ACR Journal

NEWS 08 August | September 2021 Volume 7 No.5 ELTA URGES WIDER POLLUTANT MONITORING Ventilation specialist Elta Fans is stressing the importance of monitoring pollutants other than CO2. CO2 is a widely-used indicator of room occupancy and the need to ventilate, which, according to Elta Fans, has proved useful in encouraging more engagement with improving IAQ. However, as structures become increasingly energy efficient and airtight, there is a danger that other types of outdoor air pollution will become trapped in these spaces. Elta says there is a risk that if these are not monitored, they will build up to unsafe levels, ultimately undermining the journey towards healthier indoor air. A more sophisticated approach is therefore required to move beyond merely measuring CO2, and take into account a wider array of pollutants. Ana Cross, AHU product manager, said: “One of the defining features of the past 18 months has been a renewed focus on IAQ, and how we can improve the health of our buildings. CO2 has served as a useful proxy to measure progress in this, but we now need to work towards a more sophisticated approach. “Other pollutants can come from a range of sources – everything from general traffic, industrial, commercial, agricultural, and domestic activities. As structures become better insulated, we have to ensure that our ventilation systems are equipped to meet this challenge. One cannot mitigate against the invisible, which is where more advanced monitoring becomes key.” Linda McVittie in Top 50 Women in Engineering Linda McVittie of J&E Hall has been named in the Women in Engineering Society’s (WES) Top 50 Women in Engineering for 2021. With a career in the refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pump (RACHP) industry that spans 39 years, Linda has been a strong advocate for diversity in the industry and a role model for female leadership. Currently a sales manager for Scotland at J&E Hall, Linda has volunteered for IOR Scotland for many years and became a Fellow of the IOR in 2012. She has held many key positions with IOR Scotland, including becoming the first female chair. Linda has also been involved with the IOR’s Women in RACHP Network allowing her to share her story and help to spotlight the variety of careers available to women in the RACHP industry. Linda said “I do feel honoured to be nominated. I hope it would be an indication to younger women in RACHP that refrigeration could be a job for life if you want it to be. Younger people can see I’ve been in the industry for so many years - you might move job but there are so many different paths you can take.” University team wins Kenneth Lightfoot Medal The IOR’s Kenneth Lightfoot Medal has been awarded to the team of authors from the London South Bank University for its paper on smart local energy systems. Presented as part of the IOR’s 2020 TechTalk calendar, the Green Smart Community Integrated Energy Systems - Integration with Data Centres paper outlines the team’s work to deliver low carbon, affordable energy through a system that connects flexible electricity demands such as heat pumps and electric vehicles to intermittent renewable energy sources such as solar power. Catarina Marques, senior research fellow at the university, said: “The GreenSCIES project is helping shape the future of smart local energy systems by providing low carbon and low cost transport, power and heat to thousands of homes. It is so rewarding to be a part of such a great team.” The Kenneth Lightfoot Medal is presented to the author of the best IOR technical paper given to members in the previous 12 months. The winner is selected by votes cast by IOR members. The award named in honour of past president, Kenneth Lightfoot, who sought to encourage young researchers. It is supported by Lightfoot Defence and the prize includes an engraved medal and £500. Catarina Marques with the Kenneth Lightfoot Medal