BFLNov.08 19/11/08 12:27 pm Page 64
commercial hvac
Most companies
unaware of ECA scheme
AS MANY AS 90% of businesses in the UK are unaware of a
Government incentive scheme to help improve energy efficiency,
according to recent research by Daikin UK.
The survey, undertaken by YouGov in June involving 1,300
businesses – including leisure companies, found that 92% are currently
unaware of the Government’s Enhanced Capital Allowance (ECA)
scheme set up to aid investment in modern energy efficient technology.
“In the face of rising energy costs and the need to reduce carbon
emissions, businesses are being forced to become more energy
efficient,” says Mark Dyer, marketing manager for Daikin UK. “Yet we
could clearly be doing more to encourage investment in new energy
saving technology by raising awareness of the ECA.”
Daikin’s believes modern heating and cooling technology is one
important area where businesses could be failing to improve efficiency.
Heating and cooling costs typically account for 30% of a building’s running
costs, making this a prime area to achieve energy and cost savings.
Sixty-one percent of respondents said that investing in new heating
and cooling technology could improve their energy efficiency, however
the same number highlighted cost as a major barrier for investment in
new technology, further underlining the importance of the accelerated
tax relief available through the ECA.
The ECA was set-up by the Government in 2001 to encourage the
investment in highly energy efficient technology. The scheme provides
Above Vents controlled by the WindowMaster system
businesses with 100% first year tax relief on their capital expenditure on
qualifying energy efficiency equipment. For example, if a business pays
corporation tax at 28%, then every £1000 spent on qualifying new Managing air
energy efficiency technology would reduce the tax bill by £280.
The ECA sets qualification at the top 15-20% of products available,
quality for zoo
so qualifying heating and cooling technology in effect has the highest
efficiency ratings on the market, says Mark Dyer. “Combined heating
enclosure
and cooling systems are more energy efficient and cost effective than
separate traditional systems such as gas boilers. Our systems are NORMAN FOSTER was commissioned to design a new
based on renewable heat pump technology, which takes heat from
elephant house for Copenhagen Zoo to replace
warm areas and redistributes it to cooler rooms and vice versa. Unlike
accommodation originally constructed in 1914. The
fossil fuel systems, heat pumps extract available heat from the air rather
roof was designed to allow the public to walk across it
than using energy to generate heat, making them highly energy efficient.”
and look down onto the elephants’ indoor quarters
while providing natural light and climate control.
WindowMaster installed its NV Advance system
including 112 motors controlling six different climate
zones within the structure – three in each stable. The
glass in the windows is fritted to avoid heat gains
inside the enclosure. The patterns mimic leaf patterns
in the wild to maintain a strong visual connection with
the sky and changing patterns of daylight.
Air change
Air exchange rates in the enclosures are calculated
based on temperature and CO2 levels. Natural
ventilation takes priority in order to keep energy
consumption as low as possible. The two glass-domed
enclosures – one measuring 45 by 23 metres, the other
30 by 15 metres – are fitted with a series of automated
vents controlled by a central computer.
A weather station mounted outside the building
monitors external conditions, including wind direction
and speed, temperature and rain fall. This data is fed
into the computer control system where it is analysed
along with readings taken from internal sensors. The
vents are then precisely controlled and positioned by
the WindowMaster system to keep air quality within
the enclosures fresh and the temperature constant.
Wasted energy = wasted money
64 building forleisure November 2008
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