A trial of Mitsubishi Electric’s new R32 City Multi YXM VRF system has delivered a 31% annual reduction in energy use and running costs, when trialled against an existing R410A system.
Mitsubishi Electric conducted a trial at its headquarters in Hatfield, Hertfordshire, to test the effectiveness of its new City Multi range. As part of the trial, equipment serving half of its ground-floor sales office was replaced with the R32 model, while the other half continued to be served by an R410A City Multi YJM VRF system installed in 2016.
Both systems use 37.5kW outdoor units to provide simultaneous heating and cooling, with each connected to six 2.5kW and four 3.2kW indoor units via a single Branch Controller box – allowing energy consumption and running costs to be compared under similar conditions.
Rafiul Islam, VRF Specialist at Mitsubishi Electric, comments: “We’re particularly pleased that the test results exceed the expected savings of 20% in running costs. The analysis shows that the YXM delivers lower energy demand and operating costs, with a reduced carbon impact compared with the model it replaced – highlighting the benefits of switching from R410A to R32.”
R32 City Multi YXM origins
The R32 City Multi YXM was launched at the beginning of 2026, with models re-engineered to include a patented vertical flat tube heat exchanger, new defrost technology and high levels of seasonal efficiency. Available in Heat Pump and Heat Recovery versions from 12kW to 112kW, the range features a compact modular design, with outdoor units offering a 6% smaller footprint than average.
Raiful Islam adds: “We’ve been running the two systems side by side since January, so we have already experienced outdoor temperatures as low as -1°C and, with the summer heatwaves, as high as 30°C+ so the units have really been tested.
“We will continue monitoring performance so that we can analyse a full year’s worth of data, but we’re delighted with how it has performed so far.”
The system also operates at low noise levels and features BS EN378-compliant low-level leak detectors with a 30-year lifespan, compared with an industry average of 10 years. Featuring Mitsubishi Electric’s patented 2-pipe design and lower global warming potential (GWP) R32 refrigerant, the range offers high levels of efficiency and flexibility, with reduced refrigerant volume and simplified ‘plug and play’ installation.
To find out more about the R32 City Multi YXM, visit les.
