Tony Power
A lifetime of dedication to enhancing HVAC refrigeration and the built environment.
Tony Power, CEO of Sustainable Cooling Technologies, brings a lifetime of dedication to enhancing HVAC refrigeration and the built environment. His journey in the industry has been marked by significant achievements in designing and retrofitting cooling systems across commercial, industrial, mining, data centres, and public buildings.
In a landmark partnership in 1995 with an industrial chemist, Tony pioneered the development of a novel HVAC condenser coating, known as Coil Saver. This innovation, initially crafted in response to a request from a BHP asset engineer to enhance the performance and longevity of HVAC units in Port Kembla, is now widely embraced by HVAC unit manufacturers throughout Australia, setting a new standard for coil protection at a time when such advancements were uncommon.
Furthering his contributions, Tony introduced a graphene-based, thermally conductive condenser coil coating, revolutionising thermal performance in large HVAC systems. This breakthrough not only improved system efficiency but also achieved a remarkable 15% reduction in energy consumption.
In collaboration with the University of New South Wales, Tony is at the forefront of research into nano-fluid applications within HVAC systems. This innovative approach is poised to reduce energy usage in large, chilled water HVAC systems by over 10%, marking a significant stride towards energy efficiency as the project progresses into its final stages in 2024.
Tony’s vision for a sustainable future is evident in his development of an advanced, small, packaged air conditioning unit designed for longevity and sustainability. This unit can be easily rebuilt after ten years, significantly reducing the carbon footprint associated with manufacturing new units and embodying the principles of the circular economy.
Beyond cooling technologies, Tony has made significant advances in smoke control within large public buildings and hospitals, creating an advanced smoke management module, Smoke Safe, which is set to reduce maintenance costs and enhance the safety of large smoke control systems, potentially redefining Australian standards for such devices.
Currently, Tony is leading trials for a pioneering cool pavement coating that significantly surpasses existing reflective coatings in reducing the urban heat island effect, showcasing promising results.
Additionally, Tony is preparing to initiate trials on a groundbreaking system aimed at reducing diesel fuel consumption in large generators—a critical need in remote districts and countries like Fiji. This effort represents another collaborative venture in bringing new technologies to the forefront.
Tony’s latest innovation, the EzyFilter, is a novel, replaceable particle and dust filter designed for small HVAC systems up to 15 kW, suitable for hotel rooms, resorts, and medical centres. This development not only enhances air quality by 30% but also achieves a 10% reduction in energy consumption, further demonstrating Tony Power’s commitment to advancing sustainable cooling technologies and improving environmental and health outcomes.