When it comes to making air-conditioning systems more energy efficient and less polluting, Maurice Gunderson, senior partner at CMEA Ventures, sees improving building standards as key.

Mr Gunderson focuses on investments in new and innovative energy sources and technologies at CMEA, a venture capital firm focused on life sciences, high technology and energy and materials investments. He notes there have been advances in air-conditioning controls and parts, but he insists much of the waste comes from inefficient buildings, which could be better insulated and planned to limit the amount of air-conditioning used.