Chester Zoo installs Mitsubishi Electric heat pumps to cool snow leopard habitats and cut carbon emissions

Chester Zoo has installed Mitsubishi Electric air-to-air heat pumps in its snow leopard enclosures to keep the animals cool during summer while reducing the zoo's energy use. The project is part of a broader partnership aimed at cutting scope one and two emissions to net zero by 2030 across the 128 acre site. Two indoor habitats now use a 3.3kW R32 inverter heat pump and two PEAD-M R32 power inverter heat pumps to provide cooling for the critically endangered snow leopards, which are native to cold mountainous regions and struggle in warmer weather. The zoo's M&E project manager said the heat pumps create a cool spot for the animals where visitors can view them without disturbance. The work builds on earlier installations including air source heat pumps and ventilation for butterfly and rhino habitats. Chester Zoo's head of sustainability said the partnership with Mitsubishi Electric helps showcase low carbon heat pump technology in challenging applications. The zoo aims to reach net zero on scope one and two emissions by 2030.