The Launch of PRIME AIR: A Revolutionary Whole-House Air Conditioning System for Optimal Comfort

On May 9, 2025, Sumitomo Forestry Co., Ltd. released its groundbreaking product, the "PRIME AIR Original Whole-House Air Conditioning System." This innovative system combines the functionality of a single room air conditioner and a humidity control ventilator, ensuring a comfortable indoor environment throughout the home, including areas such as the entrance and laundry rooms. With the ability to precisely control air volume in each room, this system effectively maintains the perfect temperature and humidity in every corner of the house. Suitable for residences around 30 tsubo (approximately 990 square feet), the initial costs for this system are significantly lower than previous versions of Sumitomo Forestry's whole-house air conditioning systems, as well as traditional systems available on the market.

Moreover, the houses built by Sumitomo Forestry incorporate high-performance insulation materials, alongside structurally sound building materials and windows, adhering to the "360° TRIPLE Insulation" standard. This enhanced insulation quality combined with the new whole-house air conditioning system eliminates temperature discrepancies indoors, promoting healthier living conditions.

System Mechanism

The whole-house air conditioning is powered by a single room air conditioner. The ventilation system works by facilitating a heat exchange between indoor air and fresh outdoor air, simultaneously adjusting humidity levels. The treated fresh air is then mixed with the conditioned air before being distributed to individual rooms through a blower fan.

Key Features

1. Comprehensive Air Conditioning with One Device
The system supports continuous 24-hour operations, ensuring that the temperature across the entire house remains comfortable. It effectively eliminates any temperature differences between living spaces and areas like hallways and bathrooms, making it suitable for open-plan layouts without sacrificing interior aesthetics. With no need for multiple room air conditioners, homeowners can enjoy greater design freedom, minimizing the impact of outdoor units and ventilation hoods on the building's exterior.

2. Humidity Control Ventilation System
Featuring a deci-top multi-vent (a floor-mounted duct type ventilation system), this setup heats and cools incoming fresh air while utilizing desiccant materials for simultaneous dehumidification and humidification (without the need for water supply). During the rainy season, the system can dehumidify without reducing indoor temperatures and can help alleviate dryness in winter months. Additionally, it includes high-performance filters that remove allergens and particulate matter like pollen and PM2.5.

3. Room-Specific Airflow Adjustment
With Variable Air Volume (VAV) control capabilities, the original blower fan offers five levels of airflow adjustment, allowing customization based on personal comfort in each room. For instance, when sleeping, users can reduce airflow to achieve a milder heating or cooling effect, conserving energy in unused rooms.

4. Cost Efficiency
The total initial costs, including equipment and installation, are about 20% lower than previous whole-house air conditioning systems from Sumitomo Forestry. By utilizing just one room air conditioner suitable for an 18-tatami mat size (approximately 30 square meters), this system is also around 40% more energy-efficient compared to conventional whole-house air conditioning systems. This makes maintenance simplified as there are no individual air conditioning units to manage.

Background

Recent residential trends have seen an increase in time spent in non-living areas such as laundry and remote work spaces—these often lack suitable air conditioning options. This growing need for flexible layouts and effective temperature regulation led to the development of this innovative system, combining a room air conditioner and a humidity-controlling ventilator to provide both temperature and humidity control for enhanced comfort.

Overview

- Brand Name: PRIME AIR Original Whole-House Air Conditioning System
- Launch Date: May 9, 2025
- Sales Region: Insulation area classifications 5 to 7
- Suitable Floor Area: Approximately 38 tsubo for two-story structures, 32 tsubo for single-story
- Functions: Whole-house cooling, heating, humidification (without water supply), dehumidification, ventilation
- Sales Target: 500 units per year
- Warranty Period: 10-year warranty under the company's housing equipment warranty system (enrollment is required; applicable for custom homes under the 60-year warranty system).

Corporate Commitment

Sumitomo Forestry Group operates globally, capitalizing on the entire wood value chain—from forest management and material manufacturing to the creation of wooden homes, large-scale wooden structures, and biomass power generation. Their long-term vision, "Mission TREEING 2030," aims to enhance forests' CO2 absorption capabilities and promote carbon fixation through wooden architecture, thus contributing to society's overall decarbonization goals. The company plans to further accelerate CO2 emissions reduction both during construction and living phases by promoting ZEH, ZEB, LCCM homes, and net-zero carbon buildings.