Under the agreement, Budderfly will leverage Fujitsu’s Airstage variable refrigerant flow (VRF) systems as the core component for its ultra-high-performance (UHP) HVAC architecture. The heat pump and ventilator-separated system is the most advanced HVAC solution for the approximately 94 percent of U.S. commercial buildings that are under 50,000 square feet, according to a Fujitsu press release.

The UHP HVAC system is a replacement for conventional rooftop unit (RTU) HVAC systems and can reduce a building's energy consumption by as much as 70 percent, the press release said. Fujitsu expects to deliver a large number of Airstage VRF systems to Budderfly in the coming year, the press release said.

In addition, Budderfly and Fujitsu will collaborate to innovate further and develop on-site, cloud-based sensing and control technologies that will unlock digital transformation for small- and medium-sized businesses, the companies said.

“As much as 50 percent of the energy businesses consume is attributed to HVAC systems. As electricity prices and sustainability standards rise, we’re excited to partner with Fujitsu General to help businesses reimagine their energy profile and better their bottom line,” said Al Subbloie, founder and CEO of Budderfly. “Fujitsu’s Airstage systems are designed to meet the wide range of energy needs for commercial buildings, making them the ideal solution to seamlessly integrate into our end-to-end energy-management offering.”

Budderfly’s UHP HVAC system decouples conventional RTUs into two components: an energy recovery ventilator (ERV) and a variable refrigerant flow (VRF) system. The energy recovery ventilator brings in outside air while also recovering energy from exhaust air.

Fujitsu’s Airstage system cools or heats the ventilated air, based on the needs of the space, and boosts air quality by improving humidity control, directing airflow, increasing oxygen levels, and lowering total volatile organic compounds (VOCs), the companies said. This provides a fully-electric system that eliminates the need for natural gas and is half the size of a traditional HVAC rooftop unit, the companies said.

“Our partners at Budderfly share in our core mission of unlocking a better, more sustainable future,” said Tomokazu Hosoi, president of Fujitsu General America. “As pressures mount for buildings to reduce their carbon footprint, we’re combining our energy-efficient technology expertise and Budderfly’s innovative energy-as-a-service business model to help accelerate the sustainability transformation for commercial buildings across the U.S.”