Heat pump factory wins sustainability award
19th October 2025
POLAND: Daikin’s new Polish factory has won an award from the Polish Green Building Council (PLGBC) for its building design and incorporation of various ecological technologies.
The factory’s design includes technologies such as heat pumps, rainwater retention and a building management system.
Construction of the €300m, 320,000m2 factory in Ksawerów, near Łódź, began in April 2023. The plant was initially scheduled to begin production in 2024, but production of Daikin Altherma 4 heat pumps was postponed until this year.
The Polish Green Building Council (PLGBC) is a non-governmental organisation part of World Green Building Council. Daikin’s award in the Sustainable Industrial Building category was jointly shared with Takenaka Europe, the responsible design and build contractor.
The integrated stormwater retention system sends treated stormwater to two large, underground retention tanks. This allows for controlled drainage of water into a drainage ditch, reducing the risk of flooding or overloading the stormwater infrastructure.
The zigzag facade of the office reduces solar heat gain, achieving large glazed areas with low environmental impact.
“It combines efficiency and architectural expression, embodying the building’s core environmental principles, serving as a functional, architectural element that manifests the building’s values,” explained Kentaro Fujimoto, design manager of Takenaka Europe.
“To achieve carbon neutrality in the future, our factory is implementing electric heat pumps and optimised ventilation, using a hybrid air/water cooling system designed for low temperatures in Poland, with waste heat recovery and innovative engineering for sustainable development,” added Daikin Manufacturing Poland president Yasuto Hiraoka.
The heat pumps are designed to provide stable heating of halls and offices and the possibility of cooling in the summer. The building management system allows for precise control of energy consumption, optimising the operation of heating, ventilation and lighting systems.
Sufficient natural light and ventilation have been incorporated into the workspace with temperature and humidity control. This is supplemented by LED lighting with a lighting control system to improve visual comfort.
Elements of nature are also integrated into the workspace through the use of plants, natural materials and views of greenery. This biophilic design has been linked to reduced stress, increased creativity and improved cognitive function among employees.
Sound-absorbing materials were used in the buildings in walls, ceilings and office partitions. The building was also designed with full accessibility for people with limited mobility in mind.
Water consumption is reduced by using a landscape plan that does not require a permanent irrigation system for outdoor plantings. The system measures and aggregates water consumption in buildings and outdoor areas, tracking monthly and annual consumption.
The Polish facility is Daikin’s largest residential heat pump factory in Europe, supporting its existing factories in Belgium, the Czech Republic and Germany.
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