ACR Journal

December 2022 | January 2023 NEWS 08 Volume 9 No.1 How to avoid buildings becoming ‘stranded assets’ Mitsubishi Electric has launched a guide designed to help reduce the risk of a becoming 'stranded assets' due to not reaching the government’s environmental standards. The white paper, Stranded assets: a roadmap to net zero for new and existing buildings, is designed to provide building owners and managers with more insight on the importance of setting up their buildings for net zero and describes methods on how they can achieve this. It also looks at the HVAC systems that can help on the journey to net zero carbon emissions for both new and refurbished buildings. This includes the essential questions that clients should ask their design teams at the early stages of a project. Around 80% of the buildings we will occupy in 2050 have already been built. With owners of older properties facing significant costs associated with meeting higher standards for Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) or disruption in switching from gas boilers to heat pumps, buildings are falling further behind environmental requirements every year. The financial disadvantages to not choosing low-carbon technologies are outlined, including the fact that 1.4 billion sq. feet of UK retail space may be unlettable by 2023 if energy e ciency issues are not addressed. https://library.mitsubishielectric.co.uk/home EcoPro chillers offer optimised free cooling Aqua Cooling is now o ering optimised free cooling within its EcoPro chiller range. The chillers, operating on low GWP R454B refrigerant, achieve free cooling within 3°C of ambient, so at much higher ambient temperature than previously possible. This is due to the arrangement of the units’ condenser coil. The EcoPro range has been specifically designed to maximise free cooling potential, so each model has an in- built free cooling coil with the largest surface area possible for its respective footprint. “Whilst free cooling is widely recognised as a fantastic way of reducing energy costs and lowering carbon emissions, optimised free cooling takes things a step further,” said Aqua sales & marketing director, Owen Hymers. “Within our industry, similar products can achieve free cooling within 10°C of ambient temperature. However, with the Aqua EcoPro, free cooling is achievable within 3°C – a di erence of 7°C+ over its competitors. Aqua is the only UK based partner to o er optimised free cooling currently and I think that’s evidence of our commitment to pushing boundaries when it comes to product innovation and finding the best solutions for our customers.” With free cooling, ambient air is used to cool, rather than mechanical refrigeration. Energy consumption reduces, hand in hand with operating costs and carbon impact. Whilst it is application specific, Aqua says annual energy savings can be in excess of 80%, giving payback in as little as 6-18 months. Charity says thanks to Murray Sharp Diane Drummond, managing director of Glasgow-based air conditioning and ventilation contractor B-DACS Ltd, has paid tribute to former Kooltech MD Murray Sharp, who passed away in August, for his generous support of a children’s charity. Diane is vice-chair of the NSPCC Ladies Lunch Committee, which supports vulnerable children in Scotland. It set itself a fundraising target of £40,000, as this is the amount needed to fund Childline in Glasgow and Edinburgh for one week. She said: “I approached Murray regarding sponsorship and couldn’t believe when he agreed to sponsor the entire event and give a very large donation. Having recently set up the committee there were no funds and this donation allowed us to start planning the event. “Sadly, Murray passed away this year and the committee decided that Kooltech should be the headline sponsor. The event itself took place on 19 November where 365 ladies attended and the Kooltech sta were VIP guests. Everyone at the event has taken tables for next year and the feedback we have had has been amazing. “The committee raised £40,002 this year from donations, ra es and the main Ladies Lunch event, called Fizz & Fab-u-lus. We could not have achieved this without the kind donation from Murray and we look forward to the continued support from Kooltech in the future. Thank you Kooltech from the NSPCC Ladies Lunch Committee… we are truly grateful!! Jean Gray, finance director at Kooltech, said: “What a great day and a fantastic achievement.” • Scottish Dinner remembers Murray Sharp, page 26. • Diane Drummond: Women in ACR, page 30.