After a summer of record-breaking heat linked to more than 35,000 excess deaths, Europe is reassessing the role of cooling. On September 16, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced that the EU will present its first European Heatwave Plan.

The policy shift places cooling closer to public health and climate resilience planning. For HVAC and refrigeration manufacturers, it could also change how public bodies assess equipment for healthcare buildings, regional investment and future procurement.

Here are three developments equipment suppliers should watch:

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Healthcare Retrofits: Cooling for Hospitals and Care Homes

The announcement highlighted overheating in care homes and hospitals. As Europe warms at twice the global average rate, healthcare facilities that lack central cooling face growing pressure to manage indoor heat.

This points to potential demand for efficient, low-noise systems that can be installed with minimal disruption. Modular solutions that suit existing buildings and use lower-GWP refrigerants may be well placed for future healthcare projects.

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100 Vulnerable Territories: A New Focus for Investment

The European Commission is expected to introduce a Climate Resilience Framework in October 2026, identifying 100 of Europe’s most climate-vulnerable territories for focused risk assessment and management. The framework is expected to recognise energy-efficient cooling technologies as climate adaptation tools.

For manufacturers, this could create opportunities in regional modernisation projects supported by public investment and European development funds. Suppliers should be ready to demonstrate compliance with EU Green Public Procurement standards.

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The Dual Requirement: Energy Efficiency and Low-GWP Refrigerants

The Heatwave Plan places emphasis on energy-efficient cooling. In public procurement and building retrofits, equipment may need to meet a dual requirement: strong seasonal efficiency under the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD), alongside compliance with the EU F-Gas Regulation’s refrigerant limits.

For manufacturers, that makes refrigerant choice and energy performance central to product planning for the European market.

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Operational Takeaways for HVAC/R Manufacturers

This shift makes public-sector requirements an increasingly important part of the cooling market:

• Design for retrofit projects: Healthcare and existing buildings may require modular systems that can be installed with minimal disruption.

• Prepare for public procurement: Suppliers should be ready to demonstrate how their equipment meets applicable efficiency and Green Public Procurement criteria.

• Align efficiency and refrigerant choices: Product planning should account for both EPBD performance requirements and F-Gas restrictions.

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At AFS Cooling, we focus entirely on helping businesses navigate these regulatory shifts. We specialize in quota procurement, open-market quota transfers, and meticulous yearly F-gas reporting across European jurisdictions.

Let our team secure your 2027 quota allocations early so your business remains fully compliant and operational.