SFM EXCLUSIVE ENERGY
SUSTAINABLE AIR CONDITIONING
CAN SAVE YOU THE EARTH
T
he increased use of heat-
These are difficult times to be running
generating computers continues
to rise as do the internal a building. The cost of energy is
temperatures within our
commercial properties and this,
rising year on year and at the same
Donald Daw,
coupled with the variety of
time new regulations dictate just how
Commercial
ambient temperatures that the British climate
Director,
can throw up in even a single day, winter or hot and cold the people in your
Mitsubishi
Electric
summer, puts yet more pressure on a
building’s services and demands that they
building are allowed to be so you can’t just save
are used much more than we might wish.
energy by switching off the heating or cooling.
Meanwhile the pressure is on to be
‘green’ and consume less energy to reduce behavioural changes such as better can go. Then there are those who suffer
carbon emissions and save the planet from maintenance regimes or not using the from the cold and they want things as hot as
the devastating effects of global warming thermostat as an on/off button, we will really possible. And never the twain shall meet –
but, as we’ve already said, you can’t just turn start to notice a difference – and this is and it doesnt matter how many memos you
off your mechanical plant to keep energy where facilities management can help. issue, or how much you try to affect
consumption down. Of course as a manufacturer you would behaviour, if there is access to a control
Yet, if the Government is to be expect me to want to sell more equipment, switch or thermostat, staff will fiddle with it.
supported in meeting its targets for CO
2
and there would indeed be great benefits if Of course this is simply not
reduction then we have to find ways of all of the 10 – 20 year old, fixed-speed conducive to the energy efficient
keeping the people within a building mechanical plant was replaced overnight performance of equipment!
comfortable without generating tonnes and with new, inverter-driven equipment which But help is at hand, with the introduction
tonnes of CO
2
emissions and this is where only consumes the energy needed to match of inexpensive controls that allow you to
facilities management has an important role required performance at any given time, centrally set the limits of temperature so that
to play. rather than being ‘on’ at full power, or ‘off.’ whilst staff think they are dropping the
Mitsubishi Electric, one of the country’s But whilst we are looking at ways that temperature to 18°C or up to 24°C, your
largest manufacturers of air conditioning businesses can be encouraged and helped system is set to stay within 19°C to 21°C
equipment, is calling for a radical change in to replace this inefficient equipment, you do regardless of how many buttons are pushed
the way we heat and cool our buildings and not have to look at capital expenditure to in each individual zone.
in an exclusive for Sustainable FM, make a difference and this is where the These same controllers can also be
Commercial Director, Donald Daw, sustainably-minded facilities manager can programmed to automatically switch on
explains why the company is taking this play their part. or off the system at set times and this can
stance and what we can all do to help... have the dual advantage of making sure
...”As a nation, we can’t just go back BETTER MAINTENANCE staff arrive to a comfortable temperature
to the days before mechanical heating and How many times have you noticed the and ensuring you are not heating or
cooling, or get rid of all the heat-generating dust marks around a ceiling vent or air cooling empty offices when everyone has
technologies in our buildings, but we do conditioning unit? That unit is not gone home.
have to accelerate a change in ‘heating’ performing efficiently because the dust is All of the proposals in the Green
and address ‘cooling’ in a responsible clogging the vents and making the Gateway Initiative are focused on
manner if we are to make a real difference compressor work harder to draw air in, or creating a significant impact on CO
2
and seriously reduce the amount of energy push air out. That building is therefore reduction in the UK’s buildings by reducing
we consume. consuming more energy and costing more energy consumption.
We have developed a 10-point plan to heat or cool than it should be, simply The added advantage for you as a
under the Green Gateway Initiative™, because of poor maintenance practices. facilities manager is that as the energy
which points the way to savings of over So, just how often do you check the consumption of your building is reduced,
three million tonnes of CO
2
emissions a year vents on your internal – and even more so are you bills, which is not only good for
by 2016. importantly – your external air conditioning the environment, it’s also good for your
These plans are not about ourselves and equipment? Or is this something you should balance sheet”...
our products – although we are reducing our be asking your maintenance provider? Mitsubishi Electric’s comprehensive
own carbon footprint – they are about It won’t cost you anything apart from a 10-point plan ranges from simple
changing the behaviour of everyone involved little bit of effort but you will be amazed how behaviour changes to the use of
in the built environment, from the planners much difference regular checks can make. advanced technologies to create a
and architects to the facilities managers and significant impact of CO
2
reduction in
owners, whilst increasing efficiency through BETTER MANAGEMENT the UK’s buildings by reducing energy
the better use of existing equipment or its We all know that where internal consumption and the energy bills of
replacement with modern, efficient plant. temperatures are involved, the people in our both consumers and businesses. To find
Overall, the plan includes technological buildings can play havoc with control. out more about the initiative, contact
developments and new thinking but at the There are people who want it cool, so Mitsubishi Electric on 01707 282880 or
same time if we can encourage simple they whack the thermostat down as low as it visit www.greengatewayinitiative.co.uk
SUSTAINABLE FM | OCTOBER 2007
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