out conventional splits altogether. Speaking exclusively to Climate Control Middle East, Lee said: “All our factories will produce inverter-based [air conditioners] only. LG’s overall global direction is high energy efficiency and eco-friendly technology. That is where we are heading towards.”

When asked to comment if the sophisticated technology will drive up the price for the consumer, Lee admitted that while inverter-based splits may come at a higher cost, the company is making an effort to help minimise the impact. “The reason why LG decided to change all the models is that if we increase the volume of inverters, definitely we can reduce the cost,” he explained. “Globally, the gap [in price] between the inverter and conventional split systems has been 30-40%. However, at LG, we changed our entire line-up to inverters. So, that means we can have some volume. So our price gap between conventional and the new inverter [systems] is, maximum, 10%.”

Lee also spoke on the energy-saving virtue of inverter-based systems, which he highlighted, brought a cost benefit for consumers. “With energy saving, the payback will be covered in one or two years,” he said. “Normally, in the GCC region, they use the air conditioner for at least 5-7 years. So, it means even though the initial cost can be high, the operating cost will be much lower.”

So far, LG has supported the efforts to promote awareness of the technology, particularly in the GCC region, confident that its product has been particularly calibrated for the region, not only in terms of its ability to address the region’s harsh climate but also in terms of its durability.

Lee also spoke on the subject of regulations within the UAE, Qatar and Bahrain, and the possible move of these countries to implement new regulations. “Even with new regulations, we can meet them all,” he said. “Our whole line up is highly energy efficient. In the GCC countries, customers are not too concerned with energy efficiency, but the reason why the government has these regulations is to minimise the spending of the electricity. Especially in the GCC region, 70% of the electricity [used in a typical building] is for [running] the air conditioning [system]. That’s why they are trying to make regulations to minimise it, because if they can reduce 20% of the air conditioning consumption, it can have the biggest impact to reduce the total electricity consumption.”

[The writer is the Features Writer of Climate Control Middle East.]