When the GOLD air handling unit was launched in 1994, it was an all-new concept that transformed industry standards. With its Pioneering design and innovative features, it set a new benchmark for energy efficiency and performance. Now, three decades later, embodied carbon is increasingly in focus, and the first wooden concept air handling unit is presented.

So far, two functioning prototypes of wooden GOLD air handling unit, size 005 have been built, where the traditional casing of conventional steel has been replaced by cross-laminated timber (CLT). By replacing the steel, Swegon managed to reduce the CO2 footprint by 40 percent. For a larger air handling unit, the saving would be even greater.

'By rethinking material choices and challenging industry norms, we are driving the future of sustainable building solutions and this concept is an important step in testing the limits for the industry,' says Martin Ottersten, PhD, Innovation and Knowledge Centre at Swegon.

“We have already introduced recycled steel inside our GOLD units to minimise environmental impact. With this concept wooden air handling unit we take a significant step further, in line with our ambitions within the RE:3 concept to be in the forefront of reducing embodied carbon of products', says Annika Sedwall*,* Head of Product Management, Kvänum.

The unit is a concept product that is not on the market for sale, but will be evaluated and used in discussions around future alternative materials.