Testing AC in real world conditions
15th July 2026
JAPAN: The General Group is to build a demonstration house to test air conditioning systems for high-performance homes, shifting from individual rooms to whole house air conditioning.
The General Research Institute, which is responsible for research and development within the General Group, has constructed two demonstration houses on the premises of its Kawasaki headquarters to verify air conditioning and energy technologies in high-performance housing in a real-world environment.
The two, two-storey, wooden houses have four bedrooms, a living room, a dining room, and a kitchen, and a total floor area of approximately 114m2. They are built to specifications that meet insulation performance level 6.
General Research Institute will utilise this facility to evaluate methods for efficiently heating and cooling an entire house in an environment that replicates actual living conditions, including overnight stays by employees.
By varying the heating and cooling methods and operating conditions, researchers intend to visualise and analyse temperature distribution, airflow, and power consumption to evaluate the impact of air conditioning operation on the entire house. Using its Nocria room air conditioner, General will view air conditioners not as standalone appliances, but as integrated equipment within the home, leading to the development of new systems.
Hybrid water heaters, gas stoves, and floor heating panels from General’s owner, Paloma, will be installed to create new ideas and value, such as the combined use of heat pumps and gas.
The research will also evaluate systems that combine renewable energy sources such as solar power and geothermal energy with battery storage to reduce overall household energy consumption by using these resources for air conditioning and hot water supply. General will also consider power generation and the operating status of air conditioning and hot water supply to optimise energy management.
The space will also be used as a co-creation platform where the knowledge and ideas of housing manufacturers, universities, and research institutions can be tested in a real living environment.
