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December 2020
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OVERVIEW Modern-day building asset management is reportedly about AI- and IoT-based solutions, about how cloud-based O&M platforms can use the power of IoT to collect precious building data to optimise HVAC systems, to improve the lifecycle of building assets. We are firmly in an age of predictive, intuitive and speedy solutions, where real-time operational insights are becoming the norm, where issues relating to HVAC equipment can be predicted much before they occur. Indeed, automated ML-driven fault detection and diagnostics can optimise HVAC performance and energy efficiency in real time. For instance, sensors, control valves and damper actuators for HVAC applications have the ability to meet the specific requirements of connected buildings and provide easy access to valuable data; so, there is plenty of opportunity for bettering building performance.
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31
Control Awards
AWARDS 2020
REGULARS 06 eDItor'S note
Missing a trick or two
December 2020
ME BACS market expected to fall by 19% in 2020
32
VRFs, IAQ equipment prospects bright in bleak Middle East HVAC market, says BSRIA in this report it shared with Climate Control Middle East
‘Is this the biggest 34 logistical challenge the world has ever faced?’ Toby Peters, Professor in Cold Economy, University of Birmingham, United Kingdom, discusses how tapping into the massive cold chain infrastructure for food could be the key aspect to addressing COVID-19 vaccine distribution roadblocks and the need for evaluating alternative cooling facilities to address current and future medical requirements.
POST-EVENT REPORT
08
FEATURE
Memorable snapshots from the ceremony that was
10th ANNUAL CLIMATE CONTROL
4
REPORT
10th edition of the Climate
page
ON THE COVER
VOL. 15 NO. 12 DECEMBER 2020
A JOURNEY OF RESILIENCE
36
The Big 5 Digital Festival, organised by dmg events, which ran from November 23 to November 26, drew thousands of industry professionals from around the world and showcased the construction industry’s steadfast commitment to continue discussions surrounding its role in wider economic recovery and the increasing awareness on a building’s impact on occupants, following COVID-19.
39 Regional News 47 Global News
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5
EDITOR’S NOTE
Missing a trick or two
R Surendar Balakrishnan Editor @BSurendar_HVACR
December 2020
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Visit our website: climatecontrolme.com/digital Also available at
ight, here’s my year-end rant of sorts – the bits and pieces I missed mentioning in my speech (long, some say!) during the Climate Control Awards ceremony for want of time. With energy reforms taking shape in the GCC region, we are seeing a vast improvement in the financial viability of energy-efficiency initiatives, including retrofit projects, which are now able to achieve payback periods of less than a year. The change is palpable in highly energy-intensive facilities such as airports, malls and hotels. The development is a shot in the arm for regulation and enforcement measures and gives impetus to apply in other areas with potential for greater energy efficiency. It is as much positive for manufacturers, for long having had to face headwinds in the form of low electricity prices. We now need to see the same zeal and focus in mandating proper IAQ management in the built-environments – in a way that no possible routes are taken to circumvent the rule of law. But, coming back to energy efficiency, it is heartening to see the progress. While manufacturers have a role to play in rolling out equipment that consume, or contribute to consuming, lesser power than incumbent equipment, there are other equally or more important interventions that sadly have largely been ignored or overlooked. It is common knowledge that aspects like ensuring proper building orientation and shading and the careful selection of building materials contribute to passive cooling. What’s uncommon and perplexing is the alarming consistency with which the building industry is missing a trick or two, despite strong evidence staring in the face and, instead, focusing so heavily on active systems. It is perhaps conjecture – or perhaps it is not – but a greater attention to passive cooling measures, coupled with a more focused approach to integrating renewable energy in buildings would considerably reduce the dependence on fossil fuel-generated power and, with that, significantly lower greenhouse gas emissions. And when it comes to active systems, what is equally perplexing is the reluctance shown towards using hydrocarbon refrigerants in air conditioning equipment, despite decades-long track record of their use in household refrigerators. Policy and regulation need to step in and, after ensuring adequate safety measures are in place, ought to encourage the use of refrigerants that promote greater energy efficiency in cooling systems. According to an Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) report, the number of room air conditioners is set to triple to over 4.5 billion globally by 2050. A move away from HFCs in domestic air conditioning systems could help humanity avoid emissions of over two gigatons CO2-equivalent by 2030 and 5.6 gigatons CO2e by 2050. These are phenomenal numbers, so what are we waiting for? In the words of Tim Wentz, former ASHRAE President, by 2050, we will have 10 billion people on this planet, which would necessitate designing and raising 3,600 buildings a day to accommodate that population. Considering the fact that buildings are responsible for emitting approximately 33% of carbon in the atmosphere, we don’t need any further motivation as building industry professionals to act in a concerted and cohesive manner. By all means, pillory me, if I am wrong in stating the above, but may common sense prevail over and above every other consideration.
Co-Founder & Editorial Director Surendar Balakrishnan| surendar@cpi-industry.com
Editor Surendar Balakrishnan surendar@cpi-industry.com Contributing Editor Hannah Jo Uy hannah@cpi-industry.com Advertising Enquiries Frédéric Paillé +971 50 7147204 fred@cpi-industry.com
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In Asia (except India), contact: Judy Wang, Our representative in Asia T: 00852-30780826 E: judy@cpi-industry.com
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6
December 2020
Published by
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7
PHOTO FEATURE
CLIMATE CONTROL AWARDS 2020
THE REVERB VIRTUAL SPACE T
he 10th anniversary of the Climate Control Awards, digitally broadcast from Dubai on November 24, preserved the decorum and, at the same time, the chutzpah associated with a live, in-person ceremony. While COVID-19 ringfenced the ceremony to a virtual platform, the deep sense of anticipation, and infectious energy – vital characteristics of past events – were much in evidence. The lead up to the ceremony attracted nearly 50 entries from 25 companies, despite the COVID gloom, an indication of the resilience of a mission-critical industry keen on getting back on its feet. The entries covered a vast spectrum, including air treatment, air movement, district cooling, DX, commissioning and FM. Given the challenges thrown up by the pandemic, some of the KPIs in the entry form sought to ascertain the response of organisations, and how they retained their character and embedded skills to be able to uninterruptedly work towards contributing to regional and global socio-economic and sustainable development goals. A total of 20 judges evaluated the entries under the gaze of a third-party auditing firm – an exercise that included virtual interviews with the applicants, which provided an opportunity to cross-question them with the objective of developing a better understanding of the points stated in the submissions. By and large, the judges said, the entries reflected the strategies and year-long exertions to counter the debilitating effects of COVID and offer solutions related to building performance and other aspects. The judges, applying their experience and experience in scrutinising, and deliberating over, the entries, presented the shortlisted companies and winners, paving the way for the ceremony, featuring a cavalcade of winners and musical performances.
8
December 2020
OF CLAPS IN The 10th anniversary of the Climate Control Awards ceremony, though COVID-confined to a virtual platform, retains the energy and spirit of the occasion. Surendar Balakrishnan has the narrative... Photographs: Maksym Poriechkin
www.climatecontrolme.com
9
PHOTO FEATURE
CLIMATE CONTROL AWARDS 2020
The producers
Frédéric Paillé
Surendar Balakrishnan
Photographer Maksym Poriechkin
The CPI Industry Team
Hannah Jo Uy
Contributing Editor
Alakananda Ghose
Strategic Public Affairs Liaison & Events Manager
Manuelito Quisay Design
Master of Ceremonies Hisham Wyne
Content Writer & MC
Chris Lopez Webmaster
Doveine Panii
Delegate Acquisition Manager
Judy Wang
Representative (Asia)
10
December 2020
Manzoor Usman
Business Development Manager
Members of the Jury
Mohanad Abobakr Healthcare Architect
Azmi S Aboul-Hoda EMergy
Hanan Ahmed Al Baraha Hospital
Dr Iyad Al-Attar Independent Air Filtration Consultant
Nimal Amukotuwa Independent Consultant
Kandasamy Anbalagan Proleed Engineering Consultants
Sarfraz Dairkee Mahy Khoory & Co
Robert Davies WSP
Ahmed Elkiki Rak Hospitality
Majd Fayyad Emirates Green Building Council
Peter Van Gorp MAB Group
Ibrahim Hesham Hassanien Allied Consultants
Eyad Ismail RAKEZ
Mansour Kharoub Khatib & Alami
Amruta Kshemkalyani Sustainability Tribe
Dr Simon Hugh Miller Abu Dhabi Quality & Conformity Council
Sougata Nandi 3e Advisory
Bjorn Ostbye Lulu Group
Sekhar Reddy Lexzander
Mohamed R Zackariah Protecooling - Suhaimi Design
Comprising distinguished representatives from the public and private sectors, the members of the jury were generous with their time and efforts, making sure the entries were thoroughly evaluated, and merit and achievement in the region’s HVACR industry were given due recognition. Bin Khadim, Radha & Company, having prepared the framework for the evaluation of entries, monitored the entire selection process.
www.climatecontrolme.com
11
PHOTO FEATURE
CLIMATE CONTROL AWARDS 2020
Snapshots...
The CPI Team
Hisham Wyne, Master of Ceremonies
Céline Paillé
Krishnan Unni Madathil, Chartered Accountant, Audit Partner, Bin Khadim, Radha & Company Frédéric Paillé, Co-Founder and Commercial Director, CPI Industry, performing ‘The Show Must Go On’
Majd Fayyad, Technical Manager, Emirates Green Building Council; Chairperson of the Jury
Surendar Balakrishnan, Co-Founder and Editorial Director, CPI Industry
12
December 2020
Mansour Kharoub Khatib & Alami
www.climatecontrolme.com
13
PHOTO FEATURE
CLIMATE CONTROL AWARDS 2020
Snapshots...
ENOVA receiving the award
RHEEM receiving the award
ZIEHL-ABEGG MIDDLE EAST FZE receiving the award
TABREED receiving the award
AESG receiving the award
AWAL GULF MANUFACTURING receiving the award
HERZ MIDDLE EAST FZE receiving the award
ENOVA receiving the award
RHEEM receiving the award
14
December 2020
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10th ANNUAL CLIMATE CONTROL
AWARDS 2020
Manufacturer/Supplier of the Year
(air treatment) WINNER:
AWAL GULF MANUFACTURING
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December 2020
Manufacturer/Supplier of the Year (air movement, ventilation) SHORT-LISTED COMPANIES: • ZIEHL-ABEGG Middle East FZE
• Kingspan • Leminar AC Industries
WINNER:
ZIEHL-ABEGG MIDDLE EAST FZE
www.climatecontrolme.com
17
10th ANNUAL CLIMATE CONTROL
AWARDS 2020
Manufacturer/Supplier of the Year (chilled water system equipment and components, less chillers) WINNER:
HERZ MIDDLE EAST FZE
18
December 2020
Manufacturer/Supplier of the Year (standalone DX) SHORT-LISTED COMPANIES: • Awal Gulf Manufacturing • Carrier Middle East Limited
• Johnson Controls • Rheem
WINNER:
RHEEM
www.climatecontrolme.com
19
10th ANNUAL CLIMATE CONTROL
AWARDS 2020
Building Efficiency Retrofit Project of the Year WINNER:
ENOVA
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December 2020
O&M Company of the Year (chilled water plant) WINNER:
NATIONAL CENTRAL COOLING COMPANY PJSC (TABREED)
www.climatecontrolme.com
21
10th ANNUAL CLIMATE CONTROL
AWARDS 2020
IOT Integration Initiative of the Year SHORT-LISTED COMPANIES: • Enova • Facilio
• ZIEHL-ABEGG Middle East FZE
WINNER:
ENOVA
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December 2020
Commissioning/Re-commissioning Company of the Year WINNER:
AESG
www.climatecontrolme.com
23
10th ANNUAL CLIMATE CONTROL
AWARDS 2020
Manufacturer/Supplier of the Year (VRF systems) WINNER:
RHEEM
24
December 2020
Dominic de Sousa Award for Innovation SHORT-LISTED COMPANIES: • Carrier Middle East Limited • Rheem
• Taqeef • ZIEHL-ABEGG Middle East FZE
WINNER:
RHEEM
www.climatecontrolme.com
25
10th ANNUAL CLIMATE CONTROL
AWARDS 2020
Manufacturer/Supplier of the Year (water heaters) WINNER:
RHEEM
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December 2020
AWARDS 2020
BUILDING PERFORMANCE SERVICES (TESTING AND CERTIFICATION)
Carrier Middle East Limited
Building Performance Services (testing and certification) WINNER:
CARRIER MIDDLE EAST LIMITED
AWARDS AWARDS2020 2020
HVACR ENGINEER OFOFTHE HVACR ENGINEER THEYEAR YEAR
Imran ImranShaikh Shaikh- -SSHIC SSHIC
HVACR Engineer of the Year WINNER:
IMRAN SHAIKH - SSH
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27
PHOTO FEATURE
CLIMATE CONTROL AWARDS 2020
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December 2020
climate control award -2.pdf 1 12/8/2020 2:32:05 PM climate control award -2.pdf 1 12/8/2020 2:32:05 PM
climate control award -2.pdf 1 12/8/2020 2:32:05 PM RHEEM CREATES AN IMPRESSIVE QUARTET RECORD OF WINS AT climate control award -2.pdf 1 12/8/2020 2:32:05 PM RHEEM CREATES AN IMPRESSIVE QUARTET RECORD OF WINS AT climate control award -2.pdf 1 12/8/2020 2:32:05 PM 2020 CLIMATE CONTROL AWARDS RHEEM CREATES AN CLIMATE IMPRESSIVE QUARTET RECORD OF WINS AT 2020 CONTROL AWARDS RHEEM CREATES AN IMPRESSIVE QUARTET RECORD RHEEM CREATES AN CLIMATE IMPRESSIVE QUARTET RECORD OF OF WINS WINS AT AT 2020 CONTROL AWARDS RHEEM CREATES AN CLIMATE IMPRESSIVE QUARTET RECORD OF WINS AT 2020 CONTROL AWARDS 2020 CONTROL AWARDS RHEEM CREATES AN CLIMATE IMPRESSIVE QUARTET RECORD OF WINS AT 2020 CLIMATE CONTROL AWARDS Manufacturer/supplier of the Year: Manufacturer/supplier of the Year: 2020 CLIMATE CONTROL AWARDS Manufacturer/supplier of the Year: Manufacturer/supplier of the Year: VRF Systems Standalone DX
Standalone DX Manufacturer/supplier of the Year: Manufacturer/supplier of Standalone DX Manufacturer/supplier of the the Year: Year: Standalone DX Manufacturer/supplier of the Year: Standalone DX Manufacturer/supplier of the Year: Standalone DX Standalone DX
VRF Systems Manufacturer/supplier of the Year: Manufacturer/supplier of VRF Systems Manufacturer/supplier of the the Year: Year: VRF Systems Manufacturer/supplier of the Year: VRF Systems Manufacturer/supplier of the Year: VRF Systems VRF Systems
Manufacturer/supplier of the Year: Manufacturer/supplier of the Year: Water Heaters Water Heaters Manufacturer/supplier of the Year: Manufacturer/supplier of Water Heaters Manufacturer/supplier of the the Year: Year: Water Heaters Manufacturer/supplier of the Year: Water Heaters Manufacturer/supplier of the Year: Water Heaters Water Heaters
Dominic De Sousa Award for Dominic De Sousa Award for Innovation Innovation Dominic De Sousa Award for Dominic De Innovation Dominic De Sousa Sousa Award Award for for Innovation Dominic De Sousa Award for Innovation Dominic De Sousa Award for Innovation Innovation
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29
ADVERTORIAL
Brian Hempenstall, Managing Director, Rheem Middle East & Africa
BRIAN HEMPENSTALL, MANAGING DIRECTOR, RHEEM MIDDLE EAST & AFRICA, HIGHLIGHTS THE STRATEGIC INVESTMENTS RHEEM IS MAKING IN THE GCC REGION AND THE IMPACT OF WINNING FOUR AWARDS DURING THE 2020 CLIMATE CONTROL AWARDS
I
am happy to share that Rheem, a global manufacturer of HVACR and water heating products, has identified GCC as a major growth area, and we are making strategic investments to fuel our growth. We have invested in a new factory in Dubai, which will begin producing commercial air conditioning units in Dubai next year, creating up to 20 new jobs. This exciting new development for Rheem highlights our investment in an evolving Middle East market. We have had a presence here since the 1980s, and this expansion solidifies our commitment to the community, as well as the strength of our long-term partnerships in the region. Rheem will manufacture its Renaissance Xcede line of commercial rooftop units. Manufacturing in the GCC will allow us to better serve the needs of our customers. The products built at this factory will be designed in the United States to Rheem’s standard of quality and reliability, while meeting the specific market and climate requirements of the GCC region.
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December 2020
We have recently moved to our new office on Sheikh Zayed Road. This office has been designed with creative spaces to foster a culture of collaboration and team work within Rheem and with our channel partners and customers. It provides a gateway to the entire Middle East and Africa. Rheem has seen rapid growth over the years and we have significantly increased our presence and investments across MEA. We are excited for our future and look forward to going on this journey together with our customers and partners.
Rheem’s state-of-the-art new office on Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai Our new Rheem Innovation Centre has received excellent response from the industry. We are adding value to the industry in this Centre by creating an environment of innovation and by training HVAC professionals on design, installation and sustainability. We are focused on offering GCC value based tiered products based on customer requirement. In 2020, we have launched an entirely new range of AC products, which includes high efficient decorative products, ducted units in both top-discharge and sidedischarge configurations. Our Comfort Master inverter series has best-in-class innovative features. On VRF, we have introduced new models and an entire new range specific for every market, and we are offering industry-leading efficiencies. On water heating products, we have launched our point-of-use EP series with increased safety. We are currently launching our new Solar thermosiphon products and air-to-water heat pumps. I believe our product portfolio is robust and highly energy efficient. Along with the features and benefits, our customers will be getting very competitive and comprehensive solutions. On the distribution side on both air and water businesses, we have strengthened our sales channels with the addition of new strong business partners in key markets. Rheem’s MEA products are aligned with our global sustainability initiative, A Greater Degree of Good, which was launched in January 2019. We’ve come a long way in the first 18 months of the program! We committed to bold 2025 goals aligning to our three key pillars where we can lead the industry -- making a tangible impact for future generations: • Degrees of Innovation (Intelligent Products): line of heating, cooling and water heating products that boast a 50% reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) footprint. • Degrees of Efficiency (Responsible Processes): Reduce GHG emissions by 50% and achieve zero waste to landfill in Rheem's global manufacturing operations. • Degrees of Leadership (Inspired People): Train 250,000 plumbers, contractors and key influencers on sustainable products or sustainable installation and recycling best practices. Success at the Climate Control Awards 2020: For nearly 100 years, Rheem has been a leader in heating, cooling, and water heating innovation. And it continues to lead with its bold approach to improvements in its products and processes. On behalf of the entire Rheem Manufacturing team around the globe, I wish to express gratitude to each of our customers for their belief in Rheem’s products and vision. I am thankful to the entire Rheem team and to our partners who have contributed to this success. The awards is a testament to the Rheem Excellence in Design, Quality, and to our product development focus. At Rheem, we constantly strive to ensure we exceed the objectives of socio-economic and sustainable development goals established in the Middle East region. We are offering products with industry-leading efficiency in all categories. We look forward to 2021 and beyond as we continue on this MEA-focused sustainable and energy-efficient journey together.
www.climatecontrolme.com
31
Report
T ME BACS MARKET EXPECTED TO FALL BY 19% IN 2020 VRF, IAQ equipment prospects bright in bleak Middle East HVAC market, says BSRIA in this report it shared with Climate Control Middle East
he year 2019 was a good one in the Middle Eastern countries, with many large projects delivered, but the beginning of 2020 has seen a reduction in projects, mainly due to the economic uncertainties related to the decreasing oil revenue. In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic massively reduced income from tourism and transit trade as well as from local consumption. The Middle East BACS (Building Automation and Control Systems) market is expected to feel the impact and fall by 19% in 2020, more than the global average, and is not expected to return to 2019 sales level before 2024, but much depends on the developments in oil prices. The UAE has seen sales of BACS products decrease by 22% in 2020, mainly affecting field devices and controllers while sales of software experienced a less significant decline. The market is expected to show moderate growth in 2021, followed by a further improvement in 2022 and 2023, but overall, the data points to a slow recovery. Retrofit and refurbishment is going to be important over the next couple of years with occupiers upgrading their buildings and installing software and products to make the buildings safer, monitoring occupancy and reducing cost by being more energy efficient and increasing remote access to building service equipment. The market in Saudi Arabia for BACS is expected to decline by 17% in 2020, and the biggest impact is anticipated in sales of field devices, followed by controllers. The forecast is for a slow recovery with moderate yearly increase over the forecast period, reaching 2019 sales level in 2024. Hospitality and retail were severely affected by COVID-19, with most projects being delayed or cancelled and several large religious projects put on hold. However, there is currently big demand in healthcare, mainly from hospitals. There are many projects in the pipeline, such as hospitality, transport, including airports, and warehousing as well as ambitious plans to build several smart cities, but start dates remain uncertain.
AC MARKET PERFORMANCE The major AC markets in the Middle East: Saudi Arabia, UAE, Iran, Oman, Kuwait and Qatar had been impacted negatively from the pandemic. The biggest two AC market data was updated by BSRIA in September to Middle East pre- and post-COVID forecast (market value in USD million) assess the first half of the year and update its Source: BSRIA AC September update forecast up to 2024.
32
December 2020
The Saudi air conditioning market is expected to decline by five per cent in 2020, compared to previous yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s expectations of one per cent contraction in volume terms. The contraction was deeper in the chiller market compared to splits systems, which was partly down to people buying air conditioning before the VAT rate increased from five per cent to 15% in July this year. The performance in the chiller market varied by compressor, depending on the available projects and the competition; VRFs continue to erode the scroll chiller projects. In the UAE, the first half of 2020 has seen as much as a 50% drop in air conditioning sales during the lockdown. With the easing of the lockdown, the market started picking up, and BSRIA expects the full year to contract by 10% in volume terms. In the country, replacement of ducted splits with mini VRF (<20kW) in villa projects continues, as VRFs offer much quicker and easier installation compared to ducted split systems. The price of VRFs has been coming down, making them more affordable. Just like everywhere else around the world, the recent health crisis triggered by the pandemic has brought the debate on IAQ from the HVAC industry in the Middle East, too. The claim that a badly designed ventilation system in a public space could facilitate the viral contagion among the occupiers, has caused anxiety among the general public and sparked a renewed interest in IAQ facility upgrades engaging building owners as well as operators. The urgency of enhancing the IAQ solutions prompted by the health risk associated with the COVID-19 spread represents a challenge for regulators and specifiers, a cost for building owners and an opportunity of product development for the HVAC manufacturers.
geographical context of the developed countries. Nevertheless, it is clear the trend will continue even when the COVID-19 emergency is finally tamed. This trend will refocus the attention of the specifiers of commercial buildings widening their concept of sustainability in construction from a restricted reference to efficiency confined to cost and carbon emission containment to a wider target, which includes health, wellness and productivity.
Some of the strategies that are considered are redesigning layouts, zonal HVAC controls, dilution ventilation, VRF with DOAS (100% fresh air), cleaning of air ducts, filtration, ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI), smart sensors and smart controls. Utilisation of some of these strategies will depend on cost, time and knowledge from the building owners, service and maintenance contractors and building services engineers. The consequences of this transformation on the HVAC industry are still hazy. Ventilation and air conditioning companies are developing new solutions and working in partnership with control suppliers, specifiers and regulators, specially, to resolve the apparent incongruity between efficiency and IAQ. The process is in its infancy and is confined to the
CPI Industry accepts no liability for the views or opinions expressed in this column, or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided here.
3,500,000 3,400,000 3,300,000 3,200,000 3,100,000 3,000,000
Middle East pre- and post-COVID forecast (market value in USD million)
2,900,000 2,800,000 2,700,000 2,600,000
2018
2019
2020 Pre-Covid
2021
2022
2023
2024
Post-Covid
Middle East air conditioning, pre- and post-COVID forecast by volume
Source: BSRIA AC September update
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33
FEATURE
Vaccines and cold chain
‘IS THIS THE BIGGEST LOGISTICAL CHALLENGE THE WORLD HAS EVER FACED?’
Toby Peters, Professor in Cold Economy, University of Birmingham, United Kingdom, discusses how tapping into the massive cold chain infrastructure for food could be the key aspect to addressing COVID-19 vaccine distribution roadblocks and the need for evaluating alternative cooling facilities to address current and future medical requirements. Hannah Jo Uy has the story…
A
s researchers the world over race to develop, test and manufacture a coronavirus vaccine, an equally important discussion that should be on the agenda is the distribution of the life-saving medication and the cold chain infrastructure needed to support this massive undertaking, says Toby Peters, Professor in Cold Economy, University of Birmingham, United Kingdom. “How do we vaccinate seven billion people rapidly?” he asks, “Is this the biggest logistical challenge the world has ever faced?” Peters says that while the majority of countries, to a greater or lesser extent, have temperature-controlled supply chain to collect, store and move blood, vaccines and medicine, the same cannot be said of developing countries, where vaccine access continues to be a major challenge due to lack of cold chain. He points out that in the current
34
December 2020
logistics chain, 20% of vaccines are lost owing to temperature excursions and that if in 2021 we need to have two billion vaccines ready, we have to ask ourselves whether we can afford to potentially lose 500 million of those. In addition to protecting infants and the vulnerable from preventable diseases, Peters says, mass population vaccination across urban and remote economies is crucial for the protection of the economy and the continuous operations of nations. “Does any country today have the existing infrastructure, resources and data-capturing management to meet the demand for COVID19 to vaccinate the majority of its population rapidly and, potentially, annually?” he asks. Peters says that there is only a short window for countries to prepare, as the vaccine will most likely be ready for mass distribution in the following 12 months.
Toby Peters
“While the quantum of vaccine cold chain can be estimated considering population sizes, I think the ground-level conditions, the last mile point of use, conditions of the cold chain, the gaps and opportunities relating to potentially complementary alternative solutions, the local needs – all need to be better understood,” he says. Peters says that these barriers are especially amplified in rural communities. where the last mile is usually the weakest link in the supply chain. Central to this, Peters adds, is energy supply. “In the world’s poorest countries, reliable electricity supply is a major challenge,” he says. “In Uganda, for example, more than 70% of healthcare facilities have inadequate access to main power.” For Peters, it is also important to remember that securing an effective cold chain is not just about a vaccine fridge – it’s about addressing all the pieces that work together. “The pallets which move it in planes, the vehicles that move it to the local healthcare sector and then the motorbikes and the people that take it right to the remotest communities – all these have to work seamlessly,” he says. “This is where we want to start thinking.” Essentially, Peters says that mass vaccination for COVID-19 will require a new approach to assess, re-engineer and build upon available cold chain logistics access to effectively roll out vaccine at a scale and speed never considered, all while still protecting existing immunisation needs. “We have to make sure that this uplift in energy demand and technology demand doesn’t come with an environmental penalty,” he says. “I think with planning, we can build up better with positive legacy – we can create a longterm health logistics framework that is cost effective and responsive to future needs and challenges, while developing pathways to netzero-health-cold-chain.” This, he says, can be achieved by evaluating new strategies for modal shifts and looking into the presence and appropriateness of alternative cooling facilities in order to provide the local governments with cost-effective interventions and alternatives to meet this challenge. In line with this, Peters encourages stakeholders to look into optimising existing cold chain that does not
handle medical supplies. Posing a challenge to the industry, he asks, “Should we be thinking about creating a new emergency approach, which gets part of the food cold chain ready as a backup to humanitarian logistics, as and when necessary? Equally, when it comes to the last mile and point of use, can we start looking at new logistics models, modal shifts and new equipment?” Peters believes that there is scope to utilise food logistic capacity in developed countries or temporary facilities, such as inflatable cold rooms, to create decentralised cooling hubs as potential lifeboats to close the demand. He also highlights the need to evaluate the role of drones, electric cargo bikes and offgrid solar fridges for lasting remote outreach in developing countries, keeping the timeframe in mind. However, Peters is quick to point out that these efforts also have to be supported by proper training of healthcare workers to ensure they are able to deliver the vaccines as well, as of the engineers to secure proper maintenance of the equipment. “Getting this right is vital on so many levels, but planning may enable for choices to be optimised and short-term results to be delivered, while simultaneously building a system and infrastructure that will give lasting value in the future,” he says, “Because whilst COVID19 is potentially an outlier, and its unknown if we should have a one-time vaccine or would need annual vaccination – we are likely to see an increase in shocks, natural disasters and epidemics, which require a rethink of emergency humanitarian logistics in a warming world.” While the challenges remain immense, Peters says society should use the current situation as a springboard for discussions on how to achieve resilience in humanitarian logistics and cultivate a global medical supply chain at regional and national levels for natural disasters and epidemics without reliance on fossil fuel sources.
The Feature relied on excerpts from the discussion during the webinar, Vaccine Virtual, on August 19, 2020, organised by CPI Industry, as part of its HVACR Virtual Conference Series.
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Post-event Report
The Big 5 Digital Festival
A JOURNEY OF RESILIEN
A
The Big 5 Digital Festival, organised by dmg
n incredible events, which ran from November 23 to journey. This was November 26, drew thousands of how Josine industry professionals from around Heijmans, Vice President – Construction, dmg events, the world and showcased described The Big 5 Digital the construction industry’s Festival, during an exclusive interview with steadfast commitment Climate Control Middle to continue discussions East. The flagship annual event in the surrounding its role in construction sector wider economic recovery Ann Marie Aguilar migrated online in anticipation of the and the increasing difficulties surrounding Josine Heijmans awareness on a building’s local and international impact on occupants, travel owing to COVID-19. However, Heijmans said, the following COVID-19. current roadblocks have only Hannah Jo Uy has the served to strengthen the industry’s resolve to work story… together. “This pandemic has shown more sharply than ever that the unprecedented challenges we are facing cannot be dealt with by single players alone,” she said. “They can only be addressed, and successfully Mina Hasman overcome, if the community joins forces. This is exactly the magic that we saw happening at The Big 5 Digital In the course Festival.” of the festival, a During the event, Heijmans said, key topic of discussion thousands of experts and industry Simon Rubinsohn was the construction sector’s professionals tuned in from around the world contribution to wider economic with the aim of restarting business, building recovery. For Simon Rubinsohn, Chief strategic connections, gaining inspiration Economist, RICS, public investment in The Big 5 Digital Festival, and the tone of from powerful ideas and getting a clear infrastructure and construction is a key discussions heard, has really shown us just vision of what’s next in construction and the aspect to the delivery of the recovery over how important it is to have all construction economy at large. “It has been exceptional to the next year and beyond. Public investment disciplines come together in order to witness the incredible strength, resilience and has an absolutely pivotal role in driving effectively deliberate and showcase what the engagement of the construction industry,” medium-term recovery, he said, because the future of the industry looks like.” she said. “The level of interactivity seen at
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December 2020
Nicky Dobreanu
CE
Dr Jacques Khouri
Jennie Binchy
fiscal multipliers and the knock-on effects of that investment would be stronger than other forms of government intervention. To this end, Rubinsohn highlighted the pivotal role that policymakers play in stimulating the construction and infrastructure sector. Rubinsohn was quick to point out, however, that it is imperative that new developments and construction infrastructure are really built to a different standard and with the intention of meeting high sustainability criteria. “I think we also need to really focus on building the skills to manage the economic transition,” he said.
THE MOVE TOWARDS HEALTHY BUILDINGS In addition to sustainability, developing the built-environment, keeping in mind the health and wellbeing of occupants, was a key point of discussion during the event. This issue is especially relevant in the time of COVID-19, said Mina Hasman, RIBA, Lead Sustainability and Wellbeing Operations, SKIDMORE, OWINGS & MERRILL (SOM), United Kingdom. “When we think of people's health, we may not have immediately created a direct link to architecture before, but I believe the COVID-19 pandemic is changing that perspective,” she explained. “We have a renewed focus on the ways we interact with one another but also with the builtenvironment. I would even say that it has brought these concepts of architecture and health to the mainstream.” Hasman said that currently, it’s not only professionals
estate are truly promoting in the-built environment, health and wellbeing to scientists, researchers and Dr Mazen Skaf occupants. “Beyond designing medical experts that have a for health and wellbeing, it is crucial to clear grasp on how people's health develop processes to monitor developed and wellbeing are intrinsically linked to spaces,” she said. “Sure, you have the the spaces they inhabit and occupy. “It's right kind of shading, you’re using highin everyone's conscious and awareness, quality materials, you have low VOC and especially today, where our lives have been all else that we work to achieve, but is the confined to rather limited boundaries of light quality right for the end-user? Is the the buildings and the spaces that we live in water clean? When you begin to monitor, or work,” she said. you can actually use that information Weighing in, Ann Marie Aguilar, Senior to see how well your building is actually Vice President, EMEA, International Well functioning and how well the inhabitants Building Institute, United Kingdom, said are functioning inside the space.” that health and wellbeing are increasingly being viewed as staple consideration toward environmental, social and PROMOTING BETTER BUSINESS governance criteria (ESG) investment, and PRACTICES that investing in these aspects would be While the growing awareness on the beneficial for businesses. "Companies that importance of better indoor environmental have historically prioritised health in past quality continues to have a positive financial crises saw a lower employment momentum, the discussions during burnout, increased productivity and higher the event also highlighted the need to job satisfaction, and that allowed them cultivate better business practices within to get through a very typically economic, the industry to move away from costchallenging time,” she said. “We are in the centric thinking. Dr Mazen Skaf, Managing firm belief that ESG is going to be a very Director and Partner, L.E.K., said, “We strong movement, going forward; many need to move away from a transactional believe that healthy buildings eventually mindset in the construction industry, where will lead to market differentiation people look for the lowest cost provider.” and return, which would obviously A commitment to long-term repeated include better rents and better tenant interaction would contribute towards retention.” building trust, Dr Skaf said, adding that In line with this, Jennie Binchy, Director, this is key factor to minimising risk and Binchy and Binchy, UAE, highlighted the developing more sustainable relations importance of monitoring assets, postbetween construction stakeholders. “No design, to ensure that buildings and real matter how well designed a contract is,
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Post-event Report
The Big 5 Digital Festival
remains unstoppable, according to stakeholders, such as Dr Jacques Khouri, Head of Digital Transformation and Innovation, Dar Al-Handasah, who emphasised that in construction, data is the new currency. “The more data you have, the better you Dr Ozan Koseoglu manipulate it,” he said. “The more knowledge you will have, the less interrupted operations you will have for the facility, if there is no trust between and then you will have the parties, it's going to more customers, show up in various more clients and dynamics that will more passengers; undermine the whoever is dealing quality of the with the building will project and the be happier and more overall delivery comfortable.” of the project,” he Following this line added. Jason Singleton of thinking, Yewande Nicky Dobreanu, Akinola, Innovation Business Development Lead, Laing O'Rourke, Board Member, Chartered said while price Institute of Building, also remains at the heart weighed in to discuss of the conversation other challenges within in the construction the construction industry sector, with many – cashflow issues customers fixated and the domino on cost, effect of late invoicing, highlighting the role that supply chain finance systems can play in combatting these Yewande Akinola issues. Through Keith Churchill supply chain finance, Dobreanu said, computers can be optimised to analyse data such as payment history and invoice behavior to understand and to there is a way to leverage technology to predict some patterns. “You can also use provide price fixity that will be beneficial for that to infer credit and spot fraud,” he said, everyone in the supply chain. In agreement adding that it would allow stakeholders to was Marie-Luce Godinot, Executive Vice make an informed decision on whether they President - Digital Transformation, IT, are willing to do business with a contractor Innovation and Sustainable Development, or client with an established pattern of late Bouygues Construction, who discussed how payments. Despite the potential of such digital platforms provide teams with the a platform, Dobreanu admitted that the opportunity to optimise internal processes. adoption of SCF faces many challenges, “Previously, it was very difficult in our including lack of training, differing buyerindustry to capitalise on ideas and learnings supplier objectives, lack of top management from one project to another project,” she commitment, low interest rate from suppliers said. “You always had to fill in forms or and the cost of adoption. to make some papers, and people onsite don't want to do that because at the end of the project, they are already on another ‘DATA IS THE NEW CURRENCY’ project.” Although smart solutions continue to face Dr Ozan Koseoglu, Associate Professor challenges when it comes to adoption, the - Faculty of Engineering and Information inevitable march towards digitalisation
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Sciences, UOWD, said that when it comes to following a digital roadmap, the first priority for companies should be to disrupt the existing models to see the new business value across the lifecycle. “I think all the companies are going through this journey that is beyond just the technology,” he said, adding that the winning strategy is dependent on the business model and how the smart solutions will be used to reinforce their strategic position in the process. “The last 20 years, we experienced a lot of difficulties and challenges in adoption because of this, but over the next five years, I believe, at least from what I've seen, there is going to be a quicker adoption and a steeper curve,” he said. The importance of integration was also highlighted by Jason Singleton, Vice President, Buildings - Middle East, AECOM. “We've got loads of data, but we need to know how to convert that into useful information to inform decisions, inform plans and make better assets in the builtenvironment,” he said. To achieve this, Singleton highlighted the need for the construction industry to strengthen its collaboration with the software industry. “We need people who bring other skills into our industry,” he said. “Data analytics, data information management, and data governance – these are all things that we're grappling with as an industry.” Keith Churchill, Corporate Manager - Construction Technology, Bechtel Corporation, was quick to point out that the growing adoption and reliance of such technologies should be tempered with the correct cybersecurity measures. He pointed out that the risk of a cybersecurity breach on the operational technology is something that's really undervalued by the whole industry, including clients and suppliers. “As we take this next step into wireless cloudbased solutions, we're opening ourselves up for a safety incident or some kind of an event that could really cause personal harm or to the facility or to the environment,” he said. “We need to protect ourselves, and we need to take measures in order to understand how to do that."
CPI industry would like to thank dmg events for facilitating the interviews and for sharing inputs from speakers, which went a long way in preparing this report.
HAVE YOUR SAY! We welcome your views on the article. Write to editor@cpi-industry.com
REGIONAL NEWS
Leminar hosts annual Customer Conference
Third edition of the event provides a platform for the company’s partners, including Rheem, Soler & Palau, Kimmco Isover, Frese, Clima Uno, Galloway Acoustics and Winters to showcase their solutions
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By CCME Content Team
eminar hosted the annual Leminar Customer Conference from November 23 to 25 as a virtual event, in view of the ongoing pandemic. The third edition of the event brought together some of the Srinivasan Rangan eminent leaders of the industry, global partners, clients and customers, the company said through a Press release, adding that the participants came from Canada, Denmark, Spain and the United Kingdom, amongst others, to discuss the trends technologies occupying the HVAC mind space. Day 1 began with Srinivasan Rangan, from Rheem MEA, talking about sustainable solutions for ESMA 20201. Subsequently, Juan
Marcos, from Soler & Palau, spoke on staircase pressurisation PDS controls, after which Satish Vincent, from Kimmco Isover, discussed the way forward for self-seal insulation. On Day 2, Jens Johanson, from Frese, shed light on the future technology of valves, followed by Saad Ali, from Clima Uno, who spoke on redefining comfort. Navin Valrani, CEO, Engineering Services at Al Shirawi Group, of which Leminar is a part, also addressed the delegates. On Day 3, Gary Hall, from Galloway Acoustics, spoke at length about experiencing silence with the company’s new-age acoustic solutions, followed by Peter Chronis, from Winters, who spoke on NSF lead-free gauges. Pramodh Idicheria, COO, Leminar, spoke about the group’s value proposition.
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39
REGIONAL NEWS
Renewable energy continues positive momentum amidst COVID-19, says ITA Italian Trade Commissioner highlights growth in participation of Italian companies during WETEX 2020 virtual exhibition
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By Hannah Jo Uy | Contributing Editor
supporters of the exhibition, ITA is participating for the 14th he renewable energy sector continues to be year, presenting 31 Italian companies, almost one-third of all a growing market, despite the challenges foreign companies that are taking part,” he said. “In line with caused by COVID-19, said Amedeo Scarpa, the growth of the sustainable and renewable technology Italian Trade Commissioner to the UAE, Oman sector in Italy, it is also nearly a 50% increase in the number and Pakistan. “The UAE’s renewable sector has not been of Italian companies that attended the exhibition in 2019.” dramatically affected by the pandemic and has a target Amedeo Scarpa Scarpa said the selected companies are covering a crossto get 50% of its energy needs from clean sources by section of the country’s offerings, including water treatment, 2050,” he said. “To the extent that the supply of Italian recycling, solar energy generation and renewables, air control and components used for desalination and solar power plants to the environmental protection systems, and green building systems. “These UAE has steadily increased over the last few years.” Scarpa said this advancements have contributed to Italy’s recent energy savings’ great is reinforced by the growth in the number of participating Italian performance with a reduction of 43 million tonnes carbon emissions companies in WETEX 2020, which took place from October 26 to last year – one of the best EU and world performances,” he said. “Last 28, 2020, and was named the first 3D exhibition of its kind in the year, 2.6 billion investments in the green sector in Italy have been MENA region. activated and 14.8 billion will be invested in sustainability.” Scarpa said Scarpa said that this showcases the longstanding relationship the sector is also attracting investment from overseas, mainly other between Italy and the UAE, pointing out that since 2017, Italy member states of the EU, including Portugal and Germany and that has consistently been one of the UAE’s preferred suppliers for Canada and China have been revealed to be the biggest investors for renewable energy sector components, with a 16.47% increase the Italian green power since 2012. in the first trimester of 2020, compared to 2019. “As long-term
Eurovent paper highlights need for government-incentivised retrofitting Improvement of ventilation and air filtration systems in existing buildings key to safer indoor environments, document says
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By CCME Content Team
he COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) to the health and welfare of building inhabitants, Eurovent Middle East said through a Press release. Insufficient air filtration and ventilation have proven to increase the risk of airborne viral transmission in closed spaces, Eurovent said. While the need to improve IAQ has always been a public health priority, it is now an urgent necessity, with far-reaching economic and employment impacts, it said. To ensure the safe operation of buildings, improvements to ventilation and air filtration systems need to be placed in focus, it added. The industry association announced it has published a Position Paper in which,
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December 2020
on behalf of the HVACR industry, it is calling on governments to initiate retrofitting measures for public buildings and to provide incentives for retrofits in the private sector. The energy savings achieved with better HVAC installations will enable a return on investment within a short period of time, while improvements in ventilation have been proven to have an immediate impact on reducing exposure to airborne pathogens, Eurovent said through the paper. It highlighted how Germany recently provided funds of EUR 500 million to upgrade ventilation systems in all state-owned buildings, including offices, schools and hospitals, and this measure is expected to lead to significant improvements of IAQ while stimulating the economy by providing jobs and projects to the building and ventilation
industry. A similar approach in the Middle East would equally create multiple benefits for governments, the economy and society, Eurovent said. Tariq Al Ghussein, President, Eurovent Middle East, said: “The events of 2020 have shone a spotlight on IAQ in our builtenvironment, and this presents us with a clear opportunity for progressive change. Retrofitting in the region has historically gained traction for energy conservation reasons. However, its ability to improve ventilation, and the provision of safe, clean air should now become a key focus. Supported by a framework of incentivisation and acceleration, retrofits could be a key driver for healthier and cleaner built-environments, helping to improve energy efficiency as well as ventilation and filtration in the region.”
RAK Municipality launches Green Public Procurement Initiative aims to reduce environmental impact and bring economic benefits
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By CCME Content Team
as Al Khaimah Municipality held a virtual event to officially launch the green public procurement programme of Ras Al Khaimah. The event, the Municipality said through a November 16 Press release, revealed newly developed GPP Guidelines, which will support adoption of sustainable procurement practices in Ras Al Khaimah in the coming years, starting with government entities. The webinar witnessed attendance from a large number of officials from government entities, private organisations and media representatives, the Municipality said. The launch of the green procurement programme comes after initial steps made by the Government of Ras Al Khaimah in past years, to procure products and services with low environmental impact. In 2018, the Environment Protection and Development Authority of Ras Al Khaimah launched green fishing ports. Over the same period, the Municipality, through Barjeel, the green building regulations of Ras Al Khaimah, and through the Building Retrofits programme, has been promoting more sustainable buildings. The Public Service Department has recently engaged in green procurement in multiple projects, as well. Following the success of these initiatives, the Municipality said, it set up a specialised team to develop a framework to ensure a more systematic adoption of green criteria in purchase decisions. The issuance of the GPP Guidelines by Ras Al Khaimah Municipality
L-R: H.E. Yousef Ali Al Belooshi and H.E. Munther Mohammed bin Shekar
comes as a result of the study conducted by the team and follows an extensive consultation process with stakeholders and green procurement experts, it said. Subsequently, the Department of Finance of Ras Al Khaimah will operate as programme administrator for GPP and will coordinate implementation of the programme across the government. “H.E. Munther Mohammed bin Shekar, Director General, Ras Al Khaimah Municipality, in his opening speech, said: “From the perspective of economic development, buying green also means generating demand for green products and services. This will stimulate the growth of a local ecosystem of skilled companies, which will support the economic development of Ras Al Khaimah in the long run. Today, we are proud to launch the green public procurement guidelines of Ras Al Khaimah, from which we expect not only environmental benefits but also tangible economic benefits. “The GPP Guidelines will be applied on a voluntary basis, leveraging the examples of environmental leadership that are already present within the Government of Ras Al Khaimah. We expect a positive response from government entities, given their involvement in the design phase of the guidelines.” The GPP Guidelines, the Municipality said,
include criteria for procurement of frequently purchased product categories, such as paper, furniture, light vehicles, air conditioners, household appliances and carpets. The criteria are designed to be easily adopted in government tenders. The GPP programme is an enabler of the Ras Al Khaimah Energy Efficiency and Renewables (EE&R) Strategy 2040, established under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, UAE Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, and targets 30% energy savings, 20% water savings and 20% contribution of electricity from renewable sources by 2040, the Municipality said. The programme contributes to the UAE Green Agenda 2030 and National Climate Change Plan 2017-2050 at a federal level, while at an international level, it supports the UN Sustainable Development Goals and, subsequently, the commitments of the UAE towards the Paris Agreement, the Municipality said. The overall framework outlined in the guidelines, it said, supports Ras Al Khaimah’s participation in international reporting initiatives for global carbon emission reduction, as it follows the definitions of the greenhouse gas protocol. The GPP Guidelines, the Municipality said, are now available on the Reem website.
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41
REGIONAL NEWS
Phileo PM says it is targeting an oft-ignored HVACR segment Asserts it is looking to support the small contractor community through supplying capital goods, knowledge-sharing and adequate aftersales service
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By Surendar Balakrishnan | Editor
Phileo PM Aircondition & Refrigeration Trading said a key area of its focus is the small contractor segment, which it wishes to support through supplying capital goods, knowledge-sharing and adequate aftersales service. Small contractors do not get the same respect as a Class A contractor, said Moan Abraham, the digital trading company’s Director & Managing Partner. “But, they can get you business,” he said. Typically, villa contractors, he said, are low profile but have regular monthly requirements for parts and consumables. Phileo, he said, is keen on offering them service design solutions to meet the specifications of the consultant and to satisfy the needs of the client. “We use our experience to give solutions and professional service to the small contractor, instead of merely selling products,” he said. Philips Tharakan, Chief Value Delivery Officer at the company, said Phileo simply stepped in to fill a vacuum, not only to properly serve small, below-the-radar contractors but also others in the line of activity. A lot of traditional distributors, he said, have not evolved with the changing needs of customers. And that is where, he added, Phileo is able to come in with the objective of serving them promptly and with strong technical support, in the process establishing trust. “We need to be on-theground type of people,” he said. “In the days of old, salespeople visited customers; today, they say they will reply if a customer sends an enquiry. We want to give a better solution.” The other aspect – and an important one at that – Tharakan said, is pricing. “I
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December 2020
Empower attends UN Meetings on Energy and Environment
District cooling utility speaks of its role in the District Energy in Cities Initiative
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By CCME Content Team
mirates Central Cooling Systems Corporation (Empower) participated in a series of sessions on the sidelines of the twelfth Conference of the Parties (COP 12) to the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer and the 32nd Meeting of the Parties (MOP 32) to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that deplete the Ozone Layer, being held from November
told a large trading company that their prices are 20% more,” he said, adding this is not acceptable. Phileo, he said, by virtue of being an online platform, is able to offer competitive pricing, unburdened as it is by large overheads. Elaborating on Phileo’s model, Abraham said the company represents brands that wish to operate without the costs involved in hiring a salesforce and other sales support structures. COVID-19, he said, severely impacted the ability of many manufacturers to operate in the market. Brands faced with the prospect of having to reduce their sales costs discovered they could get a sales team from us at a lower cost. “We simply made use of the COVID situation,” he said. “We were fortunate to get those brands, and they have shown faith is us to represent them not only in the Middle East but also in Africa. One such brand is Triol, which manufactures only variable-frequency drives (VFDs) from 0.5kW to 8,000 kW in the lowand medium-voltage range, and which wound up its presence in the UAE after the onset of COVID-19. Phileo opted to represent Triol as a sales partner, because VFD is a proven technology, ideal for those, including small contractors, looking for energy savings with a short return on investment (ROI). “We want to make VFDs more popular and accessible to smaller players, who can use it even in smaller projects,” Abraham said. “VFDs can be done
23 to 27 through virtual platforms, owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. Empower said it also participated in the Annual Partners Call of the global project of United Nations Environment Program, the ‘District Energy in Cities Initiative’ (DES Initiative). The session was held in the beginning of November over digital platform. Making the announcement through a Press release, Empower said it is one
for villas and smaller applications as one of the means of energy savings. We will carry a buffer stock of fast-moving low-voltage VFDs for residential and commercial buildings. Our plan is to offer VFDs as retrofit solution for smaller contractors.” Other brands in the Phileo portfolio include Mammoth screw chillers and heat pumps, Polar Air’s Delta T control solutions and Snowman’s refrigeration solutions. The Phileo model works well for vendors and contractors, Abraham asserted. The market needs a certain type of approach, where the customer can save energy and, overall, have a low total cost of ownership (TCO). “We are going with existing buildings, where we can add value through VFDs or controllers or through replacing the compressor,” he said. “We cannot go to new construction, where you have to contend with tenders, negotiations and competition. We are going to clients with existing equipment and offering solutions that represent lowhanging fruit. Al Yousuf, for instance, has volumes of chillers in his property with different efficiencies. And so the question is, ‘How can we bring uniform efficiency – and that, too, through repairing instead of replacing?’ We are a digital platform that is lean and mean. We are disruptive.”
of the key partners of the DES concerning increasing energy initiative and that its CEO, Ahmad efficiency around the world, and Bin Shafar is a Special Advisor researching how district cooling on district cooling to the UNEP. systems promote energy and The initiative was launched to water efficiency, Empower said. promote district cooling solutions District cooling is one of the six Ahmad Bin Shafar in developing cities around the energy efficiency accelerators world. Empower said it is one of ‘Sustainable Energy for All’, of the most prominent partners supporting a platform promoted by United Nations to the initiative that aims to increase the drive faster action towards the achievement use of district cooling systems around the of Sustainable Development Goal 7, Empower world, in a bid to boost energy efficiency, said. reduce harmful emissions, enhance local and “The Annual Partners Call reviewed the regional economies, and cherish the social key achievements and progress made by the and environmental benefits of district cooling DES Initiative during the last year and also systems. showcased the instrumental role that partners According to Empower, the participants are playing in supporting the Initiative and reviewed the key achievements accomplished the different means partners can extend within the framework of the initiative over support,” Bin Shafar said. “While the meeting the past year. Much light was cast upon was held as an integrated effort to achieve the effective role played by the partners energy efficiency targets, we at Empower aim and the various means through which they to contribute to climate change agenda by help to achieve the goals of the initiative supporting the DES initiative.”
Bin Shafar stressed the importance of district cooling in conserving the environment and the role it plays in the strategy of Dubai and the UAE, in general, with regard to reduction of CO2 emissions. This has prompted many to adopt district cooling systems to preserve the environment by using clean energy, and has stressed the need to expand and invest heavily in this domain, which contributes to saving energy consumption by up to 50%, when compared to the use of traditional cooling systems, Empower said. In July 2017, Empower signed an international cooperation agreement with the ‘District Energy in Cities Initiative’, launched by the United Nations Environment Program, during the 108th annual conference of the International District Cooling Association, which was held in Scottsdale, Arizona, in the United States.
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REGIONAL NEWS
Daikin appoints new Chairman & President for Middle East & Africa
New appointee, Masaaki Miyatake says the company seeks to expand its footprint in key regional markets, and will open new affiliates, sales offices and service centres as well as introduce new products
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By CCME Content Team
aikin has announced the appointment of Masaaki Miyatake as the new Daikin MEA Chairman and President. Miyatake joined the company as a sales engineer in Japan more than 30 years ago, Daikin said, adding that due to his exceptional abilities, he was promoted to Project Sales Manager. From Japan, he was transferred in 2017 to “Daikin Europe” in Belgium, where he worked as the General Manager for the Applied Business. In July 2020, he joined Daikin MEA based in Dubai.
According to Daikin, Miyatake had led an award-winning team that developed an inverter heat-pump modular chiller in Japan. The product won the 2017 ‘Energy Conservation Grand Prize’ and the ‘Energy Conservation Center Chairman’s Award’, the company said. Miyatake said: “Seeking to expand its footprint in key regional markets, Daikin Middle East and Africa will open new affiliates, sales offices and service centres as well as introduce new products to enable us to reach as many customers as possible. This move will be supported by a stronger business structure and vibrant cooperation with our sales partners and other industry stakeholders. Internally, we will implement continuous career development and relevant skills training programs to strengthen our teams’ competencies, and to align with our mission to ensure best indoor air quality and deliver comfort through an energy-efficient building climate control solution.” Addressing the Daikin MEA community, he highlighted the power of all teams to effect change, reach ambitious targets and transform the company, in line with Daikin’s strategic Fusion 25 management plan.
Lexzander, Emitech enter into a JV
Aim to offer MEP project management and other solutions to the AED 25-30 million market segment with shorter conversion time and optimised resources
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By Surendar Balakrishnan | Editor
exzander and Emitech have formed a joint venture (JV) in a bid to give end-to-end solutions for MEP works, with the former saying it is coming forward with construction management and engineering capabilities and the latter saying it is bringing logistics and project execution expertise to the enterprise. Speaking to Climate Control Middle East magazine, V Sekhar Reddy, Managing Director, Lexzander, said the JV, established on November 16, aims to synergise the experience and expertise of the two companies in delivering right solutions at the right time. The JV’s immediate target is the AED 25-30 million market segment, where it wants to offer a shorter conversion time and optimised resources. Rahul Duragkar, Managing Director, Emitech Group, spoke of a fair shortage of good electromechanical end-to-end solutions. The JV, he said, aims to give clients more
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V Sekhar Reddy
Rahul Duragkar
satisfaction than what they are paying for and that it includes offering specialised expertise in engineering and project management. Reddy added: “This association is to add value to the products that need to be delivered, with an emphasis on techno-commercial solutions. We are looking at projects that definitely need personalised attention and, as an outcome, are well-engineered. The JV aims to work directly with clients on design-build solutions, instead of taking a main contractor approach. Broadly speaking, the scope of work includes
mid-size MEP projects, with an emphasis on energy efficiency and good indoor air quality (IAQ), all executed at a low cost per ton. Additionally, the JV aims to serve energy auditing solutions to the market and, further, renewable energy solutions, such as solar heating and associated solar sub devices, including solar PV. “We come with a combined experience of 62 years and want to address questions arising out of a dearth of qualified MEP contractors,” Reddy said. “I will not hesitate to say that most people are doers, not thinkers. Irrespective of the value of the job, it needs due attention, and for various challenges, companies are not willing to invest in the AED 40 million segment, which takes a good portion of the market and, in the coming years, will form a substantial presence in market development and growth.”
Facilio, Belimo announce initiative to advance IoT-driven connected built-environment The joint solution unlocks real-time operational data, helping to improve asset lifecycles and drive new levels of efficiency, Facilio says
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By CCME Content Team
measures, and elevating the I-driven property tenant experience – all from one operations and place. Facilio added it works with maintenance estate owners and operators platform, Facilio to provide real-time building announced its strategic performance to help them take partnership with HVAC device Prabhu Ramachandran action when needed versus manufacturer, Belimo, to help the traditional reactive changes. buildings industry by delivering Salvatore Cataldi, Global connected and sustainable Strategic Building IoT Expert, Belimo, environments. said: “The real estate industry is engaged Addressing the growing need for in creating sustainable buildings and efficient building operations, Facilio contributing to ESG goals through digital and Belimo will help real estate owners, transformation and industry collaborations. operators, and service providers turn The synergy between Belimo's digital IoT data into operational insights and ecosystem and Facilio's O&M platform workflows to optimise building performance leverage available data to unlock the and comfort in real-time, Facilio said potential of connected buildings and through a Press release. address the new challenges." “For customers who are shifting to an According to the release, Belimo agile, data-driven operating model, Facilio sensors, control valves, and damper and Belimo will deliver a single connected actuators for HVAC applications meet operational environment, helping them the ever-evolving needs of connected gain complete real-time visibility and buildings and provide easy access to the control of their space and equipment,” said devices' valuable data. Except for system Prabhu Ramachandran, CEO & Founder, integration into the building management Facilio. “We are excited to partner with systems, every Belimo IoT device has an market leader Belimo to significantly additional digital identity that offers an impact how the real estate industry open interaction in a digital ecosystem, transforms their property operations with the release quoted Belimo as saying. This data.” digital identity provides a dynamic platform Facilio said its O&M platform harnesses for implementing new applications with IoT and aggregates hard-to-access different partners at every integration building data to optimise HVAC systems level, the release further quoted Belimo as and building performance in real-time, saying. implementing effective sustainability
According to the release, with the contributions of Belimo’s IoT ecosystem, Facilio’s cloud-based O&M solution provide: • Remote asset performance and optimisation: Remote monitoring and control of multiple building assets, through a “single-pane-of-glass” interface. With automated ML-driven fault detection and diagnostics to optimise HVAC performance and energy efficiency in real time. • Sustainability management: Provide real-time energy consumption analytics, measurement and verification, performance benchmarking, digitised electronic content management, reporting and more. • Automated maintenance: Customisable and automated workflows; preventive, condition-based and predictive maintenance. • Seamless tenant and occupant experiences: An app to help tenants, owners, and facility managers work remotely and access data, initiate tenant service requests, and visitor and vendor management. With an emphasis on delivering a safe, sustainable and efficient builtenvironment, the collaboration between Belimo and Facilio O&M solution, the latter said, enhances the real estate industry to innovate faster and meet today’s fastchanging market needs.
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45
REGIONAL NEWS
Empower awards construction contract for Za’beel district cooling plant Worth AED 164 million, the new plant will have a cooling capacity of 50,000 refrigeration tons
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By CCME Content Team
mirates Central Cooling Systems Corporation (Empower), announced the award of a construction contract with a total value of AED 164 million to build its new district cooling plant in Za’beel, one of the Ahmad Bin Shafar vital districts in Dubai, the district cooling provider said through a Press release. The award of the contract comes after the completion of shoring and enabling work at the plant site and as a part of Empower’s plan to provide its services to the large and multi-use, existing and underconstruction projects in the Za’beel area, Empower said. With a cooling capacity of 50,000 refrigeration tons (RT), the new plant will be interconnected with Empower’s existing district cooling plant in DIFC to deliver a total cooling energy of 112,000 RT, it said. Phase 1 of the Za’beel district cooling plant project will be completed by the first half of 2021, it added. “This is the second contract that Empower signs within two months for building new district cooling plants,” said Ahmad bin Shafar, CEO, Empower. “We have awarded a set of contracts last month for the construction of our fourth district cooling plant in the Business Bay, Dubai, with a cooling capacity of 50,000 refrigeration tons. We always strive to enhance our operations to cater to the needs of our rapidly increasing customer base in Dubai. “Our operations are expanding at accelerated pace with focus on vital areas. We have created a robust system to construct and operate district cooling plants according to the highest world-class standards. We also keep abreast with all the Dubai future plans,
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to make sure we are always able to meet the demand from new projects while maintaining the quality of service.” Empower confirmed that the design of the new plant meets the highest international construction and designing standards, and considers the modern urban developments in Dubai and the overall landscape of the area. According to Empower, the Za’beel district cooling plant will feature Treated Sewage Effluent (TSE) technology, which saves fresh water, and Thermal Energy Storage (TES) technology, which reduces the load on state power grid by optimising the inflow and outflow of chilled water during peak and off-peak hours. Upon completion, the new plant will start serving the prestigious and upcoming iconic buildings in the area, including Dubai World Trade Centre buildings and One Zabeel Towers, which are wholly owned by the Investment Corporation of Dubai, along with other adjacent projects. “Our plan is to maximize our district cooling capacity in this area by interconnecting the existing DC plant with the new plant,” Bin Shafar said. “This will increase the operational efficiency of our systems that will ensure delivery of uninterrupted and high quality cooling service to our customers.” Empower said that the company is proceeding with its expansions within a strategic approach that seeks to implement planned sustainable development, as per the directives of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, which aim to reduce electricity and water consumption by 30% and render the emirate a global centre for green economy and the city with the lowest carbon footprint worldwide by 2050.
GLOBAL NEWS
EU cooling industry wants more ambitious F-Gas Regulation, study shows
Research shows widespread market support for more sectoral F-Gas bans, an accelerated F-Gas phase down and a switch to natural refrigerants, shecco says
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By CCME Content Team
new market study by shecco has found that the EU’s cooling industry supports a more ambitious F-Gas Regulation, with more sectoral F-Gas bans, an accelerated F-Gas phase down and greater readiness to switch to natural refrigerants. The study, titled ‘F-Gas Regulation Revision: Industry Wants More Ambition’, is based on a detailed, extensive effort to collect feedback from EU HVAC&R stakeholders to inform the revision of the current European Union (EU) F-Gas Regulation that is now underway. According to shecco, the study reached out to top-level industry professionals, including engineers, contractors, manufacturers, academic institutions and end users, among others active in the EU HVAC&R sector. shecco said it collected information on the opportunities and challenges related to taking a more ambitious stand in the new F-Gas Regulation revision. The 12 sub-sectors covered in the study include commercial refrigeration (multipack centralised systems and condensing units), transport refrigeration, industrial refrigeration, single-split air conditioning systems, multi-split/VRF systems, rooftop HVAC systems, chillers (displacement), centrifugal chillers, domestic heat pumps, commercial heat pumps, industrial heat pumps, and mobile air conditioning for buses and/or trains. According to shecco, the results of the study can be found in this report (https://issuu.com/shecco/docs/fgas_ report_2020_201116)
“The findings were overwhelmingly positive, showing a large number of companies are ready to push forward on stricter sectoral bans to make up for the time lost by not being ambitious enough in the previous F-Gas Regulation revision,” said Ilana Koegelenberg, Market Development Manager at shecco and lead author of the report. “We hope that these results will give confidence to the European Commission that the European HVAC&R industry is ambitious and wants further progress in this direction to help play an active role in making Europe climate neutral by 2050.” According to shecco, the study found that 87% of participants believe that “increasing the ambition of the F-Gas Regulation through further bans, a more ambitious phase down and strong measures to combat illegal trade should be an essential component of the EU’s 2030 climate ambition strategy”. In addition, shecco said, 77% of respondents were in favour of an accelerated phase-down schedule, given the current state of development of natural-refrigerant alternative technologies. The study also showed overwhelming support for more ambitious sectoral bans for sub-sectors already mentioned in the F-Gas Regulation, as well as for the introduction of bans for sub-sectors previously not included, shecco said. The majority of responses indicated readiness of the HVAC&R industry to switch over completely to natural refrigerants, shecco said. In 12 out of the 12 sub-sectors reviewed, the majority of survey respondents indicated support of a full ban on new HFC-based products by 2024, shecco said.
Natural refrigerants were also shown to be the refrigerant of choice in 11 of the 12 subsectors surveyed, shecco added. According to shecco, the survey results highlighted how a lack of sectoral bans (or a lack of more ambitious sectoral bans) has had a negative impact on the sector’s ability to develop alternative, climate-friendly solutions. The majority of respondents also said the lack of bans negatively impacted the uptake of these alternative solutions, as well as their price competitiveness, shecco said. The study includes input from 125 individuals at more than 80 companies active in the EU. It is important to note that the study was open to the entire industry, not just companies working with natural refrigerants, shecco pointed out. Input was collected predominantly from personal correspondence with stakeholders, as well as a comprehensive industry survey that featured more than 160 questions. This survey, co-funded by shecco and The Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF), was shared globally through various marketing campaigns and social media outreach activities to ensure equal opportunity to participate. Input was accepted from around the world, with the only limitation being that the company should be actively doing business in the EU, shecco said. The report dives into the details of the current F-Gas Regulation to highlight how it can be strengthened to close loopholes to the advantage of the industry, the economy and the climate as a whole. To that end, it covers topics such as training, incentive schemes, illegal trade and reclamation.
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47
GLOBAL NEWS
ASHRAE moves to new net-zero-energy global HQ building
Facility in Metro Atlanta was designed as a living showcase of what's possible through technology integration to increase efficiency, protect people and property, and enhance the occupant experience, ASHRAE President says
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By CCME Content Team
SHRAE has moved to its new global headquarters, located at 180 Technology Parkway, Peachtree Corners, Georgia, the Society said through a Press release. ASHRAE began renovations in January 2020 on an existing 66,700 ft2 building, originally built in 1978, on 11 acres of land. Located 10 miles north of its previous headquarters building, ASHRAE joins other innovation and sustainability-focused organisations based in the popular Technology Parkway corridor. “ASHRAE’s new global headquarters is a prime example of how we are helping to pioneer a movement that many expect will ultimately make net-zero-energy the ‘new norm’ in sustainable design and construction,” said ASHRAE Building Ad Hoc Committee Chair Ginger Scoggins. “Although new construction of net-zeroenergy buildings make a lot of headlines, reuse of existing structures is a basic tenet of sustainability – the energy performance of existing buildings must be addressed to substantially impact the 40% of primary energy consumed by buildings.” Added Technical Advisory Subcommittee Chair Tim McGinn, “ASHRAE’s goal for this project was to renovate a three-story, 1970s-era, cheap-energy-period building into a highperforming net-zero-ready facility in a costeffective way that can be replicated in the built environment industry.” The photovoltaic (PV) system design is currently in progress, ASHRAE said. The building will be on its way to fully net-zero-energy by March 2021 upon the completion of the PV system installation, it added. Focusing on the Society’s 2020-21 theme, ‘The ASHRAE Digital Lighthouse and Industry 4.0’, the headquarters building incorporates several digitally
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connected solutions, such as remote monitoring and analysis of building performance, with online dashboarding for transparency and advanced Building Automation System (BAS) integration with other systems, such as ASHRAE’s meeting reservations systems, ASHRAE said. Other solutions include a digital twin and Building Information Model (BIM), innovative mechanical systems visible through open ceiling around radiant panel clouds and advanced conferencing systems designed to serve as a “digital lighthouse” teaching resource, ASHRAE added. “ASHRAE’s first-of-its-kind headquarters building was designed as a living showcase of what's possible through technology integration to increase efficiency, protect people and property, and enhance the occupant experience,” said 2020-21 ASHRAE President Charles E. Gulledge III. “In addition to supporting ASHRAE’s technical standards, innovative product integrations from our generous donors also provide a scalable and repeatable model for a net-zero energy building design.” According to ASHRAE, examples of technical features in the building include: • Radiant ceiling panel system: This is used for heating and cooling and dedicated outdoor air system for outdoor air ventilation with enthalpy heat recovery. • Overhead fresh air distribution system augmented with reversible ceiling fans in the open office areas and displacement distribution in the learning centre.
• Six water source-heat pumps (WSHPs): There are four on basement level and two on upper level atrium that will be used to condition these spaces. • Demand Control Ventilation (DCV): This will be used for high occupancy spaces in the meeting and learning center. Air distribution is constant volume in office areas and provided by fabric duct, reducing diffuser count and duct branches. • Modelling Energy Use Intensity of 17 kBtu/sf/yr. • On-site electric vehicle charging stations available for guests and staff. • Roof-top and ground mounted photovoltaic solar energy system planned for installation, March 2021.
• 18 new skylights and reconfigured window/ wall ratio. • Useful daylight illuminance (>300 lux) at the work plane Window Wall Ratio (WWR) 79.9% Existing – New WWR east/west 33.5% - north/south – 41.9%. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, ASHRAE had already planned to provide 30% more outside air to the building than the required minimum ventilation rates from ASHRAE
Standard 62.1 - Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality, and will implement other applicable guidance that has been developed by the ASHRAE Epidemic Task Force (ETF) for commercial office buildings, ASHRAE said. The building, ASHRAE said, is located in a forest setting, close to hotels, restaurants and walking trails. A large deck overlooking a lake adjacent to meeting rooms can be fully enjoyed on sunny days. ASHRAE’s headquarters is 12 minutes and 6.2 miles from the Doraville MARTA station for easy access to Atlanta Hartsfield International Airport. The Society’s approximately 110-person staff officially moved into the building at the beginning of October. “This move represents another significant milestone for ASHRAE,” said ASHRAE Executive Vice President Jeff Littleton. “In addition to showing our commitment to building occupant health and comfort, our new headquarters building will enable us to provide industryleading support and service to our global volunteers, while driving innovation that will push our goal of sustainability in action forward.” A team of ASHRAE volunteers led a highly successful building campaign to garner support for the renovation project, ASHRAE said. Thirtyone corporate donors committed more than USD 9.7 million in monetary support and gifts of equipment and services, ASHRAE said, thanking the following industry partners for their highlevel support of the new global headquarters renovation project: NIBE, Cisco, Arkema, Daikin, Price Industries, Belimo, ClimateMaster, ClimaCool, Bell & Gossett, Big Ass Fans, Victaulic, Uponor, Mitsubishi Electric Trane, NTT and PlaceOS. Additionally, ASHRAE members have given over USD 500,000 to date, ASHRAE said. In total, ASHRAE has received over USD 10.2 million from generous stakeholders, making a strong statement about their commitment to ASHRAE’s mission and to a shared vision of a healthy and sustainable built-environment for all, it added. “ASHRAE’s new global headquarters is an example of an effective built-environment that fully considers the importance of effective operations by installing the systems and equipment in a manner that facilitates operation and maintenance,” said 2019-20 ASHRAE Presidential Member and Building Ad Hoc Committee Member Darryl K Boyce. “We are grateful to our donors for their generous support and partnership. It is this support that not only shows our donors’ alignment with ASHRAE’s sustainability goals, but helps us to address the challenges of designing and operating buildings in a technology driven environment.”
Eurovent publishes new recommendation for commercial refrigeration equipment
Eurovent REC 14/6 provides interpretation of new ecodesign and energy labelling measures By CCME Content Team
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urovent has released the first edition of the Eurovent Recommendation 14/6 – Interpretation of Regulation (EU) 2019/2018 and of Regulation (EU) 2019/2024. The Recommendation, Eurovent said through a Press release, provides the European Commission with industry input for the future guidelines accompanying Regulations (EU) 2019/2018 and (EU) 2024/2019. The aim of this code of good practice, Eurovent said, is to provide the industry interpretation in regard to the Regulation (EU) 2019/2018 and to the Regulation 2019/2024 and to support the European Commission in preparing guidelines accompanying both Regulations. This document was prepared in a joint effort by participants of the Eurovent Product Group, ‘Commercial Refrigeration Equipment’ (PG-RDC), which represents a vast majority of all manufacturers of these products active in the EMEA market, Eurovent said. Pierluigi Schiesaro, Research & Development Director, Arneg, and Chairman, Eurovent Product Group ‘Commercial Refrigeration Equipment’, said: ‘The Eurovent PG-RDC supported the European Commission since the early stage of the preparatory study. In order to actively contribute to achieving the energy-saving targets proposed, Eurovent and its members deem an unambiguous interpretation of the requirements set out in these Regulations of fundamental importance. That is what we aim to provide with this Recommendation.” Francesco Scuderi, Eurovent Deputy Secretary General, added: ‘The European industry welcomes these long-awaited Regulations and wants to make their implementation as effective as possible. To assist with this, Eurovent will host a webinar on January 26, 2021, to present the contents of the new Eurovent Recommendation 14/6, and to welcome all the questions coming from manufacturers, distributors, end-user, designers, policy makers, and MSAs’. According to Eurovent, Recommendation 14/6 is available for download in the Eurovent Document Web Shop at www.eurovent.eu.
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GLOBAL NEWS
Mostra Convegno launches MCE Live+Digital 2021 Announces digital and live special event in April 2021
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By CCME Content Team
eed Exhibitions, the organisers of Mostra Convegno Expocomfort, has announced the launch of MCE LIVE+DIGITAL, which combines a “live” in-person event with a “virtual” online component. The event is scheduled to take place from April 8 to 9, 2021, at MICO, Fiera Milano Convention Centre, Reed Exhibitions said. The online component will extend till April 16, allowing exhibitors to harvest business contacts for an extended period, Reed Exhibitions added. The physical experience will be supported by an online platform for new integrated ways of meeting, Reed Exhibitions said, adding that the online component will add value through providing better
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connections and creating a seamless event experience for visitors and exhibitors. MCE LIVE+DIGITAL will feature a unique digital platform, which Reed Exhibitions said is intuitive and straightforward, and is based on Al technology that perfectly matches the new needs of the trade fair business and events. “MCE LIVE+DIGITAL will blur the lines between the digital and the physical,” said Massimiliano Pierini, Managing Director, di Reed Exhibitions Italia. “We have chosen this type of format to continue offering business opportunities to our entire value chain, the manufacturing and distribution industries and, of course, to a variety of qualified professionals who need to meet, confront and interact, even more in this new normality.” He added that the digital component of the hybrid format has a crucial role in integrating and increasing meeting in person, which remains and will always remain irreplaceable. Socialisation, he said, is intrinsic to human nature. Pierini said that digital services will also accompany the event in the future. “For this reason, we have devised an appropriate support model for our exhibitors to explain different ways of communication available, so that they can be well prepared for the show and take advantage of this opportunity, which I hope will give a new impulse to the whole sector,” he added. According to Reed Exhibitions, the format will present multiple participation options that provide a wide selection to exhibiting companies. These include physical booths, with size options and turnkey set up, or raw spaces or digital visibility opportunities, or only virtual participation, in particular for foreign companies that will be unable to attend. The virtual suite, MCE LIVE+DIGITAL will feature a vast array of visibility and networking tools, including company profile, photo and video galleries of products, recommendations, matchmaking functionalities, chat forums and lead generation, Reed Exhibitions said. These features, Reed Exhibitions said, will be extremely effective, thanks to the potential of artificial intelligence, which is capable of analysing behavioural data of exhibitors and visitors and allowing further business meetings. Moreover, Reed Exhibitions said, exhibitors will benefit from real-time data checks, highlighting team activities and return on investment. Industry professionals will have free access to the event, Reed Exhibitions said, adding that the virtual platform will offer professionals a wide range of services, from meeting companies attending the event to registration to business Webinar, conferences and seminars on-site – organised in collaboration with the leading trade associations that have always been partners of MCE. MCE LIVE+DIGITAL, Reed Exhibitions said, will link to MCE - MOSTRA CONVEGNO EXPOCOMFORT, rescheduled to take place from March 8 to 11, 2022, with the aim of accelerating business opportunities for all industries in the reference sectors.
AHRI announces new officers, presents awards Michael Schwartz, CEO, Daikin Applied Americas, is the new Chairman
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By CCME Content Team
he Board of Directors of the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) on December 3 elected the Association’s new officers and congratulated those presented industry awards at last month’s virtual Leadership Forum. “The dedication of these industry leaders makes it possible for AHRI to continue to be the recognized voice of the industry and a reliable source for information,” said Stephen Yurek, AHRI President and CEO. “We are very grateful for their service to AHRI and the HVACR and water heating industry.” According to AHRI, its new Chairman is Michael Schwartz, CEO, Daikin Applied Americas. The roster of officers, AHRI said, includes: Vice Chairman: Ron Duncan, President, Magic Aire Vice Chairman: Kevin Wheeler, A O Smith Treasurer: Megan Fellinger, President & CEO, Morrison Products Past Chairman: John Galyen, President, Danfoss North America
Speaking of the awardees, AHRI said the Richard C Schulze Award is given for distinguished service and commitment to AHRI and the industry’s goals and objectives. AHRI congratulated the following for winning the Award: • Beth Braddy, Trane Technologies • John Gibbons, Carrier Corporation • Bruce Heirlmeier, Zero Zone The Distinguished Service Award, AHRI said, is the highest honour it bestows. The Award, AHRI said, recognises industry leaders who have made significant contributions throughout their careers. AHRI congratulated the following for winning the Award: • Roger Richmond-Smith, Smardt • Robert “Dutch” Uselton, Lennox
According to AHRI, the directors are: Kevin Beckett, President, R W Beckett Gary Bedard, EVP, President, and COO Worldwide Refrigeration, Lennox Mike Branson, President, Rheem Manufacturing Company Bruce Carnevale, President and CEO, Bradford White Corp. Chris Nelson, President, Carrier Residential and Commercial Systems Joe Oliveri, VP and GM Global Ducted Systems, Johnson Controls Brent Schroeder, President Air Conditioning Business, Emerson Donny Simmons, President, Commercial HVACR, Ingersoll Rand John Swann, President, Weil-McLain John Thomas, President & CEO, WaterFurnace
Beth Braddy
John Gibbons
Roger Richmond-Smith
Bruce Heirlmeier
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51
GLOBAL NEWS
Carrier announces plans to target carbon neutrality by 2030
Company says it aims to reduce customers’ carbon footprint by more than one gigaton; plans investment of more than USD 2 billion in healthy, safe and sustainable solutions for buildings and cold chain
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By CCME Content Team
arrier Global Corporation on November 30 announced the company’s first set of Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) goals since becoming an independent company in April. Making the announcement through a Press release, the company said it is targeting carbon neutrality across its operations by 2030. The company said it is also aiming to reduce its customers’ carbon footprint by more than one gigaton, supported by a planned investment of more than USD 2 billion over the next 10 years towards the development of healthier, safer and more sustainable building and cold chain solutions. “At Carrier, we are applying our industry-leading innovation to fight climate change through new energy-efficient product offerings and through lower emissions in our operations,” said Dave Gitlin, President & CEO, Carrier. “Our 2030 goals will drive our company to be a positive catalyst for societal change in our
areas of expertise, including healthy buildings and the cold chain, as well as in the communities in which we operate around the world.” According to Carrier, the 2030 ESG Goals include a transformation of the company’s operations to be carbon-neutral while maintaining worldclass safety metrics, and the incorporation of leading sustainable design principles from manufacturing through end-of-life. Additional goals, the company said, include the following: • Achieve carbon- and water-neutral operations and deliver zero waste to landfill from its manufacturing locations • Establish a responsible supply chain programme and assess key factory suppliers against programme criteria • Achieve gender parity in senior leadership roles and a diverse workforce that represents the communities in which Carrier’s employees live and work • Positively impact the communities through enabling access to safe and healthy indoor environments, alleviating hunger and food waste, and volunteering the company’s time and talent • Invest in STEM education programmes that promote diversity and inclusion, and promote sustainability through education, partnerships and climate resiliency programmes • Maintain world-class safety metrics Carrier said its new ESG strategy and goals build on the company’s performance outlined in the 2020 ESG Report, released in July. The report, the company added, details the ESG achievements in 2019 against 2020 goals and serves as a baseline for many of the 2030 ESG Goals.
J2 Innovations joins Eurovent as newest Associate Member The European HVACR industry association says it has extended its scope of representation
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By CCME Content Team
ollowing a formal approval of the Eurovent Board of Directors, J2 Innovations, provider of control and management software for HVACR equipment, has joined Eurovent (Association for Indoor Climate, Process Cooling and Food Cold Chain Technologies) as its newest Associate Member, the Association said through a Press release. Established in 2008, J2 Innovations is a provider of control and management software for HVACR equipment. It created the FIN Framework – the next generation software platform for building automation and IoT, Eurovent said. FIN enables its
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December 2020
partners to bring new products to the market faster, with the latest technology for competitive advantage. Chris Irwin, VP Sales EMEA and Global Marketing, J2 Innovations, said: “At J2 Innovations, we are committed to supporting the indoor climate and HVAC industry through our open platform for smart buildings, smart equipment and IoT. We are delighted to be an Associate Member of Eurovent, as we strongly believe in cooperation and collaboration in order to help build a greener and better world. We look forward to working with Eurovent to help shape the future of our industry.”
Felix Van Eyken, Secretary General, Eurovent, said: “We are proud to welcome J2 Innovations to the Eurovent family. It is great to see our association grow with the different stakeholders of the European HVACR industry coming together around their common objectives.”
ASHRAE opens registration for 2021 Virtual Winter Conference
Event will include three days packed with learning and live discussions from top experts, says 2020-21 ASHRAE President Charles E Gulledge III
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By CCME Content Team
SHRAE announced that registration is open for the 2021 ASHRAE Virtual Winter Conference, from February 9 to 11. Making the announcement through a Press release, ASHRAE said the convenient online format of the conference will allow for global participation with a group of the world’s leading presenters, delivering timely and useful industry content. “ASHRAE’s Virtual Winter Conference will include three days packed with learning and live discussions from top experts,” said 2020-21 ASHRAE President Charles E Gulledge III. “This is the perfect platform and opportunity for built- environment professionals to take advantage of the Society’s strong technical content. The conference will provide us the opportunity to amplify ASHRAE’s important research and resources to address the challenges of the times we’re living in.” ASHRAE said the conference will feature nearly 98 live and on-demand sessions with updates from Society leaders and virtual networking events. Technical sessions will address building performance, COVID-19, energy conservation, refrigerants, ethics, equipment and standards, it added. Conference registration, ASHRAE said, is open at ashrae. org/2021winter. During the weeks leading up to the conference, ASHRAE said, it will also conduct virtual business, committee and technical meetings that are typically held during onsite at the Winter Conference. The cost to attend the virtual conference, ASHRAE said, is USD 249 for ASHRAE members and USD 479 for non-members, which includes an ASHRAE membership for one year. For additional pricing, it urged industry stakeholders to visit ashrae. org/2021winter.
According to ASHRAE, registration includes: February 9-11 Live Event • More than 35 technical sessions presented live, including sessions scheduled for live participation from attendees in different time zones across the globe • Leadership moments providing updates from Society leaders • Keynote presentation hosted by Women in ASHRAE • Live 30-minute forum sessions for interactive participation • Opportunities to interact with fellow attendees in 30-minute roundtable discussions and meet-ups • Recognition of more than 150 award recipients of ASHRAE’s most prestigious society awards • Conference proceedings (the technical papers, conference papers and extended abstracts can be downloaded) Post-Conference • Twenty-six live Q&A chat sessions for on-demand paper session for the opportunity to chat with speakers scheduled on February 12 • All sessions presented live will be recorded and available on-demand until August 11, 2022 • Over 80 additional on-demand sessions accessible for 18 months The technical programme comprises eight tracks, exploring occupant comfort, energy systems use and examining how to improve HVAC efficiency on a global scale, ASHRAE said. "Engineers and designers are being tasked to take closer look at buildings and their systems to provide comfort to the occupants while also finding ways to reduce the impact on the environment and energy use,” said Maggie Moninski, Chair, 2021 ASHRAE Virtual Winter Conference. “The 2021 Winter Conference attendees will be given a great opportunity to learn from some of the leaders of the industry with a focus on the foundations of the HVAC&R industry along with specialty topics like International Design and the Future of HVAC Work." ASHRAE President Charles E Gulledge III, ASHRAE said, will provide an update on the 2020-21 Society theme, ‘The ASHRAE Digital Lighthouse and Industry 4.0’. Members, ASHRAE added, will be recognised for industry and Society accomplishments. Major contributors to ASHRAE’s Building campaign, RP campaign and scholarship donors will also be recognised, it said. Professional development hours, ASHRAE said, can be earned for all on-demand sessions and more than 35 live sessions upon successfully completing a short quiz. Registration, it added, includes access to all the technical content on-demand for 18 months.
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December 2020