COUNTRY REPORTS: ITALY
February 2018
VRF SYSTEM
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Country rEPort: Italy What does Brand Italy have to offer the Middle East in terms of energy efficiency?
February 2018
interviews The focus is on customisation and environmental efficiency Yasir Jamal, Unilever
The impact of smart technologies on cold chain David Nicholls, Restrata
Licence to Chill Automation does not mean system optimisation of chiller plants Dan Mizesko, Managing Partner of US Chiller Services
news Etihad ESCo selects Siemens, Smart4Power for airport project Emaar, Rove Hotels join hands with EmiratesGBC The scourge of misrepresentation of certifications AHRI launches all-new online certification directory
endusers speak their mind out on district cooling PUBLICATION PUBLICATION LICENSEDBY BYIMPZ IMPZ LICENSED
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February 2018
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events in 2018 6th
6th Annual Middle East Variable Refrigerant Flow Conference The inroads of the technology in the Kingdom 19 March 2018 Sheraton Riyadh Hotel & Towers, Saudi Arabia
3rd Annual Middle East Fire Safety Conference Buildings | Oil & Gas 09-10 April 2018 | Dubai, UAE
World IEQ Forum (5th edition) 03 May 2018 The University of Dubai, UAE
The Consultant Contractor Conference (2nd edition) Strengthening the foundations for better building performance 24-25 September 2018 Dubai, UAE
3rd edition of DC Dialogue With greater market penetration as the goal, what is the roadmap ahead for the District Cooling industry in the Middle East? 01-02 October 2018 Dubai, UAE
Climate Control Awards (8th edition) 27 November 2018 Dubai, UAE
Food Chain Dubai (9th edition) 12 December 2018 | Dubai, UAE
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February 2018
3
VOL. 13 NO. 02
FEBRUARY 2018
THE
cover story
WORD
10
ON THE
street What do end-users have to say about District Cooling?
Country report
46 4
Italy February 2018
What approaches are Italian HVACR manufacturers adopting to achieve their environmental and economical targets?
February 2018
5
February 2018
7
EDITOR’S NOTE
SOLVING THE IEQ-EE CONUNDRUM
D
Surendar Balakrishnan Editor @BSurendar_HVACR
COUNTRY REPORT: ITALY What does Brand Italy have to offer the Middle East in terms of energy efficiency?
February 2018
interviews The focus is on customisation and environmental efficiency Yasir Jamal, Unilever
The impact of smart technologies on cold chain David Nicholls, Restrata
Licence to Chill Automation does not mean system optimisation of chiller plants Dan Mizesko, Managing Partner of US Chiller Services
news Etihad ESCO selects Siemens, Smart4Power for airport project Emaar, Rove Hotels join hands with EmiratesGBC The scourge of misrepresentation of certifications AHRI launches all-new online certification directory
ENDUSERS SPEAK THEIR MIND OUT ON DISTRICT COOLING
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espite the obvious importance of good indoor environmental quality (IEQ), the quest for greater energy efficiency continues to dominate discussions in most public fora that focus on HVACR solutions. We saw it happen during the last World IEQ Forum in 2016 in Dubai, when the suggestion of introducing more fresh air changes in the built-environment was, in fact, brutally shot down as being counter to efforts to save the planet from excessive warming. That argument needs to be stiffly challenged in view of the increase in use of renewable energy the world over – clean energy undoubtedly would take much of the talk of indirect emissions out of the equation. True, it would take more than the currently installed infrastructure of solar-geothermal or wind-based systems to run the existing air conditioning and refrigeration systems the world over, but the intent needs to be towards moving in that direction, keeping health in mind as an important social index. Intent like what is being shown by Saudi Arabia. The King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy, for instance, is offering financial grants for R&D leading to the use of renewable energy to run HVACR systems. Solutions being suggested in the country include the deployment of a hybrid system involving an absorption chiller and solar power, and a hybrid system that has the potential to produce heat to be able to power a chiller. Geothermal energy is another approach, though it perhaps would need very large applications for it to be financially feasible. It is very tempting to consider the prospect of using the earth below the ground level as a heat sink to improve the performance profile of air conditioning systems, considering that it has a lower temperature in relation to ambient conditions. Be it the use of solar or geothermal – or both – there is an immediate need to accelerate efforts to solve the IEQ-EE conundrum. Poor IEQ, in the form of the air we breathe, is costing governments around the globe dearly in terms of rising healthcare costs, absenteeism and loss of productivity and their impact on emotional wellbeing. With strong evidence supporting the view, it is vital that policy-makers and other relevant stakeholders show intent and adopt an integrated and holistic approach in their planning and implementation decisions.
Co-Founder & Commercial Director Frédéric Paillé | fred@cpi-industry.com Assistant Editor Benwen Lopez | ben@cpi-industry.com Features Writer Hannah Jo Uy | hannah@cpi-industry.com Advertising Enquiries Frédéric Paillé: +971 50 7147204 fred@cpi-industry.com
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USA and Canada Kanika Saxena, Director (North America) 25 Kingsbridge Garden Cir Suite 919 Mississauga, ON, Canada L5R 4B1 kanika@cpi-industry.com Tel/fax: +1 905 267 4666 In Asia (except India), contact: Judy Wang, Our representative in Asia T: 00852-30780826 E: judy@cpi-industry.com Events & Marketing Manager Ruqiya Shariff ruqiyah@cpi-industry.com
Co-Founder & Editorial Director Surendar Balakrishnan| surendar@cpi-industry.com Design Manuelito Quisay | maq@cpi-industry.com Office Manager Ana Liza Valino | admin@cpi-industry.com Administrator Muzzammil Hameed muzzammil@cpi-industry.com Webmaster Chris Lopez | chris@cpi-industry.com Database/Subscriptions Manager Purwanti Srirejeki purwanti@cpi-industry.com
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February 2018
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Head Office G15, Building 4, Dubai Media City, UAE PO Box 13700 Tel: +971 4 375 68 30 / Fax: +971 4 43 419 06 Web: www.cpi-industry.com Printed by: Al Ghurair Printing and Publishing LLC © Copyright 2018 CPI. All rights reserved. While the publishers have made every effort to ensure the accuracy of all information in this magazine, they will not be held responsible for any errors therein.
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OFFICIAL PUBLICATION
THE 6TH ANNUAL MIDDLE EAST
VARIABLE REFRIGERANT FLOW CONFERENCE THE INROADS VRF TECHNOLOGY HAS MADE IN THE KINGDOM 19 March 2018 | Sheraton Riyadh Hotel & Towers, Saudi Arabia
Overview: With increasing attention being given to reduce power consumption, as enshrined in the Saudi Vision 2030 (National Transformation Programme), talks on energy-related regulations have intensified like never before in the Kingdom. In a further boost, the GCC Standardization Organization (GSO) has introduced the path-breaking document, ‘Minimum Energy Performance Requirements and Testing Requirements for Air Conditioners’, which is highly relevant to the VRF industry. GSO, along with SASO, is expected to play a leadership role in the conference, in terms of offering much-needed clarity to VRF manufacturers, enabling them to increase the market share of the technology, among other cooling approaches, in the Kingdom. In short, the conference comes at an opportune time and is highly relevant. “Such a conference represents an excellent good platform to bring together interested manufacturers and legislation entities to formulate a clean vision for the future approach of VRF industry in the region.” H.E. Nabil Molla, GSO Secretary General
Key speakers confirmed so far: t Michel Farah, Vice-Chairman, Eurovent Middle East t Khalid A Al Mulhim, Business Development Director, Suhaimi Design – Protecooling, Saudi Arabia t Tarek M Al-Sitt, Senior Standards Researcher, Standards & Metrology Department, GCC Standardization Organization (GSO) t Mohamed R Zackariah, Chief Consultant, Suhaimi Design – Protecooling, Saudi Arabia
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IN NORTH AMERICA, CONTACT: Kanika Saxena Our representative in North America T: +1 (905) 267 4666 E: kanika@cpi-industry.com February 2018
9
The
W O e STR R EE T OVER STORY
District Cooling
on th Dis
tr ict gr Co ou nd ol pa ing in rt th so ha la e ft m ng idd s un he ua do la le gl ge rg ub e o a su be te el st co y dl . r Ho re ro st fo yg w . g u r Ha la ion ain nd eig ev si ck er ing ed ,c nt n , of ad om on th mu ot t h e tr et pa et ch en th qu u r ec op es an at st Cl e d h ec ic ts tr im to nic to re ee at be om ot a m eC t a war l a mu he ain rin ds mo on nic r s gt th tr ng at es h ol en e i on ys Mi d-u fu te dd s m e le er ? Wh lled s? Ea H st at ac an ’s ha er na t st h ta hJ ew he in oU o st r y d or y‌ of
10
February 2018
D
istrict Cooling has become an increasingly popular cooling solution in the Middle East region, owing to the proactive role of governments to advance its penetration. Citing the case of the UAE, Sameer Daoud, Chief Development Officer and Managing Director at MEP contracting firm, Drake & Scull, KSA, says the UAE “has driven District Cooling to a completely different level”. Daoud believes that the UAE’s efforts to drive the solution “left and right”, is necessary in the context of energy efficiency. “If this is not governed and pushed by the government and local authorities,” he says, “it might not reach the level we want it to achieve.” Dr Anwar Hassan, Vice President, Field Sales & Operations, Johnson Controls, says that in Saudi Arabia, there is wide acceptance of District Cooling among consultants and owners as a favourable concept and practice. “Adoption, however, remains elusive,” he says. In Saudi Arabia, District Cooling is very common in single-owner multiple buildings, Dr Hassan says, noting that it is mandatory in government developments requiring 15,000 tonnes of refrigeration (TR) or more, following a royal decree. In the case of commercial District Cooling with multiple clients, he says, the concept is accepted, but there is difficulty in assuring availability and cost of infrastructural services, such as Treated Sewage Effluent (TSE) and feeling comfortable about levels of off-take and applicable charge rates and that “future change in rates is impeding adoption in many potential cases”. “These are major concerns in the minds of those potential commercial and residential tenants,” Dr Hassan says. “It is clear that standards must be set and guidelines published for charges. And public bodies for setting rules regulating the dealing of tenants with utility District Cooling suppliers are needed to help resolve this matter.” Dr Hassan says that supply and the rates applicable
RD T
The government has an important role to play in setting up finance rules that get such socially progressive practices off the ground at the initial stages
to TSE also need to be communicated publicly and “committed to as a utility with standard rates and not privately negotiated contracts before participation becomes a wide front trend”.
THE WORD ON THE STREET
While industry experts discuss the technical merits of District Cooling, end-users struggle in dealing with the cost of a system they have become often unwitting consumers of, owing to the apartment or development they inhabit. A survey conducted by UAEheadquartered consultancy firm, DC PRO Engineering, explored perception of District Cooling among consumers. The survey asked key questions and had 10 respondents. The first question pertained to the level of satisfaction regarding the reliability of their District Cooling service provider. Thirty per cent of the participants answered that they were ‘Extremely Satisfied’, 10% reported being ‘Very
February 2018
11
OVER STORY
Sameer Daoud
Dr Anwar Hassan
District Cooling
Satisfied’, 10% reported being ‘Somewhat Satisfied’ and 50% said they were ‘Not Very Satisfied’. The second question sought to determine whether the meter charges, capacity or demand charge or energy charge were well understood by the consumer or not. Sixty per cent of the respondents answered ‘yes’, while 40% answered ‘no’. The third question pertained to how consumers viewed their District Cooling charges. Seventy per cent answered that it was expensive, while 30% said it was fair. To the last question, ‘What do District Cooling service providers need to do to improve satisfaction, the following were the answers and comments... 9ZiZgb^cZ VcY bVcV\Z i]Z XjhidbZg¼h actual cooling requirements GZYjXZ i]Z ZcZg\n cZZYZY VcY! ]ZcXZ! maintain costs EVhh dc i]Z hVk^c\h ^c ZcZg\n Xdhi id i]Z end user Id h]VgZ i]Z hVk^c\h! Vh i]Zn XaV^b · that District Cooling is 60-70% cheaper than conventional cooling; the reality is different Gjc i]Z eaVci Vi [jaa XVeVX^in IgVcheVgZcXn ^c gZVY^c\ i]Z XdjciZg BdgZ Z[[^X^Zci! VcY aZhh ZmeZch^kZ charges 8]Vg\Z WVhZY dc VXijVa Xdchjbei^dc 9^hig^Xi 8dda^c\ X]Vg\Zh VgZ Xdb^c\ higher than chillers/split ACs for residential users
FLESHING OUT THE FIGURES
In an effort to flesh out the figures, Climate Control Middle East interviewed relevant stakeholders. Samer Shahin was one of them. Shahin, CEO of a marketing and innovation firm, who has a 1,695-square-foot office in an upmarket neighbourhood in the UAE, says he is acutely aware of the cost of District Cooling.
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February 2018
Speaking from his understanding, he says District Cooling was developed to save energy, in line with sustainability goals and that it was showcased as being more cost-effective for the consumer. “I’m not sure how the first level is being achieved,” he says. “I’m not checking on the [overall] efficiency of the power and sustainability [aspect], “but for us end-users, we find that the bills are extremely expensive.” The entire mechanism, he says, adds another layer of expenses from the onset of registration. In his case, Shahin says, the cost immediately came upon ownership of the office even prior to occupancy, despite the fact that it took a year or more to inhabit the space, as it needed to be fitted out, plus the time it took to obtain necessary approvals from the civil defence and other matters before tenancy. Shahin says that upon moving in, the bills for the company just continued to increase, owing to consumption as an occupant, adding that building owners and management rarely make an effort to negotiate or represent the interests of the tenant. Georgina Deeb, a tenant of a building in another upmarket neighbourhood in the UAE, echoes the expensive nature of District Cooling demand charges, which, for the most part, she says, reveals itself in a bill that she says is vague and unclear. Matthew Green, Director, Head of Research & Consulting UAE, Strategic Advisory, CBRE Middle East Region, provides a perspective on the possible implications that concerns over District Cooling could have on the uptake of investment in real estate developments that only offer this option. “There is a bit of a general distrust, I suppose,” he says, “because it appears developments that have District Cooling have higher associated cost without any particular benefits for the end user. Not even just that, developers appear to be passing on infrastructure cost to investors.”
Green adds: “As an investor, you buy a development that has a District Cooling equipment rather than a [standalone] air conditioner, you will have higher monthly or annual charges. If you have an older building, [with a] split [unit], you will pay less than a new development that has District Cooling provider.” For his part, Shahin summarises the key questions he would like District Cooling providers to answer: “First, why can’t you clarify to the property owners what exactly they are paying for? I’ll be unhappy if my AC is [being used] in the common areas. We don’t know who is paying for what? Is it possible that the chilled water that comes to the unit is shared with common areas, or are the common areas operated by management part of the maintenance charges already being paid? And how can you guarantee that the water temperature is actually a certain temperature and is not causing more work for compressors and fan-coil units?”
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Tenants, such as Shahin, say they are not necessarily against the system. “I want it to improve,” he says. “I just want us to have the control and the ability to understand how we are charged and the ability to know that if we turn off the air conditioner and don’t consume [energy] we could be rewarded.” Green seconds this, saying there is no guarantee that if one is efficient and does not use as much electricity, the bills would be lower. Shahin is adamant about the need for greater transparency. “Where can we actually check the water temperature that comes to us?” he says. “If it’s not chilled enough, it means we get a higher electricity bill and consume more power. They’re also not transparent with how they are calculating the bill. Are we paying someone else’s bill?” Green also touches on the issue of transparency in the context of its implications in the real-estate market, saying that most investors are not aware and do not realise the impending additional charges upon purchasing into such types of developments. “The developer probably doesn’t know,” he says. “It’s also not disclosed when investors purchase [the property], and there’s nothing from the District Cooling providers.” Green adds: “More transparency from District Cooling providers with regard to service charges will always be welcome, particularly from an investor’s perspective. If you are buying [a property], you want to see the yield once you take the expenses. If you’re buying, and you don’t know the additional expenses, you cannot make the investment decision with a clear picture.” Green emphasises that this is especially the case among international investors, who are used to a level of transparency, which they need to be granted in this market. In an effort to isolate the problem and move towards a solution, Shahin draws from his professional experience in communication to emphasise that the answer lies in taking the issues into account and developing a more customer-friendly mechanism. “This may cost money,” he says, “but it’s valuable in the long run, [because it’s about] increasing the brand equity, appeal and advocacy. Once there are independent checks and balance, the customer will take the effort. [It’s important to] listen to and understand the suffering we have and
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February 2018
13
OVER STORY
District Cooling
alleviate these issues. It will be good for the [District Cooling] companies, and they stand to win in the long run, [and it will help encourage] people to move into such communities because it is better and more transparent.”
In other parts of the world…
Anne G Jensen, Chef, Ejendomsservice, provides an end-user perspective relating to a typical District Energy scheme in Denmark
D
enmark, known for its environmentally conscious ethos, has arguably taken District Energy to new heights. Anne G Jensen, Chef, Ejendomsservice, provides an end-user perspective from her experience as the chief of FM for a commercial building complex in Copenhagen. Currently, Jensen says, the building has District Heating and waste heat from its heat exchanger, used to preheat hot water in a hot water tank. “It was expensive to have remote cooling plugged into the building (connection fee), then paying for consumption,” she says “In spite of expensive connection charges, we chose the solution as it is future-proof.” Jensen says that Ejendomsservice had taken a more long-term view and that it was considered a reasonable solution that was also sustainable. Overall, she says, the company’s experience with District Energy has been very good. “We have a secure delivery,” she says. “Initially, there were running challenges, but it is in place now.” Sharing details of the energy metering regimen, which the company is part of as an end-user, Jensen says that the measurements are from HOFOR (the District Energy utility provider in Copenhagen that provides it thermal energy) and are read remotely. HOFOR, she says, is also the party responsible for calibrating the meters. Touching on the initial response of the company towards District Energy, Jensen says the company’s leadership were aware of the Sustainability and CO2 savings. “In addition,” she says, “we also see a huge advantage that we do not have to have our own compressor system, which means we get very low operating costs VcY ^ckZhi ^c VcY XgZViZ heVXZ · ine^XVaan dc i]Z gdd[! l]ZgZ ^i ^h not particularly cool.” With regard to hydraulic balancing, Jensen says that it was only during the start-up period that Ejendomsservice experienced some "down" time and did not get remote cooling. “Those periods were very short,” she says. In the event of a Low Delta T situation, Jensen says there is a penalty regimen in place, if the company does not comply with the numbers. “Every month,” she says, “we get a report on how the number goes by, and we have an alarm, so we can intervene and ensure that we do not get punished.”
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February 2018
A CALL TO ACTION
The creation of a more customerfriendly District Cooling mechanism, besides requiring more effective communication channels, is also dependent on stakeholders involved in the infrastructure. Dr Hassan says: “The fact is that adoption and implementation is impeded by the lack of clarity on a number of practical considerations. Since utilities are basically monopolies (partial or full), clarity on availability of utilities and the cost is needed for investors to be confident of the correctness of their choices.” Providing an example, Dr Hassan says that determining whether TSE is available or not, when it is available at a particular location and at what rates is “a pretty hard set of questions to get an answer for”. “Without such answers being public knowledge with commitment behind them,” he says, “it is difficult for the energy efficiency conversations to progress and lead to favourable decisions without one party taking a leap of faith or having sufficient influence to find out the answers as an individual.” Dr Hassan adds that in many cases, energy-efficient solutions make it necessary to have a system for billing chilled water supply for air conditioning as a utility. “Clear answers are needed to questions from providers of such a utility regarding what assurance they have that future tenants and property developers will sign up to use their utility, and by the same token, tenants and property developers will need assurances on what prices they will be charged by the utility providers,” he says. “Arbitration and standards bodies, in addition to mandatory procedures and processes for setting rates and arbitrating differences, are needed to boost the rate of adoption.” All these, he says, are issues where the government can take lead. “It has an important role to play in setting up finance rules that get such socially progressive practices off the ground at the initial stages,” he adds.
February 2018
15
OVER STORY
District Cooling
Additionally, prevailing design and construction practices are proving to be a bottleneck. Dr Hassan comments on the lack of proper hydraulic balancing, leading to a situation where the projects at the end of the reticulation network are not getting adequate chilled water. “This is very common in many District Cooling loops,” he says. “Recognising the malady and calling on experts to help resolve it is not yet a wide practice. The practice of optimising systems is in its infancy and has a long way to go. Customers are challenged by the task of setting up contracts targeting performance enhancement, since the environment has not practised this widely in the past.” Dr Hywel Davies, Technical Director, CIBSE, echoes the same issue around contracts, drawing comparisons from CIBSE’s involvement with the code of practice in District Heating in the United Kingdom. “The critical thing with any District plant, whether it’s heating or cooling, is you’re sending a fluid out at a certain temperature and you want it back at V XZgiV^c iZbeZgVijgZ · i]Z Y^[[ZgZcXZ between the two is critical. There’s a big issue around contracts between customers and the plant, because they want the return flow at the right temperature.” Dr Davies says that the customer must be able to manage the system in such a way to ensure the right temperature. Dr Davies believes the answer lies in education, noting that the main issue is the competence of the sector to produce good District Heating or Cooling designs. “[In the UK], we have a scheme for recognising competent District Heating practitioners,” he says, “and that’s all being driven by government wanting to know that the money it’s putting into schemes is being spent with people who know what they’re doing.” Dr Davies says that the clients are being strongly encouraged to use competent people and that the code of practice is a requirement for a scheme that is funded by the government.
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February 2018
Dr Davies adds that another issue of concern is the significant amount of infrastructure associated with the system. “Whether it’s District Heating or Cooling,” he says, “you need a wellinsulated pipework that is not cheap to build. There is an issue around skills to build them well. Whatever is XdccZXiZY cZZYh id deZgViZ · V X]V^c is only as strong as its weakest link.” Dr Davies adds that with the relatively high upfront investment, people would need to get the revenue or suffer a loss, pointing out that, “the people putting the money in are not engineers in a hZchZ lZ jcYZghiVcY · i]Zn iZcY id WZ financial engineers”.
Broadly speaking on the challenge of optimising opex and capex in the Middle East region, Dr Hassan says: “The contracting market is nowhere as developed in contracting performancebased projects as it is with bill of materials-based plan and spec projects. The criterion for optimum selection of systems and major components based on proper evaluation of lifecycle cost is lost to the widespread lump sum construction contracts based on specifications that are not very sophisticated, and the evaluation criterion of the different merits of products is often limited to first cost.” Daoud provides a contractor’s perspective when he says: “We intend to try, but within certain limitations. We have delivered many projects around the world and in the Middle East, in particular. We are aware of the end-users requirements and demand. We try to share that with our clients as well and make sure they are on board, but at the end of the day it’s the client’s decision and the developer’s decision on what specifications and what quality they want to implement within their projects.” Daoud, however, believes that as contractors they have an obligation “to educate, communicate and share with our clients what are the real market needs and what needs to be implemented”. We do that, we will continue to do that even if it doesn’t get accepted or it doesn’t actually get approved, he says. Daoud says that he remains optimistic that there will be a move in the industry towards a positive direction. Despite the many constrains in the market, Daoud says he believes that an open mind and willingness to share knowledge can help bdkZ i]Z ^cYjhign [dglVgY · [dg i]Z benefit of all parties involved.
HAVE YOUR SAY! We welcome your views on the article. Write to editor@cpi-industry.com
February 2018
17
David Nicholls, Restrata
TECHNOLO ON C LD IS
David Nicholls, Vice President of Situational Awareness and Telematics, Restrata, speaks exclusively with Hannah Jo Uy on how smart logistics is impacting the cold chain of the healthcare and FMCG sectors, and on the need to educate stakeholders on the costsaving benefit of implementing disruptive technologies. Excerpts‌
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February 2018
GY'S INFLUENCE CHAIN GROWING
T
here is approximately a 25% global average loss of vaccines due to a weak cold chain, perhaps excluding the United States and Europe, despite the fact that vaccinations represent the cheapest form of preventive medicine. With this in mind, could you comment on areas of improvement with regard to cold chain practices, given that technologies do exist to avoid the unacceptable loss? What are the bottlenecks towards the adoption of the technologies within the healthcare industry?
The degradation of vaccines in transit can have a real impact on the efficacy of the vaccines. A drug being exposed to the wrong temperatures in the cold chain journey can result in prescriptions being compromised. It is vital that vaccines are transported and stored according to the manufacturer’s temperature recommendations; failure to do so means a drug dose may not be of sufficient quality to deliver the required effect. Temperature-monitoring sensors that link to a wider fleet management system do exist, and the development of these systems can be tailored to suit the bespoke needs of the supply chain operator. However, many transporters lack an understanding of what solutions fit their specific requirements. The marketplace has many options, both technically and commercially. A Trial ‘Proof of Concept’ Period, delivered by a responsible vendor is the best way to test a range of models and establish what works best for your business.
David Nicholls
More effort is needed in many GCC [region] countries to better educate those in the industry about the benefits of temperature-monitoring technology and the wider telematics solution, ease of adoption and implementation and the potential cost savings that can be made. The media, government, and conference and exhibition organisers should be able to support with this type of knowledge sharing. Governments could potentially help by enforcing the use of these types of technology, with changes in legislation or by implementing regulations. The UAE has already targeted the Logistics and Transportation sector, and the general public, with a host of new regulations and legislative change to improve safety on the roads, from enforcement of seatbelt use, digital tyre pressure monitoring and reduction in speed limits on major roads. This approach to temperature monitoring would certainly be beneficial for everyone.
According to estimates by the International Institute of Refrigeration, 23% of the food loss in developing countries is owing to lack of cold chain. In some countries, a weak cold chain also wreaks havoc in potential export and, subsequently, economic growth. What can be done to help alleviate massive losses?
Over the past few years, the FMCG sector has seen a surge in investments and expansions. Although some element of waste cannot be prevented, reducing its scale will deliver significant economic, social and environmental benefits. FMCG fleet operators play a critical role here, just as much as production and distribution companies, and there is an urgent need to increase the level of efficiency of FMCG fleets and logistics operators. Telematics technology can assist with driving efficiencies, beyond simply meeting the need to monitor temperature. The right telematics solution can deliver better driver engagement and optimised delivery schedules, resulting in reduced fuel consumption and a lower cost for vehicle maintenance.
February 2018
19
David Nicholls, Restrata
In the UAE, AED 13 billion worth of food is wasted every year. Earlier this year, the UAE Food Bank was launched to collect surplus food and store it, so it can remain fresh and be distributed as meal packages to those in need in the UAE and outside the country. The cold chain, especially transport refrigeration, will play a very important role in the success of the Food Bank. How do you see this progressing and what, in your opinion, are vital components to ensure the success of the initiative?
Food waste directly impacts environmental sustainability due to proportionate wastage of water and other natural resources that support growth and cultivation. Conversely, logistics firms that do not follow high standards of energy management in cold chain transport, storage and handling increase the risk of loss. Using technology to ensure the quality of food is maintained throughout the supply chain would help; much of the food loss can be reduced through intelligent logistics, which covers real-time quality checks and driver training.
A product can cross the globe in a carefully controlled cold chain ecosystem, only to be left on a pallet in the baking sun of the Gulf for 30 minutes whilst pallets are being unloaded and delivered to a customer site
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February 2018
What technology trends do you believe will massively impact cold chain in the UAE?
Technology’s influence on the cold chain logistics industry is growing. From the implementation of temperature monitoring to the optimisation of product put-away and selection, technology has and always should disrupt this critical industry vertical. The challenge is leveraging that technology to bring efficiency and optimisation opportunities to our customers’ businesses, not just adopting the technology as a compliance ‘tick-box’ when forced. As key players look to expand offerings and presence in new markets, expect 2018 to yield more consolidation in the cold chain shipping and packaging industry. For example, companies that excel in providing parcel-size packaging will likely try to introduce other sizes or technologies, just as those who hold market share in one location will likely look to merge with or acquire companies, allowing them to move into new markets.
Though technology can play a vital role, there is always the human element with each and every operation. Do you think better education is needed among stakeholders in the industry to promote and ensure best practices in cold chain?
As the cold chain relies upon so many different companies, the need for greater co-operation and communication along the chain clearly is the most important part of the entire process. Storage strategies, new iZX]cdad\n! \dkZgcbZci gZ\jaVi^dc · Vaa play an essential role, but it is bringing these different aspects together that determines their effectiveness, along with a robust training programme that will prepare employees to make the best use of new systems. A product can cross the globe in a carefully controlled cold chain ecosystem, only to be left on a pallet in the baking sun of the Gulf for 30 minutes whilst pallets are being unloaded and delivered to a customer site. Education is the key. We see awareness on the rise, with various organisations running educational events and knowledge-sharing forums to share knowledge across the sector. We’ve experienced demand for sharing our own knowledge, with industry forums inviting us to speak at regional events, and even hosting our own briefing events for clients and interested parties to share best practice.
Broadly speaking, what are the areas of improvement you see in cold chain fleet operators in the UAE when it comes to integrating cold chain monitoring technology in their operations? How can solution providers motivate fleet operators to invest in such technologies, as they may be deterred by the higher initial cost it will entail?
Firstly, there is often a misconception that a telematics solution is costly; however, many systems do not require the upfront purchase of hardware but work with the existing in-built hardware that manufacturers install. A telematics company can just display the latent data on a web-based platform in a meaningful way. A good telematics provider will offer a range of solutions from basic to premium, depending on client requirements and budget. Lastly, Return dc >ckZhibZci GD> ^h V `Zn [VXidg · djg clients have benefitted from significant cost savings within 6-8 weeks of implementation. Cost savings can come from reduced fuel consumption, no late/missed delivery fines from clients and no damaged consignment fines, just to name a few.
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21
Yasir Jamal, Unilever
We cann0t Yasir Jamal, Vice President - Supply Chain (North Africa & Middle East), Unilever, speaks exclusively with Hannah Jo Uy on the importance of customisation in the context of the multinational company’s sustainability agenda, the integration of renewable energy in its operations and why investing in environmental efficiency makes economic sense. Excerpts…
U
In terms of our products, we have different formulations [for each product]. [The formulation] we are using globally is more compatible with the cold weather. We cannot roll out [the same formulation] in the Middle East, because there will be a lot of wastage. So, we adapted a different formulation. By doing this, we are minimising waste while giving consumers the same output of our global formulation.
nilever has reportedly reached many milestones in its sustainability agenda, with many more ambitious targets on the horizon. To meet such targets, the company needs to align every aspect of its operations with a green ethos, accordingly. What measures has the company taken in the context of supply chain, which needs to be orchestrated at a massive scale?
We announced the Unilever Sustainable Living Plan (USLP) in 2010, globally and in MENA in 2012 with the target to deliver certain KPIs by 2020. The USLP consists of three main pillars: Health and hygiene, environmental impact and enhancing livelihoods. What we are discussing today is mainly environmental impact. The Unilever Sustainable Living Plan (USLP) is our blueprint for achieving our vision to grow our business, whilst decoupling our environmental footprint from our growth and increasing our positive social impact. We took 2008 as a baseline. So far, this agenda is moving in the right direction. In terms of our CO2 emission, we have saved 34% in global operations since 2009. In terms of water consumption, we have reduced 18% from the factory in cleaning and use of water in products, because we went through many innovations to minimise water utilisation.
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February 2018
Yasir Jamal
This was owing to the company’s observation that there was a reaction in certain product formulations within the supply chain, owing to the region’s highambient conditions, correct?
Yes, exactly. That's why we went in this direction of customising formulation for the hot weather to minimise wastage, especially when we are transporting to the Arabian market, and to give the same consumer benefit, as well. This, I think, is a strong aspect of Unilever scientists and the R&D team.
From what we understand, Unilever also designed particular products in such a way to minimise space in pallet positions, yes?
Yes, for example, deodorant is very specific because of the nature of the aerosol contents, so we need to design the can itself to suit
stand still
the material and salvage the raw material, which can be explosive. So in terms of handling the containers of the deodorants and pallet configuration, we have certain designs for Europe and certain designs for the Middle East to ensure the container, and the [proper] ventilation, so it will be safely distributed. In our warehouses, for deodorants – mainly the aerosols, we have separate locations being managed, [in a] completely different manner, with the right segregation. This is a safety [concern], as well.
An issue we often see in the cold chain is lack of training among people handling sensitive products. For the company, surely such oversights can translate to financial loss. What is Unilever doing to ensure proper training of its workers?
We have different divisions for food, refreshments, home care and personal care products. Every category has its own requirements on how it should be handled. Definitely, we need to train our warehouse team. In some countries, we have third-party [providers], but we treat them as our own operations, and we extend the same training. We need to upgrade their level to a certain standard, and we need to ensure we are delivering the [same] warehousing standards to suit certain products. The storage conditions for tea are different from the storage conditions for shampoo or home care liquid. You might find either different warehouses [altogether] or segregation in the warehouse to deal with these types of products. To ensure the deliverables to our consumer, we need to train our people.
[It is the nature of] human beings that they get training and, maybe after six months, the ability to maintain the same standards could go down. This is why we need refresher training sessions on the same material. This is an investment we make. If something is disruptive in the operation, we will not wait for refresher training; we conduct a focused training for that immediate process change within the operation.
You mentioned specialised warehousing for various product categories. Could you comment on the importance Unilever places in developing customised facilities that ensure best practices, despite the investment required? The end user is our target – our reputation with the consumer is the most important thing we care [about]. If you respect the consumer and their needs, maintaining [standards] is the ultimate goal. Last year, we inaugurated one of the biggest global investments for Unilever in Turkey – a warehouse with more than 100,000 pallets, fully automated and robotised. We are also investing in our warehouses in Nigeria and in South Africa.
Are all warehouses customised for the conditions of the region?
Yes, and for the type of products we are offering to the consumers. In Saudi Arabia and Dubai, it’s the same thing. We have a state-of-the-art warehousing system customised for the types of products. As I said, we need to ensure we are offering consumers whatever we promised. So, investment is not a block in warehousing, transportation and logistics. Also, there are lean and green initiatives for freezers. This project has delivered almost 30% reduction in energy with state-of-the-art freezers commissioned in 2011 for our ice cream products. That was stage one. In 2013, we went to another stage of improvement, which led to 50% energy savings. Most recently, our R&D [team] in the United Kingdom developed a new technology for freezers. [Looking at different approaches], we have considered vacuum insulation and different magnetic technology to get 70% savings in energy. If we look at the impact of the technology, it’s as if you are removing around half a million cars from the street.
In line with its sustainability agenda, how is Unilever integrating renewable energy in its operations?
In 2015, when Paul Polman [CEO of Unilever] joined the COP 21 Summit in Paris, he revealed Unilever’s mission to be carbonpositive by 2030. He continues to raise the bar for the company. When he promised that we will be growing our sales without increasing environmental impact, nobody at the time thought it could be delivered. But we are delivering. On the move to be carbonpositive by 2030, all scientists in Unilever are mobilised in this effort. We revealed a target in 2008 to have zero waste to landfill by 2020. We delivered that by December 2014 in 250 factories, globally – six years ahead of the target.
February 2018
23
Yasir Jamal, Unilever
Could you comment on what the company is doing with regard to the disposal of refrigeration equipment under the Zero Waste to Landfill blueprint?
I’ll first talk about the initiative in terms of the factory. There are different pillars we need to achieve to reach zero waste to landfill, which includes minimising, or altogether eliminating, the use of certain materials and knowing what we are able to segregate. The UAE is part of this journey. We manage to eliminate all the waste from Lipton Jebel Ali and all factories across the MENA region. Either we use it again in the factory or we contact a recycling company that specialises in certain elements, be it paper, metal, plastic or batteries – that’s how we achieved zero waste to landfill.
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February 2018
responsibility towards the environment. Is it costly? It is, but we are getting the payback, and this is a critical point that if [properly] understood, can move people towards a positive agenda. In Unilever, we have increased in volume, globally, by 28% in the last five years. By the end of 2016, 31.6% of the energy used across our manufacturing operations came from renewable sources. Additionally, 16% of the energy that we generated directly on our manufacturing sites was from renewable sources. Through producing and generating renewable energy, we saved around 700,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions from going into the atmosphere in 2016. This is equivalent to nearly 40% of our total manufacturing CO2 emissions, worldwide. In our factories in the MENA region, we have improved our volume by 33%. We may have increased the volume, local and imported, but we have maintained the same energy consumption. In fact, we have reduced the energy consumption per tonne, and that’s without considering everything we are doing, such as renewable energy, LED lighting and solar power. We are also harvesting sunlight [using devices] to make it into powerful lighting in the warehouse. We have reduced, for example, almost two kilometres of conveyers in the factory, [which helps] reduce energy [consumption]. So yes, we are investing, but we are getting the payback, and we have saved in energy consumption. In Egypt, they are increasing utility cost. Without looking to these solutions and improving operations, we cannot compensate the increase in utility costs. Reducing energy helps reduce total bill, this is the kind of payback we are getting in our operations. It may be tough investing, but I think it is the right thing to do. There is a longterm responsibility. Definitely, we need to change a lot of things in today’s world. Whatever that was available 10 years ago, is different from today, and it will be different 10 years from now. The world is moving in a rapid direction, and we need to comply accordingly. We cannot stand still.
N IL EV ER sy :U co ur te Ph ot o ▶
On your question about renewable energy, I’ll give you, as an example, the Dubai Personal Care (DPC) factory, which was inaugurated on December 21, 2016. We are consuming nine megawatts of energy in the factory, two of which are from renewable energy – solar energy powered by solar photovoltaic and solar thermal systems. The beauty of the system is that during the weekend, when the factory is not running, we are getting the power from the solar panels and injecting it back to the DEWA grid. DPC is one of the first factories in the region to have both solar photovoltaic and solar thermal systems, and is the largest private solar park in MENA. This is the start of the journey of becoming carbon-positive by 2030. As I told you, there are different implementation measures [of our plans] per country and region. In Europe, they have different [renewable energy] solutions. For example, Unilever UK manufacturing sites are now powered 100% by renewable energy. Eighty-seven per cent – or 165 gigawatt-hours (GWh) – of the electricity from renewable sources used by Unilever factories in the UK is generated at a Scottish Highlands-based wind farm in Lochluichart. The wind farm is owned by renewable energy company, Eneco UK. Even biodiesel fuel, in Brazil, they are progressing very well in this regard. There are a lot of challenges, but renewable energy is part of our mission, and it is considered high on our agenda.
When it comes to the freezers, since we started the ice cream business in the UAE we have recycled almost 100 freezers in the past two years. There is a certain process in recycling freezers, globally managed by Unilever, and if we don’t have the capability we contract a company to follow the same process. First, we must consider the refrigerant. We need to suck the refrigerant from the compressor [and transfer it] into a compartment, so the vessels can be reused. We get the oil from the compressor, which is sent to a recycling company. After you get the refrigerant and the oil, you go to the metallic component itself. There are different parts, and each component goes to a specialised recycling company – brass, metal, glass, the cabinet itself. At the end of the day, you see the freezer dismantled, and everyone has use for a certain part of that freezer – nothing is wasted, nothing goes to the landfill.
There are concerns within the private sector that pursuing aggressive environmental practices might be too costly and eat into profits. As Unilever, could you comment on the investment involved in implementing your sustainability agenda and what drives the company to continue doing so? This is the same question that is flying around across the globe. As a company, we need to grow – and we do. Our focus on the USLP agenda is not diverting us from our growth, that’s number one. Now, on the investment behind USLP, as a company we do believe in our social
HAVE YOUR SAY! We welcome your views on the article. Write to editor@cpi-industry.com
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ERSPECTIVE
Sagar Kulkarni is Managing Director at Consistent Engineering Consultants. He may be contacted at sagar@consistentconsultants.com
O
ver the last few decades, the world has rapidly come to realise the necessity of integrating sustainable building design in construction for improving building performance and creating a holistic environment for better living. This need for sustainability is spurred by the rapid breakdown of the natural order, with climate change its most visible effect. Though we have understood the impact of our actions on the environment, the comprehension has not brought about an overnight change in the global construction industry favouring sustainable development. It is acknowledged that the change has to be nurtured – sometimes even enforced – to help people realise that sustainability is not just an alternative, but that it has to become a way of life. As is human nature, well-meaning intentions can take us only so far. This is where rules and regulations play an invaluable role in bringing about a transformation. There have been several important initiatives promoting sustainable development in construction and living, some of which have even been turning points. However, it is now time to look to the future, instead of merely retroactively fixing the problems, some of our doing; it is time to change our perspective. Building performance is a dynamic idea – one that varies as per each stakeholder’s perspective. The various aspects of efficiency range from clean air control to water conservation. The construction sector in Dubai is at a very interesting juncture, as the steps we take now will have major ramifications for the future. In that context, I believe that a few key aspects are crucial to the consistent performance of a building over its entire lifecycle. They include cooling and ventilation, use of available water and, of course, building design for maximum occupant comfort.
a s d r a tow mancer o f per ed t n e i or h c a o r p ap ging Mana , i n r ka r Kul tent Saga onsis , C , r to tants l c u e s r i n D Co ai ering a Dub e r n i o g f En ase ts a c n ect e s o dir pre t x e y g Ind ustr n d i n d i l i n Bu ctio estru n o manc c r o f the r sed oppo t a pe p s o a d ach to a ppro a d e t ng a orien lowi h. l o f roac ly p e p r a e sed to m ce-ba n a i l comp
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February 2018
GLOBAL REGULATIONS FOR IMPROVING BUILDING PERFORMANCE
There have been numerous initiatives to curb energy consumption the world over. The Energy Act of 1992, the European Union Energy Efficiency Action Plans, the Energy Conservation Act in India in 2001 and many others have contributed to the cause of reducing the use of non-renewable energy and increasing the use of renewable energy. Of these, some of the most significant measures include the institution of Energy Service Companies (ESCOs), the guidelines issued by the Emirates Green Building Council (EGBC) and, recently, Al-Safat guidelines for sustainable development.
AL SAFAT AND THE BUILDING PERFORMANCE PERSPECTIVE
Al-Safat, the new rating system from Dubai Municipality, focuses on the complete lifecycle of the building, including building efficiency, the use of eco-friendly materials, alternative energy sources and sustainable design. When it comes to the construction industry, we have had a compliance-based approach for the most part. I believe it is necessary to shift this perspective to a more performance-oriented approach. Al-Safat guidelines touch the aspect of compliance versus performance and offer an in-depth approach to increasing building performance. The concept is based on the idea that we need to go a step farther in assessing how the building performs down the line and optimising building design, accordingly. Although this can drive the payback period slightly, there is no doubt the long-term benefits can more than make up for it. Al-Safat regulations mandate the compliance measures to improve the efficiency of new buildings and also address issues in existing buildings. The implementation of the measures will ensure that the stock of existing buildings in Dubai, which are functioning at an above average efficiency, will experience a significant rise in efficiency, thereby increasing the overall efficiency, as well.
work towards, instead of simply advising on the kind of material to be used or the number of windows to be installed. However, the 90 kWh limit is a formidable target and not something that is immediately achievable by buildings having high energy consumption at the moment.
THE CATCH?
Admirable and useful as these regulations are, they do not set a fixed cap on the total energy consumption of the buildings, considering tenant/occupant and operational efficiency. The best designed buildings may perform badly if the right methods of operation and maintenance are not followed. Also, it could be a challenge for existing buildings, typically with a low-performance profile, to suddenly match up to the level of new projects, as they will not be able to cover the gap between the theoretical and the actual values. In such a case, it would be prudent to have stepwise measures backed by recognition and certification instead of implementing lofty targets for existing buildings, as they will be unachievable beyond a certain threshold. The key here is to identify the thresholds of impedance and, then, devise practically achievable targets for these buildings. Doing so will not only improve the efficiency of a much larger pool of buildings but will also encourage the buildings to keep up their efforts, since they will have visible and feasible targets in the horizon.
ESCOS
Energy Service Companies focus on existing buildings and offer retrofit solutions for improving building performance. Although they are one of the few approaches having a performance-based perspective, they have been unable to match up to their full potential, largely due to the unequal ROI in view of the risk and effort involved. In addition, ESCOs are primarily concerned with providing means and methods to increase building performance. The ESCO model is based on tangible results in consumption, but they do not set a cap on the total allowable energy consumption for the building.
EGBC
The EGBC is another major organisation that has brought into practice several regulations for improved building performance. The Council has made it a point to connect with all the stakeholders of the construction sector and promote sustainability at all levels. It has also set lofty benchmarks with respect to green building construction and operation. It has promoted the construction of nearly zero-energy consumption buildings, or buildings that have total energy consumption limited from 130 kWh/sqm/year to 90 kWh/sqm/ year. These figures have given constructors a tangible target to
February 2018
27
PRODUCED BY
OFFICIAL PUBLICATION
ERSPECTIVE
3rd ANNUAL MIDDLE EAST
Conference
SAFETY 09-10 April, 2018 | Dubai, UAE
BUILDINGS | OIL & GAS ENDORSED BY
OBJECTIVES OF THE CONFERENCE Developing a thorough understanding of the UAE Fire and Life Safety Code of Practice, among other codes, as a precursor to stringently applying them to the design, construction, installation, commissioning, operation and maintenance of the diverse profile of existing and new residential, commercial and mixed-use buildings across the Middle East. Examining the various standards and regulation, the roles of multiple engineering disciplines, the current practices related to fire and gas mapping, fire-risk assess- ment and insurance across oil & gas facilities in the Middle East.
MODERATOR FOR DAY 1 (BUILDINGS)
MODERATOR FOR DAY 2 (OIL AND GAS)
Shamim Rashid-Sumar, P.E., is the President of the UAE International Chapter of the Society of Fire Protection Engineers (SFPE). She is an NFPA 101 International Instructor and member of the UAE Code Committee. She is the Vice President of Development (Middle East), Jensen Hughes.
Anthony R. Cole, M.Sc. FPE, P.E., CFPS, CFEI, has over 30 years of experience in the fire- protection business, ranging from firefighting to engineering and design. His main engineering experience is in the field of HPR/Risk engineering and industrial fire protection in the oil/gas/energy and manufacturing sectors, emergency response, fire protection systems, and training. He is Director, Petrochemical, Oil & Gas, Jensen Hughes.
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IMPROVING COLLECTIVE BUILDING PERFORMANCE WITH A COMMON PARAMETER
The implementation of a common parameter will contribute to improving the collective building performance to their maximum possible achievable limit. This can easily be done by having a universal performance index – for instance, a Dubai Building Index – which will successively track the performance of buildings and rate them accordingly, throughout their lifetime. Apart from the Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum standards set by Al-Safat guidelines, it would help to have a star-based rating system for the buildings, with definite upper limits for energy consumption. ▶ The buildings could be categorised on the basis of the features they offer
and their application, as follows:
CLASS
FUNCTIONALITY
Economy (E) Comfort (C) Luxury (L)
Hygiene + Safety Hygiene + Safety + Comfort
Super-Luxury (SL)
Hygiene + Safety + Comfort + Super Luxury Amenities
Hygiene + Safety +Comfort + Luxury
▶ The tentative structure could be something along the following lines:
STAR RATING 5 4 3 2 1
ENERGY CONSUMPTION LIMIT (KWH/YEAR/SQMT) 140 160 180 200 220
When implemented in conjunction with Al-Safat Guidelines, the combination will essentially take care of all aspects of building performance, right from the design and construction phase to the renovation and retrofit phases. In addition, the ratings will be an easily understandable marker to the occupants and facility managers, as well, imbibing in them the measures necessary to maintain building performance within the specified framework.
ADVANTAGES OF HAVING A BLANKET UPPER LIMIT
There are several advantages to having this sort of a blanket cap for the different kinds of buildings and the net energy consumed per year. The primary advantage is that the Dubai Building Index is completely based on the idea of performance measurement instead of compliance and verification. All other regulations advise on the materials that ought to be used or the kind of ventilation, in the case of a retrofitting initiative. None of the proposed regulations talk about the expected Energy Use Intensity (EUI) for a building per year. The Dubai Building Index would offer all stakeholders an opportunity for using their own methods to reduce energy consumption. The owner would have complete flexibility when it comes to using the material and machinery he or she desires, as long as the ultimate energy consumption is within the rating limit. The Dubai Building Index would have a holistic approach and provide a trigger for the entire industry to move in the direction towards a better EUI, considering new as well as existing projects. It is the foundation for the strategy of ‘Recognition, Comparison, Evaluation, Certification, Remuneration, Motivation, Obligation’.
ENDNOTE
The global drive towards sustainability is a welcome trend. However, in order to ensure we keep setting SMART goals, it is important that necessary regulations be put in place to take into account future developments in a holistic manner and to address the consequent requirements. Al-Safat is a major stepping stone towards this end goal, but we need to keep reinventing ourselves time and again to ensure that this march towards sustainability continues uninterrupted. The Dubai Building Index would provide a common platform for the integration of the various rules and regulations related to building performance in Dubai. This would lead to complete transparency and end-toend involvement of owners as well as tenants in the entire project, thereby facilitating the recognition and appreciation of the efforts of all stakeholders. 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.
February 2018
29
Louvre: Balance between beauty A “People do not resist thermal
shock well. Nor do works of art.
Such elementary observations have
influenced the Louvre Abu Dhabi,” says architect, Jean Nouvel
By Hannah Jo Uy | Features Writer
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February 2018
s the first structure of its kind in the Arab world, Louvre Abu Dhabi had to strike the balance between function and beauty. While its aesthetic features are of great importance, the museum needed to have the proper facilities to house priceless works of art as well as ensure the comfort of visitors, especially in the context of the region’s high-ambient temperatures. “The museum and the sea, all climates like exceptions,” said Pritzker Prize-winning French architect, Jean Nouvel on his concept for Louvre Abu Dhabi. “Warmer when it is cold. Cooler in the tropics. People do not resist thermal shock well. Nor do works of art. Such elementary observations have influenced the Louvre Abu Dhabi. It wishes to create a welcoming world serenely combining light and shadow, reflection and calm.” Nouvel said that the project is founded on a major symbol of Arab architecture, which is the dome. In the context of the museum and given its shift away from tradition, Nouvel described the dome as a modern proposal. “A double dome, 180 metres in diameter, offers horizontal, perfectly radiating geometry,” he said. “A randomly perforated woven material provides shade punctuated by bursts of sun. The dome gleams in the Abu Dhabi sunshine. At night, this protected landscape is an oasis of light under a starry dome.” According to an official statement from CCC (Claudine Colin Communication), the dome is made of eight different layers – four outer layers clad in stainless steel and four inner layers clad in aluminium separated by
and function a steel frame, five metres high. The frame is made of 10,000 structural components pre-assembled into 85 super-sized elements, each weighing up to 50 tonnes. The museum galleries were specially designed by Ateliers Jean Nouvel. CCC shared that the floors, walls and ceiling surfaces of the museum galleries reinforce the palatial dimensions of Louvre Abu Dhabi. CCC shared that the floor paving is made of stone modules framed in bronze and that throughout the galleries, the choice of stone responds to the period of the artworks on show. CCC added that filtered natural light can be present in all the galleries, either from lateral windows with views onto the surrounding environment or through zenithal lighting. This involved the use of glass mirrors to capture sunlight and direct it into the gallery spaces while also scattering rays to avoid glare. The museum galleries were also developed to meet stringent environmental control requirements. CCC said that the design team developed a system, which cannot deviate by more than one degree from 21 degrees centigrade or five per cent humidity range. According to CCC, this guarantees exceptionally stable
Jean Nouvel
environmental conditions for artworks and visitors. Fire detection and suppression systems within the galleries require special measures in order to avoid damage to the artwork. Touching on the environmental features of the structure, CCC said the dome primarily acts as a shading canopy and protects the buildings and outdoor plaza from the heat of the sun, greatly improving comfort for visitors and reducing building energy consumption. This strategy, CCC said, allows visitors to circulate outdoors in a self-regulated microclimate. Additionally, CCC said, the museum features low-profile but effective passive energy systems, which naturally enhance the cooling of the buildings and optimise water usage. The design team has also employed passive design techniques to improve sheltered outside conditions. According to CCC, visitors arriving at the museum and moving under the dome experience a gradual transition from an uncontrolled outside environment to a controlled inside environment. According to CCC, Abu Dhabi Louvre also features passive design techniques that use the natural form of buildings and inherent properties of materials to improve climatic conditions. These techniques include the solar shading effect of dome roof and self-shading of buildings, optimised roof perforations to allow daylight without excess solar gain, exposed thermal mass, such as stone floor and cladding that can benefit from night time cooling and light-coloured and reflective materials. Other modern environmental technologies Abu Dhabi Louvre offers include highly insulated and air-tight building envelope. CCC said the Louvre offers highly efficient heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, lighting and sanitary fittings, all of which promise 42% reduction in solar gain, 27.2% reduction in energy use and 27% reduction in water use. The museum has also installed energy and water metering, which ensure resource efficiency. Louvre Abu Dhabi has achieved a 3 Pearl Estidama Design Rating and is targeting a LEED-Silver rating.
HAVE YOUR SAY! We welcome your views on the article. Write to editor@cpi-industry.com
February 2018
31
Dan Mizesko is the Managing Partner of Al Shirawi US Chiller Services. He can be contacted at dan@uschillerservices.com.
LICENCE TO
a need to look beneath the surface
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hilled water plants, with VFDs on chillers, chilled water pumps, condenser water pumps, cooling towers and automatic flow valves, and a CMS/BMS are fully automated but most likely not optimised. Typical building automation systems control equipment through fixed set points and schedules. These systems have limited knowledge of the actual equipment being controlled and how their performance changes at different operating conditions. Let’s take the following example: A BAS controls a cooling tower to a fixed 78 degrees F (25 degrees C). Chillers are sequenced on once they reach full capacity, the chilled water set point is adjusted based on a fixed time of day schedule and chilled water pumps are operated to maintain a fixed pressure. Typical strategies, such as the aforementioned, have been proven to consume as much as 75% or more energy at part load when compared to a CPECS (Central Plant Energy Control System) or fully optimised plant, all as a result of the typical system not having the calculation horsepower to make complex equipment performance calculations.
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32
February 2018
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A CPECS software system has complete knowledge of compressor, tower and pump performance characteristics, which it uses in real time to modulate control levels to all VFDs and provide the maximum level of system performance while respecting chiller flow, temperature limits and occupant comfort. The result is a chilled water central plant that operates in synchrony to deliver the highest possible total performance. Unlike other static optimisation strategies, a CPECS has the ability to self-correct chiller, tower and pump performance maps such that regardless of wear and tear, inaccuracies in manufacturer's data or off-design conditions, your plant will always run at peak efficiency. A CPECS goes past the central plant and out to the heat exchangers or AHUs, continuously scanning specific data points in order to balance central plant performance with air side performance without sacrificing occupant comfort. Any time a variable-speed chiller plant operates at a capacity less than its maximum, it provides a huge opportunity
A CPECS typically is able to achieve annual total plant operating efficiencies of 0.48kW/tonne (7.3 COP) and better. These results far exceed today’s energy efficiency code requirements and defy conventional thinking
for optimisation of set points and flows without compromising on occupant comfort or process temperatures. ASHRAE studies conclude that air conditioning applications operate at part load over 96% of the time. The CPECS web interface displays actual plant performance in real time to the operator placing upmost focus on efficiency. A CPECS typically has the ability to remotely warn of equipment failures or poor efficiency via a built-in email server. Each installation deploys with a full enterprise SQL database that resides on the site (all data owned and under control of the plant owner). Performance is directly related to cooling tower temperature and flow rate. An increase of 1degree F (0.56 degrees C) in condenser water inlet temperature may impact chiller performance by as much as 2.8%. Accurate cooling tower control and an optimised total system energy approach is essential in an efficient chiller plant. Typical cooling tower control neglects tradeoff between fan energy and chiller energy at part load.
February 2018
33
LICENCE TO
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34
February 2018
▶ CPECS features include:
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BETTER TECHNOLOGY AND GREATER SAVINGS
A CPECS typically is able to achieve annual total plant operating efficiencies of 0.48kW/tonne (7.3 COP) and better. These results far exceed today’s energy efficiency code requirements and defy conventional thinking. Each plant is installed with its own flow, electrical and temperature metering, which enables the plant owner to view plant efficiency in real-time. In addition to electrical savings, reductions of up to 10% in tower water consumption can be realised. Also, CPECS plants have connectivity to Modbus RTU, Modbus TCP/ IP or BacNet.
MEASURABLE RESULTS
A CPECS allows immediate evaluation of savings via the use of a real-time baseline calculation. Baseline performance can be programmed as a 90.1 code compliant plant or a custom baseline that evaluates actual performance against a preretrofit value. The CPECS web interface, unlike any other chiller optimisation software, delivers to the end user an actual performance baseline
and, most importantly, a target performance indicator. Other “optimisation” providers and programs cannot deliver a real-time performance target; as a result, performance shortcomings are not realised until too late. A CPECS has a user-friendly graphical interface and can be viewed from anywhere through the internet. A CPECS Virtual panel can also be installed in any chilled water plant and overlaid on the existing BAS or CPM system; the CPECS system will operate for three months and allow you to see what your savings would be with the CPECS software operating the chilled water plant versus the current system. In other words, the predicted savings can be proven and a determination can be made based on the savings to have a fully optimised CPECS system installed in the plant.
Jasim Thabet “Further to energy savings, district cooling opens up the space [land], it is more reliable, and you can shift loads as not all buildings in certain clusters or developments will need cooling at the exact time” #ADSW
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.
Tabreed @Tabreed
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Allied has grown into one of the leading Engineering and Project Management firms in the Middle East, boasting offices in 3 major Countries in the Middle East (Egypt, United Arab Emirates, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia). Allied offers full range of Engineering and Project Management services provided by nearly 140 dedicated professionals distributed among Egypt, UAE and KSA. The company is a multidisciplinary consulting firm and has a track record and specialization in Buildings, Industrial Works and District Cooling and Power Generation Plants.
February 2018
35
But what is his ROI? It’s a very unattractive 7.87-year period! It’s 2.87 years beyond the warranty period! Now, imagine if there was a better, lower-cost, longer-lasting alternative. Well, there is, and it’s available now! An innovative company in Europe has designed an amazing piece of technology that allows LED lights to operate without a driver. This removes a critical failure element from the LED scene, as it uses integrated solid-state circuitry to manage the voltage step down. But, it doesn’t stop there – the circuit also facilitates dimming, protects against over-voltage and, most importantly, protects against overheating. Light Emitting Diodes are susceptible to heat and will burn out if they become too hot. This is one reason why more informed engineers and purchasing managers try to avoid standard LED fixtures for ambient temperature installations. With summer temperatures in the Middle East often reaching 50 degrees C, or close to it, most standard LEDs will fail, especially the retrofit types, like tubes and globes. With the new tubes from Europe, the problems are avoided. Let’s revisit the scenario relating to the building in Abu Dhabi. Now, instead of ripping out the fixtures, we simply replace the tubes with LEDs employing driverless technology. All that needs to be done to the existing fitting is a simple internal rewire to bypass the ballast and starter, with power being supplied to only one G13 bi-pin connection. The cost of replacing 1,200 fluorescent tubes has now decreased from AED 530,000 to AED 63,468, a whopping 82% reduction in replacement cost. With the resultant utility savings of AED 43,309.44 – estimated conservatively at 50% – plus the same AED 13,200 for replacement parts on fluorescent tubes, the annual savings is now AED 56,509.44, which offers a very aggressive ROI of 1.12 years, which is far, far better than 7.87 years. Now consider the minimum lifespan of these modern tubes at seven years, which by the way, is the manufacturer’s warranty period, and you are suddenly presented with the only sensible option to replacing all those millions of fluorescent tubes, whether internally or externally situated. Over the duration of the seven-year warranty period, 1,200 four-foot-long tubes will return AED 349,366.08 for an investment of AED 63,468 at current Abu
Dhabi utility rates. Bright and intelligent building owners and operators will readily see this not as a cost but as an investment. After all, if your bank manager said, “Give me 63,468, and in seven years, I will return to you 349,366.08”, you would be queuing up to knock his door down, yes? And in Dubai, where utilities are higher, the return on an investment of 63,468 would be a massive 720,744.53. ▶ To recap the figures:
THE WRONG WAY Cost to completely replace all tubes and fittings with new fittings Return on investment over seven years
AED 530,000 AED 471,410
THE RIGHT WAY Investment to replace 1,200 tubes with heat-resistant LED tubes Return on investment over seven years (Abu Dhabi) Return on investment over seven years (Dubai)
▶ Fittings open showing
ballast disconnected for the LED tube application and other ballast still in line for the fluorescent tube 2
AED 63,468 AED 349,366 AED 720,744
These are astonishing figures, but of course, you only get what you pay for, so people shouldn’t run away with the idea that the advanced technology can be purchased for the same price as many other products in the market. All member countries of the GCC region are striving to reduce energy consumption, with Dubai endeavouring to shave off 30% by 2030. Utilising the new technology will go a long way in helping to achieve this, but only if those responsible for specifying and purchasing LED lighting replacements make a realistic appraisal as to the options available. It is all too easy to simply look at the purchase price, because it achieves a short-term advantage, but the clever, more educated approach would consider the cost of ownership over an extended period, not just the purchase price and, as a result, the owner, the operator, the country and the world will all be winners. So, have you seen the light?
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.
February 2018
37
FEATURE
Air treatment and air movement
The arT of
air mana I
t is a given that an effective air treatment and air movement regime needs to be established and maintained across a building’s lifecycle to ensure occupants can breathe clean air. As S B Bharath Babu, Business Development Manager, Mekar Air Handling Units, says: “Indoor air quality (IAQ) has become an essential factor, owing to our fast-paced lifestyle and need for efficiency. The core principle of IAQ is to live a healthy lifestyle and to improve our efficiency.” To continuously breathe the same air in a room, he says, affects the health of a person drastically, and increases the risk of becoming fatigued. Sharing similar views on the state of IAQ, Matthias Kasprowicz, Regional Managing Director, TROX Middle East, adds: “The importance of IAQ is slowly gaining momentum, and although people realise the importance of clean air and comfort, awareness has yet to grow. Even consultants and contractors are in the process of acquiring knowledge on IAQ, so we are still far away from reaching our goals.”
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February 2018
However, Kasprowicz believes that the problem is not with awareness alone, but also owing to bad engineering choices. “This is not only about clean air, but this is also about the architectural design of the air conditioning system,” he says. “We have scenarios, where cold air is blown in the face of the occupants, and the next day they fall sick [owing to bad engineering design choices].” Considering the bad effects of poor IAQ, Kasprowicz insists that manufacturers do have a role in increasing awareness among end-users to help them decide on the level of quality of air conditioning and ventilation systems to support good IAQ in the builtenvironment. Maintaining IAQ is an issue across the world, but there are particular challenges here in the Middle East that make those challenges even more difficult. David O’Riley, Managing Partner, Britannia International, believes as elsewhere in the world, the onus is as much on catalytic agents, like government agencies, to ensure that buildings comply with IAQ standards.
“While Dubai and Abu Dhabi have published IAQ standards a few years ago, they have yet to make them mandatory,” he says. “Regulations without enforcement are just words written on a piece of paper.” Therefore, he insists, it is imperative for governments to take a more proactive role by enforcing the current IAQ regulations, along with substantial penalties for building owners and operators, who repeatedly ignore air quality standards. Ultimately, it’s innocent people, who will pay the price if the situation continues to be ignored. He raises another important issue, namely the frequency of indoor environmental quality (IEQ) testing. “What is the point of implementing a system, where the IEQ only has to comply on the day of the test?” he asks. “Given the unfriendly environmental conditions in this part of the world, such as particulate content, temperature and humidity, coupled with the percentage of time people are confined within a building, I think there is a powerful argument for leading the world with a requirement for continuous testing.”
Benwen Lopez looks at the technological strides shaping air treatment and air movement in the built-environment in the GCC region
gement To implement such a strategy, O’Riley suggests that government agencies could consider adopting a phased approach. For example, in the first year, buildings should be tested every six months. In the second year, they ought to be tested every three months. And in the third year, they should be tested once a month, and by the fifth year, they should be continuously monitored. Initially tests should be carried out by a third-party laboratory, with the results being published on a government website, so that everyone is aware of what is going on in the building. Eventually, the continuous monitoring results would be available in real-time online. Based on the findings, building owners must decide how to address the problem, with the municipal authorities monitoring their progress. “The responsibility for meeting the standards and ensuring they are maintained must rest with the owner or operator of the building, but governments have to drive the IAQ regulations, because if it is left to the individual property owners,
they are unlikely to do anything, because it costs money” he says. Pointing to Europe and the United States, where IAQ is tested under a system that involves punitive measures, O’Riley says building owners are given sufficient warning to address IAQ issues, and if they fail to comply within the specified deadline the authorities can order the shutdown of the building.
INNOVATING TOWARDS BETTER IAQ
Good IAQ demands innovation, and generally speaking, the industry has made significant strides towards enhancing the airside systems, with the baseline being enhancing the indoor air quality. For instance, to hands-on tackle dust, allergens, odours, mould and other organisms, Lamis Harib, Marketing Director and Partner, Ecabiotec Middle East Manufacturing, says her company has developed a solution, Anosan Eco, which
ruptures the inner and outer membrane of all unicellular germs, including bacteria, viruses, unicellular fungi and spores. The solution also suppresses dust, allergens and odours. The active property in the solution is a stable charge in the product, high oxidation, stabilised in 99% activated water, and can be used in multiple applications, such as warehouses, homes and even in vehicles. Harib further adds: “The solution by itself is a high-grade disinfectant and deodoriser, which is safe to inhale and leaves no residue. The product line has been
February 2018
39
FEATURE
Lamis Harib
S B Bharath Babu
Lubna Mulla
Matthias Kasprowicz
Brain Suggitt tested according to the highest EN and DIN certifications and the German Society for Hygiene and Microbiology.” On the acceptance of the solution, Harib says that owing to the freshness in the market, the acceptance is apprehensible, but with third-party testing of the product being done, it helps in clearing the doubts of the end-user. Sharing some of the technological strides made by Mekar Air Handling Units, Babu says: “We are focussed on improving the air that comes from outside of the building, and we want to ensure that the air is treated properly through good construction practices of air handling units (AHUs), freshair-handling units (FAHUs] and fan-coil units.” He further adds that considering the challenge of space in buildings, Mekar is developing ceiling-suspended units, which would be beneficial for smaller enclosures. For stakeholders like Trosten, it’s about offering a combination unit of AHUs and heat recovery units (HRPs), which was
40
Air treatment and air movement
February 2018
David O’Riley launched in 2017, says Lubna Mulla, Business Development Manager, Trosten Industries Company. Highlighting how her company has been innovating with components for the AHUs, Mulla adds: “We have also come up with the Fan-Matrix system for AHUs, a solution designed specifically for critical applications, such as hospitals and data centres. The solution addresses redundancy, avoids breakdowns of the system, maintains higher energy efficiencies and is silent from an acoustical perspective.” Further explaining the Fan-Matrix system, Mulla says, the system comprises direct-driven plug multiple fans, arranged in matrix with built-in variable-frequency drives and IE3 motors. “In case if one fan fails, the other fans ramp up automatically to deliver the designed air-flow rate by picking up the signal from the built-in controllers. These fans are compact, easy to install or replace, and are useful, especially in retrofit projects.”
A key challenge for AHUs is the air filtration component, explains Brain Suggitt, Managing Director, Systemair Middle East. “Good IAQ demands a specified type of filtration,” he says, “After that, it is about maintenance and changing of the filters on a definitive periodical basis.” Highlighting a challenge in this area, he adds, you often find end-users using the wrong type of filters. Therefore, the filtration system needs to be pre-determined or pre-designed. From an air movement perspective, the solutions offered by Trox Middle East are their X-Fans, says Kasprowicz. “The X Fans are part of our solution, for not just air movement but also fire safety,” he says, “The fans prevent the flames from spreading and push the air into an area to create an escape route for survivors.” He further explains that the fans are easy to install, have low operating and maintenance costs and protect the building envelope from any leakage. The volume flow rates of the fans exceed 100,000 m3/h, he adds.
KEY CHALLENGES
Challenges prevail in any sector, and effectively manoeuvring through them is what sets the good solutions providers apart from the mediocre ones. Speaking on the challenges that cause bottlenecks for good IAQ practices, O’Riley adds that the problem of bad IAQ, particularly in existing buildings, is accentuated, because the commissioning of the AC system in this part of the world
usually is done under the auspices of the main contractor. “A commissioning agent is hardly likely to criticise the company that is paying for its services, so the appointment of commissioning engineers should always be carried out by the project’s Lead consultancy, so that it protects the interests of the developer not the contractor,” he says. Highlighting another problem, Kasprowicz says: “Quality appreciation is a key challenge. We are in a market where wealth is tangible, and almost everything has a huge market value. Unfortunately, whatever is beneath the surface is of inferior quality.” Further elaborating on the challenge of quality appreciation, he adds that owing to the misuse of the term ‘value engineering’, quality is disregarded, and inferior quality equipment is procured to reduce the costs. Sharing a similar view, Mulla says, although Expo 2020 is driving up the momentum, the only concern is that value engineering drives most of the projects. “Owing to value engineering, either
the specifications are relaxed or too many entrants are allowed outside the approved vendor list, which makes it a tough situation for all the established manufacturers.” She further adds, “For value-engineered projects, we work on very lean margins, considering the contractors need to pass on the cost savings to their clients.” IAQ is a crucial factor towards achieving good health and a high level of productivity. The industry is offering an array of technologies to improve air treatment and air distribution. It is up to the end-user to take advantage of, and implement, the technologies available to present the ideal IAQ scenario in buildings across the region.
HAVE YOUR SAY! We welcome your views on the article. Write to editor@cpi-industry.com
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Integrated solutions for a clean environment
February 2018
41
FEATURE
Heat Exchangers
Tran the
How is the heat exchanger market progressing in the Middle East region? How influential are factors like compact design and the selection of the right type of metal for the base materials in increasing sales for new construction and buildingretrofit projects? Benwen Lopez reports.
42
February 2018
sferring Hidenori Matsubara
A
lthough used for different applications, industry insiders believe that the synergy between energy efficiency and valueengineered design is what drives the heat exchanger market in the region. Explaining the baseline for valueengineered design of heat exchangers, Hidenori Matsubara, General Manager, IAQ Department, Panasonic Marketing Middle East and Africa, says, “Owing to the lack of space in buildings, the market has observed that the demand for compact heat exchangers has started to grow.” Elaborating further on compactly designed heat exchangers, Billy Yao, International Business Development, AMX Fan, explains: “When heat exchangers are compactly designed, they are easy to install and maintain. In a world of vertical construction development, consultants are motivated to specify compact heat exchangers, as they save space and are efficient enough.” Sharing a similar view, Erwin Schwartz, President, DDI-Heat Exchangers, adds, “Considering that space is always a challenge in buildings, the rectangular channelled heat exchangers can be a viable solution, in comparison to the spiral, and shell and tube.” Schwartz adds that a major benefit in the rectangular design is that while the height and gap of the channel can be controlled, there can be enough space for the smooth
operations. “If we make it larger than the opening of the pump that facilitates the sewage or grey water with a high percentage of solids, then the heat exchangers will not get clogged,” he says. Apart from the design principles that define the heat exchanger market, it is the materials used by manufacturers that play a key role in driving the market. As Yao puts it: “Selection of materials is fundamental to the manufacturing process, and adds value to critical market demands, such as energy efficiency and even machine efficiency.” Adding to Yao’s views on material selection, Rajesh Shenoy, Managing Director, Finpower, Maxell Group, says: “There is a demand for various coatings on the heat exchanger units. These coatings protect the aluminium fins from corrosion and oxidation, and improve the efficiency of the machine.”
Erwin Schwartz
Rajesh Shenoy
DRIVING UP EFFICIENCY
In the quest to drive up the efficiency of heat exchanger units, manufacturers like Schwartz believe spiral or tube and shell heat exchangers can cause problems for countries in the Middle East, owing to the presence of particulate matter in the air. “In the spiral heat exchanger units, there is a one-inch gap; therefore, particles can obstruct the flow,” he says. “While in the tube and shell, sludge with some percentage of solids can get stuck in the middle, and it can be challenging to clean the entire system.”
Sanjiv Sachdeva
February 2018
43
FEATURE
Heat Exchangers
Offering a solution to the problem, he adds that in the case of rectangular heat exchangers, if there is any sludge or particulate matter stuck in the unit, it can easily be removed and cleaned. For manufacturers like Yao, the key component material is stainless steel in comparison to aluminium, owing to its non-corrosive properties. He says: “When manufacturers use stainless steel as their base material, the life of the heat exchanger is extended. As we all know, stainless steel does not corrode easily, as aluminium does, and stainless steel heat exchangers work well in a wide range of pH (potential of hydrogen), and it reduces the maintenances costs.” From an energy-efficiency perspective, Yao believes that one factor that drives up energy efficiency is the proper maintenance of the heat exchanger units. He argues that after installation, maintenance of the system is crucial to enhance the energy efficiency. “Proper cleaning methods need to be employed, or else even the best-branded heat exchanger units will be rendered useless if they consume more energy,” he says. In the heat exchanger segment, achieving a high exchange rate is one of the fundamental parameters. To accomplish this parameter, Matsubara says, Panasonic’s heat exchangers mainly use plastic moulding to enable optimum machining of the air path shape, thus achieving a high heat exchange rate. “The advantage of this material is that it is light in terms of weight and easy to maintain,” he says.
CHALLENGES
Like every segment, the heat exchanger market, faces a host of challenges, which range from pricing to technical hurdles. Elaborating on the issue of pricing, Sanjiv Sachdeva, Managing Director, Gulf Engineering System Solutions, says: “Considering the fluctuation of oil prices, the market situation is becoming a challenge, which ultimately affects the pricing. But, we can cope up with the situation slowly and steadily.” Sachdeva believes that another challenge is in the form of the prevailing mindset, when it comes to the selection of equipment. “All our heat exchangers are certified by Eurovent, but we still have to compete with low-quality
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February 2018
products, as customers are not aware of the long-term repercussions,” he says. For Chinese stakeholders like Yao, it is about countering the cliché of China selling substandard products. “People are always sceptical about using Chinese products,” he says, “but take a look at the iPhone that is assembled in China. The whole world is buying it, although it is assembled in China.” Yao, however, admits that there are infamous companies in China, who manufacture and sell substandard products. Such companies, he says, portray a wrong picture, which affect genuine Chinese businesses that are committed to quality and excellence.
SUMMING UP
Industry insiders believe that there is enough room for the heat exchanger market to grow, but as Yao puts it, “The global industry of heat exchangers will grow when the mindset changes, and there is an acceptance of products manufactured from any part of the world.”
HAVE YOUR SAY! We welcome your views on the article. Write to editor@cpi-industry.com
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COUNTRY REPORT
Italy
An integrAted Economic concerns have not dampened Italy’s drive to meet its environmental targets. Reportedly, the country’s integrated efforts to promote sustainable practices across the value chain have impacted consumer behaviour and building practices. How are HVACR manufacturers coping with the resulting trends, and what are the implications for Brand Italy in the global market? Hannah Jo Uy has the story…
▶ The Cathedral of Santa
Maria del Fiore, Florence, Italy
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February 2018
ApproAch I
taly, being a member state of the European Union, is under the same pressure to meet environmental objectives. However, unlike its neighbouring countries, Italy is also in the process of strengthening its economy, which remarkably faltered during the turbulence Europe witnessed till not so long ago. “There are positive signs of recovery,” says Mauro Montello, General Manager, Sales & Marketing, Mitsubishi Electric Hydronics & IT Cooling Systems, “but because [the impact of the crisis] is clearly visible in the construction market, which was one of the most affected, more time is needed.” Andrea Salcone, Engineer, DESIGN? Studio, based in Italy, echoes this. “The construction of new buildings has suffered a huge reduction over the recent years due to the economic crisis,” he says. “However, restoration of existing estates has become
increasingly relevant, thanks to government subsidies for energy redevelopment works.” Additionally, Salcone says, consumer demand for energy-efficient homes is growing. Andrea Guderzo, General Manager, Clivet Mideast & Africa, speaks on how the experience developed greater resilience in companies that were able to survive the period of economic uncertainty. “Uneven supply and demand in the market made us even more focused on both market needs and technological research,” he says. “This resulted in innovative solutions and strengthened our system approach to solve at once the most requirements with minimum energy input and at an effective capital cost.” As manufacturers navigate the economic climate, concerns for the literal climate are also being emphasised by a government that is showing no signs of resting on its laurels when it comes to developing a sustainable framework. Gianpaolo Bruno, Italian Trade Commissioner to the UAE, Oman and Pakistan, says that energy efficiency is one of the main priorities of the government
Additionally, to further enhance energy efficiency in buildings developments, Salcone says, the government provided incentives, such as tax refunds or investment reimbursements up to 65% of the total cost of the works
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COUNTRY REPORT
Mauro Montello
Andrea Salcone
Andrea Guderzo
Gianpaolo Bruno
Francesco Mastrapasqua
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February 2018
Italy
and the business community as a whole. This, he says, is due to the fact that the country is a major importer of energy products. “Most importantly,” he says, “Italy would like to reach its energy-efficiency targets, vis-à-vis EU strategy.” Bruno asserts that legislation is helping stakeholders move forward in this regard. “In recent years,” he says, “there is a fully fledged set of regulations compliant with EU directives to grant energy-saving targets and energy-saving requirements in all private and public establishments.” Since January 2018, Salcone says, all new constructions must cover at least the 50% of the on-site energy requirements with renewable energy and must demonstrate an even lower energy consumption for their standard use. “This is only the current step in a process that began about 10 years ago,” he says, “and should lead to Nearly Zero Energy Buildings (nZEB) as a standard for new constructions, in the near future.” Additionally, to further enhance energy efficiency in buildings developments, Salcone says, the government provided incentives, such as tax refunds or investment reimbursements up to 65% of the total cost of the works. “All these have pushed stakeholders in the construction industry towards more energy-efficient practices,” he says. As far as HVACR fittings are concerned, Bruno says, constant maintenance is mandatory. “Every year, maintenance is required for all equipment in private and public buildings,” he says. “This includes both heating and air conditioning systems. Each apartment owner has to have a booklet, where the company that performs the maintenance, records the KPIs of the equipment.” Bruno adds that maintenance companies, in turn, have to be fully compliant with legislation. “They have to be listed as official maintenance companies, and they need to go and check the equipment in terms of both the security and [overall] energy efficiency in the buildings,” he says. Providing a perspective with regard to refrigerants, Francesco Mastrapasqua, Marketing Manager-Refrigeration Systems, EPTA, says that he has observed a shift towards sustainable natural solutions across Europe as a whole, driven by both a sense of social responsibility towards the environment and the F-Gas regulation, which was enforced in 2015. “This year, in particular,” he says, “the second step in the reduction of fluorinated gases, in
force since January 1, 2018, accelerates the process of phasing out HFCs, targeting 37% below the 2015 levels.”
COMPLIANCE
To ensure compliance, the regulations being rolled out by the government are complemented by a strong follow-up mechanism. Big fines and public liabilities, Bruno says, are imposed on “apartment owners, maintenance companies and condominium boards of the buildings that have climate control equipment” that do not comply. This has had a number of implications in the real estate market. “Energy labelling of real estates is slowly getting more attention from buyers,” Salcone says, “and, although not as quickly as the energy labelling of home appliances, it is gradually becoming more and more relevant in the selection process.” “When you buy a new apartment,” Bruno says, “these apartments are rated as far as energy efficiency, and this is reflected in the price you pay – the more compliant you are, the higher the price.” The energyefficiency rating helps put a premium on real estate properties that have invested in such systems. This not only justifies the cost and drives demand for more efficient equipment, but it also showcases the environmental consciousness that exists among the people.
Salcone says that people are more willing to pay a little more for the house if they are aware that the extra cost will be recovered and will lead to savings during the lifecycle of the house, “which is very long in Italy – over 40-50 years”. Environmental concern and compliance, Bruno emphasises, is widespread and wellrooted among the people. “There is a strong sensitivity among the population,” he says. “In schools, pupils are taught how to be environmentally friendly and so to save on energy.” Consumers recognise the value of energy efficiency with the view of reducing consumption of electricity, which traditionally comes at a high cost. “People feel that they have to contribute to the sustainability [agenda] both in the aspect of saving on energy bills and environmental cost,” he says.
RESULTING TRENDS
The assertive role that regulation plays has developed trends in the market that manufacturers must cope with. Bruno says the stringent regulations led to a highly competitive environment, where manufacturers have to step up. “Companies are very aware of [the importance] of respecting the regulations as far as energy efficiency and security norms are concerned,” he says. “[As such,] there is strong competition based on the equipment and energy-efficiency performance.”
Providing a manufacturer’s perspective, Guderzo says that EU energy regulations and real estate dynamics have led to “high efficiency requirements at a sustainable cost of ownership”, and that he considers the new Energy-related Products (ErP) requirements as the strongest driver within the industry. Montello says that certifications are becoming more common in Italy, as energyefficiency targets are being consolidated in buildings as well as in plants. “Green labelling is imposing higher efficiency standards,” he says, “and the market must, therefore, come to terms with the new tiers.” Montello says that though the company has always aimed to be energy efficient by offering three levels of efficiency in its product range, recent trends have prompted the company to differentiate its offering in three segments – comfort, process and IT-cooling – to better respond to emerging needs. Citing trends in the market, Montello says he has seen an uptake in “the use of the inverter at partial loads to increase energy efficiency, four-pipe systems that allow simultaneous production of heating and cooling and in the installation of heatrecovery units”. Sharing a similar observation with regard to growing demand for products with high seasonal efficiency and the value of a specialised system approach for energy conservation, Guderzo says the new trend confirmed the company’s decision to evolve its designs. “Thanks to optimal part-load performance,” he says, “inverter-driven and multi-scroll technologies are the core engine for our residential and commercial solutions.” Salcone further elaborates on trends within the residential developments based on projects he has seen, noting that the sector is mainly focused on radiant floors for heating and, most frequently, inverterbased split systems for air conditioning. Additionally, he says, VRF technology is
slowly becoming the standard choice for commercial buildings, especially in smalland medium-sized applications. “Although, recently,” he says, “the use of radiant floors is spreading along with the equipment that provides dehumidification and ventilation with heat recovery.” In view of this, Salcone says there has been an uptake for “all-in-one and split heat pump equipment”. Salcone says that in the last few years, the move towards the integration of heat pump-based systems can particularly be felt in new constructions and in heavy restoration works. “This increase in circulation of heat pump systems, mainly air-to-air and airto-water, comes together with a greater attention to energy efficiency in building design and HVAC systems, driven by the need to comply with EU and national regulations requiring even lower energy consumption,” he says. Guderzo affirms the trend, saying that heat pump technology is also widely present in Clivet’s systems. “It is versatile, allows heating and cooling at once and can benefit from renewable energy,” he says. “Another important pillar is air purification: Dedicated outdoor air systems, complete with thermodynamic energy recovery, will have a dramatic potential in the coming years.” Guderzo adds that with air circulation responsible for 50% of the energy input year round, greater emphasis is being placed on airside products that are designed for efficiency and savings.
ONE SIZE FITS ALL?
Salcone, however, is quick to point out that in a country with such a diverse landscape, a one-size-fits-all approach is not effective. “Italy is a country with different types of construction techniques from north to south and from east to west,” he says. “It is also characterised by climatic conditions that can vary greatly between two places located less than 100 kilometres from each other. Therefore, there is no universally
February 2018
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February 2018
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NEWS REGIONAL
Etihad ESCO selects Siemens, Smart4Power for airport project Company official cites proper training and capacity building as missing links in the GCC region By CCME Content Team
tihad Energy Service Company (Etihad ESCO), a whollyowned subsidiary of the Dubai Electricity & Water Authority (DEWA), today announced its partnership with Siemens Tech and Smart4Power for the execution Ali Al Jassim of an Engineering, Procurement, Construction (EPC) project at the Dubai International Airport, which involves the implementation of energy-efficiency measures at Terminal 1, Terminal 2, Terminal 3 and Concourse B. The seven-year-long project will guarantee a total of 23% reduction on annual energy bills, Etihad ESCO said. The proposed energy-efficiency measures for the Dubai International Airport terminals include installation of photovoltaic solutions, Etihad ESCO said. The seven-year partnership with Siemens and Smart4Power involves a total of four facilities for retrofits that will be constructed over a period of 18 months and guarantees a total saving of AED 209,781,579 in seven years, Etihad ESCO added. The ESCOs will also mount a Solar Retrofit of 5 MWp capacity on Terminal 2. Siemens will be responsible for the project’s design, supply,
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installation, commissioning and maintenance, and also the measurement, verification and guarantee of energy savings during the course of the partnership, the Germany-headquartered company said. Ali Al Jassim, CEO of Etihad ESCO, said: “The new partnership with Siemens and Smart4Power for the retrofitting programme at Dubai International Airport terminals further accelerates our journey towards achieving 30% energy demand reduction by 2030 in Dubai. Etihad ESCO is currently retrofitting over 30,000 buildings in the Emirate to ensure energy efficiency and manage rising energy demand.” Etihad ESCO had signed the contract with Dubai Airports in October 2017, at the 19th Water, Energy, Technology, and Environment Exhibition (WETEX). The agreement was signed by H.E. Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Vice Chairman of Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, MD & CEO of DEWA and Chairman of Etihad and H.E. Jamal Al-Hai, Deputy CEO of Dubai Airports.
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Danfoss joins Eurovent Middle East
Company representative expresses interest in wanting to contribute towards the development of the region’s standards By CCME Content Team
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February 2018
anfoss on January 10 joined Eurovent Middle East, highlighting the sector association’s growing recognition throughout the region, Eurovent said through a Press communiqué. Danfoss covers a wide range of applications within the refrigeration and air-conditioning sector, offering solutions for the entire system, the communiqué said. Danfoss was founded in 1933 by Mads Clausen in Nordborg, Naveen Sivakumar Denmark. Ever since, it has been growing from a sole enterprise into a global market leader, all of which was made possible by a clear focus on innovative engineering and early entry into emerging markets, the communiqué added. Early milestones of the company included the development of its first expansion valve for refrigeration systems in 1933 and the invention of the first radiator thermostat in the world in 1943, the communiqué further added. According to Eurovent, Danfoss was also the first company to mass-produce variable-speed drives for controlling motors in 1968. Today, the company has strongly positioned itself to take advantage of the growth potential held by a digital future, the communiqué said. Naveen Sivakumar, Head of Marketing, Danfoss Middle East and Africa, said: “We have
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DSI completes UAE debt restructuring
the initial focus on approximately AED 1 billion of funded projects debt in Saudi Arabia. The company is concurrently in advanced talks with its creditors in Saudi Arabia and expects to complete the refinancing of its Saudi projects debt in this Company secures new credit lines for ongoing quarter. projects portfolio and new contract awards Rabih Abou Diwan, Investor Relations Director, Rabih Abou Diwan DSI, said: “The latest deal with the banks reflects By CCME Content Team the confidence in the DSI turnaround plan, the resilience of the Group’s business model and the positive outlook of the company in the MEP sector, despite the rake & Scull International (DSI) has successfully completed cyclical challenges that impacted the regional construction industry. the restructuring of its corporate general bank debt in the “Our main objective is to drive a consensual restructuring plan UAE and has secured new credit lines and working capital with all our creditors across the region to rebalance our capital facilities for its ongoing and new projects portfolio, the structure to be more efficient and conducive for our company said through a Press communiqué. business plan and future prospects. DSI has obtained the support from all its creditors for the “The completion of our debt restructuring in restructuring of its corporate general debt in the UAE. In Q4 the UAE will enable us to accelerate projects 2017, the company reached a consensual performance and delivery in Dubai and Abu agreement with nine regional and local Dhabi. This represents a key priority for the Group, banks to refinance AED 566 million, as we continue to streamline the business and comprising 56% of its total corporate unlock value across all operating segments. general debt, standing at AED 1.07 “Furthermore, with the new corporate debt billion as of September 30, 2017. The structure and the extended credit facilities along tenor and the maturity of the AED with the funding we have in place, the company will 566 million corporate general debt be able to improve productivity, secure substantial have been extended and re-termed on contracts and boost revenue generation. average for three years. Additionally, the “We are concurrently also assessing our funding requirements company successfully secured under the new for our ongoing and future projects across all markets. We expect to term sheets signed on bilateral basis with all respective banks, new reach bilateral consensus with our lenders to refinance our projects credit lines and working capital facilities for its ongoing and future debt, and upon completion, we will be considering syndication across projects portfolio in the UAE. all the debt structure in the fiscal year 2018.” The remaining tranche of the company’s corporate general debt, In conjunction with the completion of Drake & Scull’s debt comprising the AED 440 million Sukuk, will mature in November restructuring, Tabarak Investment has announced that it is moving 2019. The company will initiate talks with its sukuk holders to ahead with its plans to support the operations of Drake & Scull refinance this tranche in the second half of the fiscal year 2018. International to achieve full operational recovery leading to As of September 30, 2017, the total bank debt of the Group sustainable growth. The company has assured that its investment in stands at AED 2.92 billion. Corporate general debt and projects debt DSI is strategic and long-term, and that it will continue to support comprise 34% and 66% of total bank debt, respectively. the latter by completing existing projects, studying new ones Another upcoming strategic priority of the company's plan targeted through Tabarak, and looking for new opportunities to include the restructuring and refinancing of its projects debt, with diversify and expand income. Tabarak Investment has confirmed a significant improvement in the efficiency of operations under the leadership of DSI’s new management, which will support the latter’s financial performance in 2018. followed the establishment of Eurovent Middle East with keen interest this year and noted their excellent work. As a leading manufacturer, Danfoss has always taken its responsibility towards society very FETA defends pace of seriously. Together with Eurovent Middle UK lower GWP East, we want to contribute towards the refrigerant push. development of the region’s standards and https://buff.ly/2mK7itO work with other members on education via @RACMagazine The and awareness of the many challenges this Federation of Environmental Trade Associations has said industry will face in the transition to more the cooling industry should sustainability.” be proud of the progress According to the communiqué, in the being made, to lower #GWP GCC region, Danfoss employs around #refrigerants. 250 people, operates one factory and has dedicated sales companies in three Aerocool Ltd countries.
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@ Aerocool Ltd
February 2018
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NEWS REGIONAL
Emaar, Rove Hotels join hands with EmiratesGBC
Aim to attain ‘Green Key’ accreditation for 15 of their hotels and leisure assets By CCME Content Team
Olivier Harnisch
Saeed Al Abbar
maar Hospitality Group, the hospitality and leisure business of Emaar Properties, and Rove Hotels, a joint venture of Meraas Holding and Emaar Properties, have joined hands with the Emirates Green Building Council (EmiratesGBC), to attain ‘Green Key’ certification for their operational hotels and leisure assets in Dubai.
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EmiratesGBC is the UAE’s National Operator for the ‘Green Key’ certification, a standard of excellence in the field of environmental sustainability and sustainable operation within the tourism industry. The agreement was signed by Olivier Harnisch, CEO, Emaar Hospitality Group, and Saeed Al Abbar, Chairman, EmiratesGBC. Initially, Emaar and Rove aim to have 15 hospitality and leisure assets in Dubai ‘Green Key’ certified. These will include all operational hotels under the three lifestyle hotel brands under Emaar Hospitality Group and Emaar Leisure Group assets, such as Arabian Ranches Golf Club and Dubai Polo & Equestrian Club, in addition to all Rove hotels. Harnisch said: “Across our hotels and leisure assets, we have an abiding commitment to uphold the highest standards of energy and water use efficiency as well as environmental best practices. These properties have already launched in-house green
ENGIE announces tieup with Partnering Robotics to offer smart IEQ solutions in GCC region Mobile robot is fitted with neuro-inspired artificial intelligence, says inventor By Benwen Lopez | Assistant Editor
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February 2018
NGIE has partnered with France-headquartered Partnering Robotics to offer indoor environmental quality (IEQ) solutions in the GCC region, using robotic technology and artificial intelligence, said Hélène Verbockhaven, Deputy Director, ENGIE digital, ENGIE The partnership was announced on January 16, 2018, on the sidelines of the World Future Energy Summit, in Abu Dhabi. Explaining the science behind the robot, Dr Ramesh Caussy, CEO and Founder, Partnering Robotics, and the inventor of the robot, said: “Considering that IEQ is a critical issue, I decided to invent Diya One, a mobile robot fitted with neuro-inspired artificial intelligence, to not only share maintenance data it receives on the quality of air but also purify it and help to improve the performance of the people. The data is stored in a secured cloud.” Highlighting other features of the robot, Dr Caussy added that on detection of polluted air, the robot sucks in the air,
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practices and have dedicated teams supporting the mission to ‘go green’, in line with the UAE Green Agenda and the Dubai Plan 2021. The ‘Green Key’ certification will be a crowning glory that will highlight our environmental stewardship and focus on sustainable development for a greener tourism industry.” Al Abbar added: “As the National Operator of the Green Key certification, we have been working closely with the UAE’s hospitality industry to promote environmental best practices. Having earlier undertaken a green hotel benchmarking programme, we fully understand the requirements and aspirations of the hospitality operators. Emaar Hospitality Group and Rove Hotels are world-class UAE hospitality operators, and through the agreement, we will support them in driving and setting sustainability standards that will serve as a model for the industry.” Created in 1994 in Denmark and internationally operated by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) since 2002, the ‘Green Key’ certification is being operated by EmiratesGBC in the UAE since 2013. To date, over 30 hotels in the UAE have been ‘Green Key’ certified, with significant growing interest from other industry stakeholders. Supported by the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UN WTO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), ‘Green Key’ is reportedly the largest global ecolabel operating in 56 countries, and operates as a non-governmental, non-commercial and
independent programme. Securing the ‘Green Key’ certification adds value of the hotels and properties and serves as a mark of international recognition of environmental responsibility. Emaar and Rove will receive the certification after due diligence by EmiratesGBC, ensuring that all assets uphold the international criteria of ‘Green Key’, covering areas such as environmental management, staff involvement, guest information, water usage, washing and cleaning, waste management, energy use efficiency, food & beverage handling, quality of indoor environment, green areas and green activities, as part of Emaar Hospitality Group’s corporate social responsibility. Complementing the Green Key programme, EmiratesGBC also conducts the Energy & Water Benchmarking for UAE hotels that documents energy and water consumption and outlines the potential for savings, thus contributing to reduced carbon footprint by UAE hotels. As part of the first benchmarking exercise, 46 hotels that volunteered for the programme were benchmarked. EmiratesGBC is now inviting hotels in the UAE to take part in the 2018 Building Efficiency Accelerator, another free-of-cost benchmarking programme.
LOOKING FOR HVACR PRODUCTS?
Hélène Verbockhaven and Dr Ramesh Caussy
purifies it through H13+filters and emits it into the room. He further added that the robot could remove 99.95% of the air pollutants, bacteria, viruses and odours, without the use of chemicals. The robot, he said, is also able to self-evaluate its battery life and can decide to get back to its dedicated charging dock when needed. Speaking on the occasion of the partnership, Hélène Verbockhaven, Deputy Director, ENGIE digital, ENGIE, said: “Digitalisation is a race, and offering smart solutions such as Diya 1 has become the need of the hour. Through this partnership, we hope to reach out to our client base with this innovation.”
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February 2018
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NEWS REGIONAL
Kingspan introduces new insulation line in its UAE manufacturing facility
Masdar, Al Hussein Technical University in research agreement
Dubai-based facility is able to offer the company’s Thermaroof TR22 insulation product
Sign MoU to advance R&D of energy and sustainable technologies in Jordan’s priority sectors; collaboration includes joint feasibility study of pilot solar PV plant with energy storage integration
By CCME Content Team
By CCME Content Team
ingspan Insulation has begun manufacturing the Kingspan Thermaroof TR22 in its UAE facility, the Sarmad Fahkri company said through a Press communiqué. The new insulation line, the company said, will enhance its portfolio of construction and mechanical engineering insulation ranges. The addition of the insulation line enables Kingspan to further meet the growing market demand in the region for premium-performance building roof insulation, the company further said through the communiqué. The TR22 is a high-compressive-strength insulation cover board that can be used in overlaying new and existing flat roofs waterproofed with single-ply and cold liquid applied waterproofing, the communiqué said. It is available in a thickness of 20mm, and features a fibre-free insulation core, enabling it to achieve a thermal conductivity as low as 0.028 W/m·K, the communiqué added. “Producing Kingspan Thermaroof TR22 in the UAE is essential to the market, as the insulation is ideal for new-build and refurbishment of flat roofs in the UAE,” said Sarmad Fahkri, Managing Director, Kingspan Insulation. “Expanding our local manufacturing line will enable our customers to have quick and reliable access to insulation for their roofing needs.” The TR22 is manufactured to the highest standards under a management system certified to ISO 9001: 2008 (Quality Management Systems. Requirements), ISO 14001: 2004 (Environmental Management Systems. Requirements) and BS OHSAS 18001: 2007 (Health and Safety Management Systems. Requirements), the company said through the communiqué. In addition to the TR22, the Dubai-based facility manufactures the TR26 and TR27.
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February 2018
Dr Labib Khadra
Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi
asdar, Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company, has entered into a collaborative research agreement with Al Hussein Technical University (HTU) of Jordan, an applied engineering, teaching and research institution, to help build human capital and advance the development of sustainable technologies in Jordan’s critical economic sectors, Masdar said through a Press communiqué. A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed by Dr Labib Khadra, President, Al Hussein Technical University, and Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, Chief Executive Officer, Masdar, today at Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW) 2018. The agreement aims to identify potential areas of collaboration and possible research that will advance Jordan’s sustainable development goals while providing HTU students the opportunity to devise solutions to real-world industrial problems. The collaboration will also involve a study into the technical and economic feasibility of a solar photovoltaic (PV) pilot plant with combined energy storage. Energy-storage technologies can extend the reach and use of renewable energy beyond intermittent power and open doors to clean energy solutions in emerging markets. A steering committee will further ensure the goals of the MoU are met. Dr Khadar said: "We look to Masdar as a centre of expertise and leadership in the field of renewable energy and clean technologies around the world, and we are confident such leadership will support HTU to achieve HRH Crown Prince’s vision to reach out to Jordanian youth, and to spread clean energy projects in the Kingdom, which will accelerate economic growth.” Al Ramahi said: “We are privileged to partner with Jordan and its applied engineering university, HTU, to leverage the expertise and knowledge of its faculty and students to find innovative solutions to clean energy challenges, while also supporting the country’s aspiring engineers and researchers.” The agreement builds on the cooperation between Masdar and Jordan in clean energy. In 2015, Masdar inaugurated the 117-megawatt (MW) Tafila wind farm, the first utility-scale wind power project in the Middle East. In 2016, Masdar signed an agreement with Jordan’s Energy Ministry to develop a 200 MW solar power plant, the largest single solar energy project under development in Jordan.
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UAE schools need to embrace sustainable development in its entirety In the context of schools, being green goes beyond saving energy and calls for better IAQ for better academic performance, says expert
By Benwen Lopez | Assistant Editor
onsidering the amount of time, children and school employees spend in a school building, it is critical for the entire school community to drive towards ‘green schools’ to align with the UAE sustainability vision, said Charles Blaschke, Managing Director, Taka Solutions. “Being green is not limited to saving energy; rather, it involves many other practices, such as improving the acoustics of classrooms, switching to LED lights, using low-VOC paints and ensuring good indoor air quality (IAQ),” Blaschke said. Highlighting the primary challenge to achieving the state of green, Blaschke added that there seems to be a gap between the stakeholders of the school and what the country’s green agenda truly means, and how it needs to be accomplished. Therefore, he said, it is of paramount importance that
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Charles Blaschke
all the stakeholders of schools must work in a tandem relationship to accomplish the green agenda for the schools. These stakeholders include school owners, operators, students, parents and government representatives. Of the 1,200 schools operating in the UAE, he said, there are not many green schools. However, this provides an opportunity to make schools green. Achieving green schools would result in enhanced student productivity and decreased absenteeism.
#DistrictCooling makes the list of 10 business opportunities to get the U.N. Global Goals back on track http://grn.bz/qFa via @GreenBiz
IDEA @districtenergy
Empower sheds light on innovation in District Cooling in smart cities Speaks during the release of the State of Green Economy Report 2018 By CCME Content Team
mirates Central Cooling Systems Corporation (EMPOWER) shared new insights in innovation in District Cooling and its role in developing smart cities during the launch of the 2018 edition of The State of Green Economy Report, launched on January 11 in Dubai. Developed by the Dubai Carbon Centre of Excellence, in collaboration with the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy and the Bin Shafar United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the report serves as a platform to showcase the efforts of key players in the UAE in green economy and provides the latest efforts and innovation in the areas of renewable energy, District Cooling, and other initiatives in energy efficiency and clean technology, Empower said through a Press communiqué. Bin Shafar said: “The global economy is in a steady phase in its transition towards a green economy, and the UAE remains committed to be one of the leading nations to make this a reality based on concerted efforts by key sectors. The State of Green Economy Report 2018 is yet another testament to the country’s determination to be part of this new era in sustainable development.” The report highlights the innovation and technological developments in District Cooling, particularly on energy efficiency as well as the emerging trends in District Energy as a key solution in developing smart cities, the communiqué said. The report further notes the importance of District Cooling, which has the essential components to serve a city’s cooling needs in synergy with other utilities, such as electricity production, heating and transport.
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February 2018
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NEWS REGIONAL
Half-truths and whole lies
Industry insider speaks on the rampant misrepresentation of AMCA certification, AOM calculations, motor frame sizes and AMB across the Middle East By Hannah Jo Uy | Features Writer
a misunderstanding of other marks presented isrepresentation of certifications to be equal or at par with AMCA certification. and calculations is an important “You have European suppliers coming in issue that needs to be addressed, offering CE markings in place as equipment of AMCA, which are altogether not up to specification may different,” he said. Farrell said that lead to project delays due this was owing to the additional to improper commissioning cost AMCA testing would require, and, ultimately, inefficient which some manufacturers don’t operations, said Darren Farrell, want to pay for. Regional Sales Director, ME, Misrepresentation can also Africa and ASEAN, Greenheck. Darren Farrell be caused by wordplay, Farrell Speaking exclusively to said. AMCA, he said, tests fans Climate Control Middle East, multiple times at different pitches, while Farrell highlighted best practices, or lack some companies that claim to be AMCAthereof, in the Middle East with regard to the tested have only tested the product at one proper representation of AMCA certifications, specific angle. “They say ‘In accordance with Air Over Motor (AOM) calculations, reduced AMCA’ or ‘as per AMCA’, but they should motor frame sizes and AMB (Ambient Motor not be using the AMCA seal if the product Temperatures). has not been tested or approved by AMCA Farrell said that many consultants lack themselves,” he said. Farrell said this play a deeper understanding of what an AMCA on words is a typical occurrence and that certification represents and entails, leading to
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suppliers and contractors often push such terminologies to get approvals. Elaborating on the Air over Motor (AOM) calculation, Farrell said some fan manufacturers use Air Over Motor (AOM) Power Ratings to increase the labelled power output from standard IEC motors. “Motor manufacturers have specific air velocities required to pass over the motor in order to have increased output,” he said. “Fan manufacturers are currently not publishing the minimum airflows required for increased power output, but motor manufacturers like WEG have published their minimum velocity requirements. We see in the field where installations are having issues, because the fan manufacturer is using an Air Over Motor but not meeting the minimum velocity for the AOM power rating.” Some companies increase their motor capacity by 15-20% using the AOM calculation, which, he said, is not a tested method.
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Vane Axial Efficient Fan Power Consumed (kW) Power Consumed (kWH)
Tube Axil A inefficient
Tube Axil B inefficient
4,052
4,700
4,750
17,747,760
20,586,000
20,805,000
(Assuming 12 hrs operation/day & 365/year)
Power Consumption (Assuming a cost of 1KWH @ $0.12 per KWH)
USD 2,129,731
Annual Savings The increased power output of the motor is based on the airflow over the motor at full-speed, Farrell explained. A two-speed fan installation runs the fan at low speed on a daily basis. The motor operating at the low-speed RPM decreases airflow over the motor below the minimum required velocity and will prematurely burn out the motor. A fan running on VFD, he added, will have a reduced RPM, which decreases airflow over the motor below the minimum required velocity and will also prematurely burn out the motor. “If motor power ratings or AOM ratings are being proposed by fan manufacturers outside of the standard IEC motor kW ratings, there should be supporting documentation to show that the velocities at actual fan duty points meet and exceed the motor manufacturers’ velocity requirements,” he said. Farrell said that there is also a lack of honesty with products being delivered, adding that he has seen instances where the motor size was reduced compared to what was originally specified. Lastly, Farrell
USD 2,470,320
USD 2,496,600
USD 340,589
USD 366,869
said a number of manufacturers use 40 degrees C ambient temperature motors despite ambient conditions reaching up to 50 degrees C and above in the region. Farrell said that in such cases where manufacturers claim a motor is tested up to 70 degrees C, they do not elaborate that once the motor operates in conditions above 40 degrees C, its life-cycle is reduced by half and that if it goes up to 70 degrees C, as he said some have claimed, “it may only last five minutes”. Farrell said that consultants and contractors are not being vigilant enough when it comes to ensuring the authenticity of the products on site. This, he said, is because many consultants do not make the effort to coordinate with the manufacturer and because contractors are trying to avoid increasing cost. Thus, he said, owners are being misrepresented by lack of information and knowledge. The result of this, Farrell said, is that owners may have lower initial capital cost, owing to the lesser expensive products.
However, he added, integrating products that do not meet initial specifications leads to higher long-term cost. To further illustrate his point, Farrell said: “An AMCAcertified product generally runs on higher efficiency and guarantees the published fans air flow and sound data. When contractors push for low-cost fans to save, for example, 10 to 15% on initial cost, the owner of a standard size building can pay up to USD 300,000+ per year on the electrical bill to run inefficiently.” Vane axial type fans have higher efficiency than tube axial fans. It is beneficial for building owners to be involved in product selection with a mindset to use energy-efficient products to increase efficiency of building systems and technologies, allowing lower environmental impact while saving cost on their yearly building energy consumption. Farrell said that there should be greater awareness among stakeholders and that the knowledge gap is owing to the lack of communication among contractors, consultants, building owners and manufacturers. He added that though there are a number of educational campaigns being spearheaded by certification bodies and associates in the region, there is massive scope for improvement: “I understand they can’t educate each and every consultancy company in the Middle East,” he said, “but the extent of [these organisations’] reach is not far enough or fast enough.”
Why do air-tightness tests matter? Insider says air-tightness testing helps in reducing energy use and eliminates moisture and mould By Benwen Lopez | Assistant Editor
O
ne of the several methods to improve energy efficiency in buildings is to test for the air-tightness of the building, said Arshad Momin, Sales Engineer, Building
Doctor. Elaborating, Momin said: “Considering that most of our buildings are air conditioned, energy efficiency becomes a key focus. Testing for air-tightness in a building helps in reducing the energy load on the HVAC systems.” Further elaborating, Momin said, an air-tightness test measures how easy or difficult it is for air to leak through a building’s envelope. “A large blower fan is used to extract air or supply air to the building and measures the airflow throughout the building, and the
Arshad Momin
corresponding pressure difference acting across the building enclosure.” With the test, he added, the air pressure in the entire building can be determined, including the total airflow and direction of the air. These findings would help create a tighter building envelope, and the energy efficiency of the building HVAC systems would be improved. The other benefit of the air-tightness test, Momin said, is that it helps in eliminating moisture and mould, which is a common problem in the UAE. “If a building leaks air,” he said, “it starts to condensate, and whenever there is condensation, you face an issue with the mould and moisture, and it affects the indoor air quality.”
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Eurovent Middle East elects new Board of Members
Incumbent Chairman says association to organise workshops on indoor air quality, ventilation in buildings, cooling towers and VRF technology By Benwen Lopez | Assistant Editor
E
urovent Middle East elected its Board of Directors for 2018 during the association’s first anniversary meeting on January 22 at Le Méridien Dubai
Hotel. The board re-elected Brian Suggitt (Systemair Middle East) as Chairman and Michel Farah (Daikin Middle East and Africa) as ViceBrian Suggitt Chairman. The other members elected to the board are Matthias Kasprowicz (Trox Middle East), Naveen Sivakumar (Danfoss), John Fernandez (ebm-papst), Luay Ghussein (Taqeef) and Rafaël Van Eijcken (Baltimore Aircoil Company). Speaking on the occasion, Suggitt said: “In 2017, we had a roadmap drawn, and we have over achieved what we had planned.
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Michel Farah
Markus Lattner
Our workshop series in 2017 has been a success. We have received recognition not just from members but also from government bodies, which consult us as a technical advisory body, owing to the diversified member base of manufacturers. We look forward to further enhancing our relationship with the government and members through such activities.” Highlighting some of the plans, he said the association is planning a series of workshops focused on indoor air quality, ventilation in buildings, air filtration, variable refrigerant flow (VRF) technology and cooling towers. Speaking on his re-election as Vice-Chairman, Farah said: “Although it is a re-election, it has a different taste, owing to the growth of the group and the unique knowledge we share with one another. I am proud to say that there has been a renewed endorsement from our members. We have transitioned from being an issue group into a local association.” Farah further said that the association looks at the New Year with more confidence to strengthen the partnerships with government bodies and more members through workshops and seminars. The plan, he said, is to become a source of information for the members and influence the drive towards energy efficiency. Speaking on the partnership with government bodies, Farah added: “In the GCC region, we have different regulations for each member country, but if you look at Europe, we have 27 countries working on one code of regulations. This is where we are trying to step in and work with GCC Standardization Organization (GSO) to unify the regulations.” Sharing his thoughts on the anniversary of the association, Markus Lattner, Director, Eurovent Middle East, said: “Today was an anniversary of exactly one year in operation in the Middle East, and the development we have seen in the past has been overwhelming. I am humbled by the response we have received in the market, not just from consultants and manufacturers but also from authorities.” Lattner added that the association has begun collaborating with authorities, such as the Emirates Authority for Standardization & Metrology; Abu Dhabi Quality & Conformity Council; Ministry of Electricity and Water, Kuwait and Electricity and Water Authority, Bahrain.
The Wind-Free era is upon us, says Samsung Company launches its trademarked Wind-Free air conditioner in Saudi Arabia By CCME Content Team
Betec Cad signs MoU with Singapore’s Instad Pre Fabrication UAE company to be exclusive distributor of Singapore-based company’s product in the GCC region By Benwen Lopez | Assistant Editor
amsung Saudi Arabia has unveiled its trademarked Wind-Free wallmounted air-conditioner, designed for climatic conditions in the Kingdom, the company said through a Press communiqué, adding that the technology is the first of its kind in the world. According to the communiqué, the air conditioner has integrated Samsung’s exclusive Wind-Free cooling technology into its design, providing customers with a cooler indoor climate and optimal energy efficiency, without the discomfort of direct cold airflow. “Consumers will love the cool, efficient air conditioning capabilities of the Wind-Free air-conditioner in their living and working spaces,” said Ismail Yoon, Managing Director, Samsung Gulf Electronics KSA Branch. “And they will really love that they no longer have to deal with uncomfortable, cold air.” An additional benefit is reduced electricity bills,” Yoon added. According to the communiqué, the Wind-Free provides customers with the ideal condition by maintaining a comfortable room temperature, using the wind-free technology to gently disperse cold air through 21,000 micro air holes. A two-step cooling system, which first lowers temperature in fastcooling mode and, then, automatically switches to Wind-Free cooling mode, creates still air, once the desired temperature is reached, the communiqué said. The approach can also reduce energy consumption by up to 72% compared to operating in fast-cooling mode, the communiqué added. The Wind Free uses Samsung’s new Digital Inverter 8-Pole with POWERboost technology, the result of which is that the compressor’s motor generates fewer torque fluctuations – reducing the overall energy required and shortening the time needed for the compressor to reach its maximum rotation speed, the communiqué said. According to the communiqué, the Wind-Free is also Wi-Fi-enabled, so it can be controlled from anywhere through what the communiqué described as Samsung’s Smart Home app. Users can remotely regulate temperature, adjust settings, receive real-time updates about performance and daily energy usage and troubleshoot solutions when a repair is needed. The Wind-Free is available with what the communiqué described as Samsung’s unique Triangle Architecture, which has a wider inlet, allowing more air flow than others. The optimal width and angle of the outlet, extra v-blades and large fan – 22% larger than previous models – ensure air is cooled and expelled faster, farther and wider, to reach every corner of the room, the communiqué said. Meanwhile, Samsung Gulf Electronics has unveiled the world’s first Wind-Free one-way and four-way cassette air-conditioners, using the company’s exclusive Wind-Free cooling technology in its design, the communiqué said. The initiative of unveiling the product, the communiqué added, offers the commercial construction market and business partners reliable air solutions that exceed expectations.
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K H Chan and Sriram C.M.P
etec Cad has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Singapore-based Instad Pre Fabrication for the distribution of the latter’s pre-fabricated ducts in the UAE and across the GCC region, said Sriram C.M.P, Director, Betec Cad. Speaking on the occasion, Sriram said: “After a considerable amount of time taken on research and development, our team realised that the GCC region would highly benefit from the pre-fabricated ducts offered by Instad Pre Fabrication. It is a new-generation duct, 80% of which is built at Instad’s factory in Singapore and 20% at the site of installation.” Elaborating on the product, K H Chan, Chairman and Managing Director, Instad Pre Fabrication, said: “The ducts are light-weight, easy to install, exert a lesser load on the ceiling, and have high corrosion resistance, when compared to conventional ducts. They are ecofriendly, efficient and easy to install.” Explaining the features of the ducts, Chan added that the inner surface is smooth, thus minimising any fungal build-up. The materials used to build the duct are non-toxic, and the product is easy to maintain and is highly insulated, he said. Chan further added that the core philosophy behind the product is to improve the energy efficiency of the HVAC system.
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NEWS REGIONAL
Powering HVAC with solarthermal panels
NIA celebrates “a million air conditioners in sales in 2017” Company throws a party for also being recognised as the largest distributor of Gree air conditioners in the world
Zakir Ahmed
By B Surendar | Editor IA on January 4 celebrated what it described as the twin achievements of over a million air conditioners in sales in 2017 and of being recognised as the largest distributor of Gree air conditioners in the world, at a ceremony, titled ‘NIA Millionaire’, in Dubai. Speaking on the occasion, Zakir Ahmed, Managing Director, NIA Limited, said 2017 had been the most exciting year yet in the company’s 50-year history. He also expressed pride in being associated with Gree, which he described as the largest centrifugal supplier in the world, with its profile of customers including nuclear plants in China. Highlighting the quality of the company’s products, he said that Gree guarantees a 99-year lifetime and offers a 30-year warranty to the nuclear plants. Speaking of NIA’s provisions for its clients, Ahmed said the company offers premium service and extended warranty. “We ensure reseller margins and protect channel health,” he said. “We are the only company in the UAE to offer five-year warranty on compressors and other parts and five-year service.” Ahmed spoke of three internal benchmarks that underpin the company’s ability to deliver on its promise of a five-year warranty. He enumerated them as ‘1-1-1 service’, ‘D-OA policy’ and ‘800-NIACARE’. Ahmed said other factors equally ensure NIA is able to offer premium service to customers, including an infrastructure framework that includes a 10,000-square-metre logistical centre, in Dubai, which allows the company to deliver air conditioning units anywhere in the UAE in 24 hours. Ahmed also spoke of how the company follows a Unified Recommended Retail Price (RRP), including VAT for both IR and OR channels. “We also have 100% compliance of ESMA,” he said, “with absolute certification and also focus on highefficiency inverter and piston compressor.”
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KAD Air Conditioning tests duct system for fire resistance Company official says test was in accordance to the BS 476 part 24 standard By Benwen Lopez | Assistant Editor
AD Air Conditioning has successfully tested and certified its non-coated fire rated duct system at Applus+ laboratory in Spain, said Javed Tejani, General Manager, KAD Air Conditioning. Sharing further details, Tejani said: “Our non-coated, fire-rated duct system was tested for fire resistance at the Applus+ laboratory. It was tested under the BS 476 part 24 standard for two hours, to determine its stability and integrity during a fire incident.” He further added that the duct system also received certification from the Dubai Civil Defence. Tejani added that the ductwork system was developed as a safe, environmentally friendly and economical alternative solution to traditional, coated, fire-rated ductwork systems.
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February 2018
Key principle is to reduce load on the compressor to increase savings, says industry representative By Benwen Lopez | Assistant Editor
Rijo Abraham
s the focus on solar energy gains steam in the GCC region, powering HVAC with solar-thermal panels is a concept slowly coming into the spotlight. Explaining the details of the concept, Rijo Abraham, Deputy Manger – Energy Efficiency, Farnek Services, said: “We all know that compressors are the highest energy-consuming component in an air conditioning system or chillers. Considering this, we utilise the heat from the sun to heat up the refrigerant, reducing the actual work of the compressor. The key principle is to reduce the load on the compressor using the heat, which brings in the savings.” He further added that as a company, Farnek is already working on some pilot projects in Dubai, and so far the estimated savings are around 15%, which has a potential to increase over time. Speaking on the challenges, Abraham added that apart from technical challenges, such as the need for additional piping and space, clients prefer that the chillers not be touched, except by the OEM, except when the warranty has expired.
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Tabreed reports 9% increase in net profit for 2017
Utility announces reaching AED 400.1 million in profit; Board of Directors recommends increasing dividend by 23% to eight fils per share
By CCME Content Team
ational Central Cooling Company (Tabreed) has released its audited 2017 financial results. The Company said through a Press communiqué that it added 43,900 tonnes of refrigeration (TR) to its cooling capacity across the GCC Jasim Husain Thabet region in 2017. According to the communiqué, Tabreed posted nine per cent higher net profit, reaching AED 400.1 million. Based on the results, Tabreed’s Board of Directors recommended increasing cash dividends for 2017 to eight fils per share (up from 6.5 fils per share for 2016), the company said through the communiqué. According to the communiqué, other developments in 2017 included the successful completion of the investment by ENGIE, the global energy company, which acquired 40% of the shares in Tabreed for approximately AED 2.8 billion. Tabreed also obtained the certification of Tabreed’s stock as Shari’a compliant, which is expected to contribute to an expanded shareholder base, the communiqué said. Commenting on the results, Khaled Abdulla Al Qubaisi, Chairman, Tabreed, said: “The strength of Tabreed’s performance in FY 2017 reflects a clear strategic focus, which enabled the company to extend its footprint and regional market leadership.” Jasim Husain Thabet, CEO, Tabreed added: “Tabreed continued on its solid growth path in 2017, with revenues of AED 1,399.4 million, driven by new capacity additions. As we look forward to 2018 and beyond, we pursue our commitment to support the region in meeting its growing cooling needs with Tabreed’s reliable and cost-efficient solutions. With two decades of leadership and experience, we are also well poised for continued growth and success in enabling our customers to adopt and optimise energy-efficient cooling systems, while remaining focused on achieving strong returns for our shareholders.”
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The year in numbers According to Tabreed… The financial highlights during the 12 months ended December 31, 2017 are:
Net profit attributable to the parent increased by nine per cent to AED 400.1 million (2016: AED 367.4 million) Group revenue increased by nine per cent to AED 1,399.4 million (2016: AED 1,279.9 million) Core chilled water profit from operations increased by 10% to AED 427.2 million (2016: AED 387.3 million) EBITDA increased by eight per cent to AED 628.4 million (2016: AED 583.2 million) Share of results of associates and joint ventures increased by 10% to AED 128.8 million (2016: AED 117.0 million)
The operational highlights during the 12 months ended December 31, 2017 are: Total Group connected capacity across the GCC region reached 1,092,300 TR, with 43,900 TR of new customer connections added in the last 12 months as follows: 24,300 TR in the UAE 3,000 TR in Bahrain 16,600 TR in other GCC region countries
Over 1.53 billion kilowatt hours of electricity was saved across the GCC region – enough energy to power approximately 51,000 homes every year This prevented the release of almost 768,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide – the equivalent of eliminating the emissions of 153,600 vehicles annually
February 2018
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NEWS GLOBAL
Switzerland’s national HVACR association joins Eurovent
With the entry of ProKlima, Eurovent says, its membership has grown by 120 companies By CCME Content Team
roKlima, the Swiss association of air conditioning and ventilation manufacturers and suppliers, has formally joined the Eurovent Association. With the entry of ProKlima, to date, more than 120 companies have joined Eurovent, the body said through a Press communiqué. ProKlima is Switzerland’s main body covering the national HVACR industry. The association is actively shaping legislation and standards on a national and canton level, the communiqué said. On a regular basis, it organises well-known seminars and publishes high-quality guidebooks on HVACR technologies and their application, the communiqué further said, adding that a core focus is being put on building ventilation. Ivan Oberti, President, ProKlima, said: “Joining the Eurovent Association is an important step forward for our association. It is one of our core aims to share our Swiss knowledge, quality ideals, and experiences with Europe’s HVACR sector. In the same way, we aim to positively contribute to the development of European Union legislation and standards, to which we have to largely comply, although we are not an EU member state.” Alex Rasmussen, President, Eurovent Association, said: “Switzerland is one of the world’s leading countries in terms of energy efficiency and building standards. We are very proud of welcoming the Swiss industry to our association family and look forward to new ideas, contributions, and state-of-the-art solutions.”
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Erratum
n the market feature on chillers, published in the January 2018 issue, the statements made by S.K.M Air Conditioning, were attributed to Shahnam Ali, (Chartered Marketer), Marketing & Communications Team Leader, SKM, instead of to Burhan Jaber, Engineering and R&D Director, SKM Air Conditioning. The error is regretted.
EDITOR
ASHRAE releases energy guide for schools New Advanced Energy Design Guide is directed towards helping K-12 schools in the United States achieve zero energy By CCME Content Team
new publication is now available to empower owners, contractors, consulting engineers, architects, designers and administrators of K-12 school buildings to costeffectively achieve advanced levels of energy savings, ASHRAE said through a Press communiqué. The resource, Advanced Energy Design Guide for K-12 School Buildings – Achieving Zero Energy, is the first in a series of guides that is tailored to the design and creation of zero-energy buildings, the communiqué said. The guides are developed by ASHRAE, the American Institute of Architects (AIA), the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) and the US Green Building Council (USGBC), with support and funding from the US Department of Energy (DOE) through the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). “This comprehensive guide was developed by a team of zero-energy experts that bring building science and practical application together to create an achievable goal of zero-energy
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schools,” said Paul Torcellini, Project Committee Chair. “The guide builds upon the popular 50% advanced energy design guide series with new and updated recommendations on energy efficiency. Additionally, it provides guidance for on-site renewable energy generation and establishes a set of energy-performance goals for achieving zero energy. The goals are provided for all ASHRAE climate zones, in both site and source energy.” According to the communiqué, strategies for achieving energy targets are provided throughout the guide and cover how to set measurable goals, hire design teams committed to that goal, use simulation throughout the design and construction process and maintain awareness about how process decisions affect energy usage. As in previous guides, the how-to tips provide specific direction broken into specialty areas – building and site-planning, envelope, daylighting, electric lighting, plug loads, kitchens and food service, water heating, HVAC and renewable generation, the communiqué
UL leads fire safety workshop with Egyptian Fire Protection Association and NFPA UL presents session on current and emerging issues in fire safety, including potentially flammable building façade cladding, counterfeit equipment, and the need for continuous and improved certification By CCME Content Team
L led a workshop on fire safety for officials from the Egyptian Fire Protection Association and the US-based National Fire Protection Association, discussing new technologies and the challenges facing today’s firefighters, the firm said through a Press communiqué. During the course of the one-day workshop, the communiqué said, UL representatives met with high-ranking officials from across Egypt to discuss the latest generation of fire safety technologies available in the market, recent changes to the rules and regulations surrounding the use of new technologies, and best practices employed by fire safety companies and civil defence departments around the world. The representatives from UL also discussed the importance of carefully
U
Drew Azzara
regulated standards and codes pertaining to fire safety and fire safety equipment. In response to blazes that have affected high-rise residential buildings in the GCC region in recent years, the officials from UL spoke about developments to improve the safety rating of façade cladding used on multi-story towers in the region, the communiqué said.
said. Each section contains multiple tips that move the design incrementally towards the zero-energy goal, the communiqué added. Case studies and technical examples illustrate that the energy goals are achievable at typical construction budgets, as well as demonstrate the technologies in real-world applications, the communiqué further added. Additional features of the Advanced Energy Design Guide for K-12 School Buildings – Achieving Zero Energy include: Guidance on how to connect zero energy and teaching and learning, as well as how to use zero energy as a catalyst for learning Practical advice for owners and designers to achieve successful energy outcomes – and direction for school administrators on how to achieve zero energy in their new schools Information on how every design decision can move a project towards zero energy Achievable energy targets all schools can strive towards, including schools without renewable energy sources Recommendations for conceptual phase building planning and siting Strategies to reduce and eliminate thermal bridging through the building enclosure Plug load control and management plans to reduce energy consumption in K-12 schools LED light sources and controls recommendations for better
UL officials also spoke on the issue of counterfeit fire safety equipment making its way to the market, before highlighting the need for proper and rigorous certification of all goods and equipment to help ensure their authenticity and effectiveness. Drew Azzara, NFPA’s Executive Director of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, said: “Workshops are an important means of sharing and expanding knowledge of fire safety issues. Regulations are constantly updated, either in response to incidents or to help prevent fires, so it is important to keep abreast of best practices and techniques used around the region and beyond. Civil defence officials from across Egypt benefited by being able to take part in detailed discussions and seminars as well as being able to meet and talk with experts from UL and NFPA.”
lighting quality and energy benefits Information on thermal mass to ensure optimum energy savings for HVAC systems Strategies for balancing energy efficiency and renewable energy generation, including the best use of roof space
The guide is available as a free download at www.ashrae.org/ freeaedg.
A new research paper from the EU-funded SuperSmart project shows that nontechnological barriers can slow down the evolution and diffusion of energy-efficient and natural refrigerant-based HVAC R solutions in the food retail sector. Öko-Recherche @OekoRecherche
February 2018
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NEWS GLOBAL
AHRI launches all-new online certification directory
upon AHRI for accurate and unbiased data on equipment performance,” said AHRI President and CEO, Stephen Yurek. “The directory that went live [January 8] was built from the ground up – with The resource has over 7.2 million listings of significant input from participants and end users – to all AHRI-Certified products support our needs for years to come.” According to AHRI, the new directory features By CCME Content Team Stephen Yurek simplified searches, improved security, multilingual support and mobile access. These improvements address concerns reported by all types of users of the he Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute directory, including consumers, contractors and manufacturers, (AHRI) on January 8 launched an upgraded Directory of AHRI said. Certified Product Performance, a real-time online directory “We conducted focus group meetings with directory users,” that includes more than 7.2 million listings of all AHRIYurek said, “and engaged with our certification program Certified products, it said through a Press communiqué. participants throughout this process to ensure our upgraded “AHRI’s online directory was more than 10 years old, and in directory offers our 3.7 million annual users a smooth and need of an upgrade to support expanding reporting requirements, informative experience.” as regulators at the federal, state and local levels increasingly relied
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A need exists to test passive fire safety equipment for toxicity? Industry insiders point to the need for global regulations to test for toxicity By Benwen Lopez | Assistant Editor
hile passive fire safety protection systems, such as thermal insulation, are tested for quality, fire resistance and combustible properties, there is no global regulation to test them for toxicity, said Dr Michael Schumm, Director, Isover Ladenburg R&D Center, SaintGobain. “There are no global regulations to determine the toxicity of these systems,” Dr Schumm said. “However, in Europe there is an initiative to bring in some regulation to test for toxicity.” He added that it is a challenge to test for toxicity, as toxic fumes vary from incident to incident, owing to the burning of other materials in a room, such as furniture and carpets. Abhishek Chhabra, Business Development Manager, Fire Compliance, Thomas Bell-Wright International Consultants, added: “While there are tests to quantify the toxicity of passive fire protection systems, yet these tests are not readily available or commercialised, owing to the lack of regulations and awareness.”
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