CCME - Feb 2021 by Climate Control Middle East

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PERSPECTIVE: CRE operations reliant on securing HVAC systems against COVID-19

February 2021

features COLD CHAIN AND COFFEE

Andrés Londoño and Santiago Londoño, Colombian Exotic Coffee

HEATING HAMBURG WITH HYDROGREN Stefan Kleimeier, Wärme Hamburg GmbH

AN EVOLVING RETROFIT LANDSCAPE

A changing occupancy profile has triggered a growing appreciation for the long-term payback of sustainability measures and an increased focus on tenant well-being

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February 2021

ABRAHAM ACCORDS HVACR SUMMIT Opportunities born out of the landmark agreement

March 2021, Dubai, UAE

OVERVIEW: The significance of the Abraham Accords The UAE and Bahrain, on September 15, 2020, signed diplomatic agreements – since then, ratified – with Israel, during a ceremony hosted by US President Donald Trump at the White House, a move that established full ties, including exchanging embassies with Israel – an immensely significant development, signalling the end of several decades of disengagement. UAE’s neighbour, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, welcomed the peace initiative, as did others in the MENA region, notably the Sultanate of Oman and Egypt. Speaking from the UAE perspective, as a case-in point, the agreement – named the Abraham Accords – enables the country to develop commercial, diplomatic and security ties with Israel, and to collaborate on technology and healthcare. According to Abu Dhabi-headquartered The National newspaper, the agreement envisages travel between the two countries, trade – including of technology and goods – and co-operation in areas such as

food security, climate change and energy, as per a joint statement by the UAE and Israel, issued in August. Again, speaking from a UAE perspective, Dubai is a business hub for the region, and Abu Dhabi is keen to diversify its economy beyond hydrocarbons. These factors give the confidence that the agreement could be a long-lasting one. Indeed, there is sufficient reason to look at the situation with rosy optimism, given that there is a palpable political will to make further progress in the direction of peace. By way of summing up the shift, the UAE’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Anwar Gargash, in August, said: “Clearly, 70 years of not communicating with Israel has led us nowhere. I think we need to shift to a new method of doing things. And that method simply is: We can disagree with you in political issues, but we can work with you [on] nonpolitical issues.” Such a statement would have been quite unthinkable even in the first week of August 2020.

The Abraham Accords HVACR Summit is a hybrid confex that aims to showcase opportunities available to the HVACR industries in Bahrain, Israel and the United Arab Emirates and possible areas of synergy, collaboration and cooperation with a view to optimising energy and water use, improving indoor air quality and achieving food security through optimal climate-controlled spaces for food production and a strong cold chain infrastructure. OFFICIAL PUBLICATIONS

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'ONE CUP AT A TIME' Andrés Londoño and Santiago Londoño, third- and fourth-generation farmers of Colombian Exotic Coffee, discuss the family-owned company’s commitment and investment to pioneering innovative cold chain processes, as part of its move to revolutionise the Middle East market’s coffee experience

HEATING HAMBURG WITH HYDROGEN

A shifting landscape, driven by a change in occupancy profiles, has triggered a growing appreciation for the long-term payback of sustainability measures and an increased focus on tenant well-being; however, there continues to be a large scope for improvement in retrofit measures that can unlock a host of opportunities for the entire value chain.

PERSPECTIVE

06 eDItor'S note

February 2021

THE GREAT REBOOT

With Germany’s green hydrogen economy being further fuelled by a EUR 9 billion investment from the government, the port city of Hamburg has embarked on a bold initiative to build one of the world's largest electrolysers. Stefan Kleimeier of Wärme Hamburg GmbH, Hamburg's municipal heat supplier, speaks on the collaboration with Vattenfall, Shell and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI).

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COVER STORY

VOL. 16 NO. 02  FEBRUARY 2021

CRE operations reliant 22 on securing HVAC systems against COVID-19 This is the hard truth in the New Normal, asserts Prabhu Ramachandran, as he elaborates on a five-pronged approach to optimising HVAC systems

24 Regional News 36 Global News

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THE 8TH ANNUAL MIDDLE EAST

CONFERENCE 24 May 2021 Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

OVERVIEW The objective of the Saudi Energy Efficiency Center, formed in 2010, is to establish a comprehensive national programme for rationalising and enhancing energy consumption in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The Center represents yet another initiative in the country to curb energy consumption with environmental and economic targets in mind. An inherent element of the Center is the Saudi Energy Efficiency Program (SEEP), which focuses on three sectors, representing over 90% of the energy consumption in the Kingdom. An understanding of the direction of SEEP points to a situation tailormade for the variable refrigerant flow (VRF) industry, which has repeatedly and stridently stated its energy-performance credentials in the region and elsewhere. In other words, the Kingdom offers a wealth of opportunities to VRF stakeholders, particularly manufacturers and suppliers. This is motivation enough to conduct the 9th edition of the Middle East Variable Refrigerant Flow Conference in the Kingdom.

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EDITOR’S NOTE

The Great Reboot

he UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment recently described the approval and implementation of the country’s new Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), tied to achieving the climate change mitigation goals of the historic Paris Agreement of 2015, as a key milestone, adding that the “move falls under our national economic and energy diversification drive, manifested

in the country’s current energy transition”. Beyond doubt, performance of buildings is an integral part of all conversations

Surendar Balakrishnan Editor @BSurendar_HVACR

around energy use in the country. And the construction and HVACR industries have a significant role in the efforts aimed at lowering indirect emissions. Dismally enough, the role remains unfulfilled, though, for more reasons than one, with the fault-lines in place for several decades and not as a result of the pandemic and the resultant reorganisation of business priorities for survival.

PERSPECTIVE: CRE operations reliant on securing HVAC systems against COVID-19

Building performance is dependent on a wide range of factors coming together and

February 2021

features COLD CHAIN AND COFFEE

working in harmony. This may sound a tad trite a statement, but the manner in which

Andrés Londoño and Santiago Londoño, Colombian Exotic Coffee

HEATING HAMBURG WITH HYDROGREN Stefan Kleimeier, Wärme Hamburg GmbH

Get the next issue AN EVOLVING of Climate Control RETROFIT LANDSCAPE Middle East early!

some or many of the factors are ignored or are not allowed to gel, speaks of a larger problem. Take, for example, the acutely felt need for measurability, for accountability to

A changing occupancy profile has triggered a growing appreciation for the long-term payback of sustainability measures and an increased focus on tenant well-being

turn things around. The two are nearly conspicuous in their absence in vast swathes of

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for-money solutions. What we have are numerous instances of unrealistic budgets from developers, leading to construction and installation practices counterintuitive to climate change mitigation efforts. As a senior MEP consultant ruefully puts it, the entire system of budgeting and financial modelling is wrong, and we end up chasing shadows. This has a negative impact on the products that are sourced and the engineering resources that are handpicked to execute the various project management, design, construction, installation, commissioning and FM-related functions. As long as an avarice-motivated financial approach remains well-entrenched, no number of technologies – be they hardware or cloud-based solutions – can set things right; and that is the hard truth. As vital industries, construction and HVACR have an inalienable responsibility of supporting the NDCs. And if what we need is a Great Reboot, then so be it. With a relative lull in New Construction, this could be an ideal time for the construction industry to reconsider some of its approaches to project development, including possibly self-defeating. After all, the stakes are high, and could lead to optimisation of costs and better performing buildings.

Co-Founder & Editorial Director Surendar Balakrishnan| surendar@cpi-industry.com

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February 2021

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THE EVOLVING BUILDINGLANDS A shifting landscape, driven by a change in occupancy profiles, has triggered a growing appreciation for the long-term payback of sustainability measures and an increased focus on tenant well-being; however, there continues to be a large scope for improvement in retrofit measures that can unlock a host of opportunities for the entire value chain. Hannah Jo Uy has the story…

he Middle East’s construction sector remains resilient despite the complexities brought on by 2020. For stakeholders, the resiliency stems from the sector’s ability to withstand difficulties even prior to COVID-19. Providing an example, Majd Fayyad, Technical Manager, Emirates Green Building Council, says that in 2018, the growing oversupply of high-end residential and commercial properties saw investment yields start to fall, way before the pandemic triggered further reductions in construction contract awards in 2020. Fayyad says that though there has been a decline in the value of new contracts in the GCC region – for instance, it went down by 40% to just over USD 4 billion in April 2020 – the outlook for 2021, according to Deloitte, is more optimistic, with the UAE’s GDP set to grow 2.5%. For Phillipa Grant, Partner and Director of Sustainability, AESG, the construction pipeline is not as dry as people may think. “I think there has been a shift, and Dubai has become a bit more of a regional design hub for the Middle East,” she says. “There is a lot of work being done in Dubai, which covers the wider GCC region, as well as in Africa; so, for the whole MENA region, a lot of new construction is still going on, which is managing to keep the architects and engineers within Dubai busy.”

February 2021

A more pressing issue affecting project pipelines is the shift in the overall energy intensity in buildings following the onset of COVID-19, with Fayyad pointing out that social distancing measures and teleworking reduced people’s use of commercial buildings, while increasing energy consumption at home. He adds that in the first half of 2020, electricity use in residential buildings in some countries grew by 20-30% while falling by around 10% per cent in commercial building*. “Further, the 2020 Global Status Report for

RETROFIT CAPE Buildings and Construction states that CO2 of buildings and ENERGY FOR THE PURPOSES OF emissions from the operation of buildings that it will need to ROI have increased to their highest level in 2019,” be considered not he says. just from an energy To date, a lot of the Overall, Fayyad says there is ample perspective but also in retrofitting initiatives opportunity in 2021 to look at the way the way we use spaces. are directed towards buildings are utilised. He points out that these Ronak Monga, addressing the changes in factors are increasing focus on implementing Segment Development energy consumption profiles. green building best practices in upcoming Manager – Commercial Fayyad points out that with Majd Fayyad developments and driving momentum for Building Services, Grundfos, mass teleworking and eLearning retrofitting practices, which has already been says that the same trend can be shifting activities to the residential a strong focus in recent years in the move seen in Oman and Kuwait, as well. “Many subsector and several major companies to achieve greater energy efficiency and of the buildings you see in these countries allowing their workforce the freedom to reduced emissions and costs. have now existed for more than ten years,” work from home, existing commercial and Azmi S Aboulhoda, Director, EMergy he says. “These old buildings present a high office spaces, undoubtedly, need to be Consultancy, shares a similar opinion. “In energy savings potential. Business sectors adapted, retrofitted and/or repurposed to the UAE, attention towards energy that operate their buildings, such as cater to occupancy profile, be it partial or full. retrofitting has been increasing hospitals, schools and hotels, Aboulhoda says that this is the main concern for several years now,” he have the highest energy driving building and business owners towards says. “It is moving in savings opportunity retrofitting, as they will be paying almost parallel with the new in their existing the same amount of utility bills, despite the construction. Recently, infrastructure. Not only reduced occupancy. few steps have been will retrofit ensure Grant adds that these trends have a longtaken in Saudi Arabia smooth operation and term effect on discussions surrounding office to govern the business maintenance, but it will spaces and that this will lead to different and establish guidelines also significantly reduce streams of thoughts from architects and and regulations. With operational expenditure, designers. “A lot of building owners are the increase in number of which then improves their looking more at flexibility and the use of people working remotely, a bottom line.” He adds that space in different and more innovative ways,” new concern has been raised with the pandemic situation, she says. “This is better than having a vacant Phillipa Grant that will push the retrofit businesses are focusing on space, which is a waste of energy, as you will business in the region towards homes.” keeping operational expense to a minimum still need to keep it running; and also, Aboulhoda points out that retrofitting holds to survive the global economic impact there is the cost impact. So, there will strong opportunity to enhance the value brought by COVID-19. be focus on flexibility, looking at how

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“Building retrofits in these FOCUS ON HEALTH AND spaces can be used and how scenarios can allow owners WELLNESS we can make the most of and facility management to existing stock we have In addition to energy-related and fire-andrespond adequately using with the changing safety-related building performance, retrofits demand-controlled control have placed greater emphasis on occupant environment.” strategies,” he says. “It Monga adds that health. Aboulhoda says that nowadays, not only allows them to this drastic change in the energy-retrofitting projects are being save energy and water occupancy has brought combined with indoor environmental quality but also gives them the into focus how buildings (IEQ) measures through projects that can be tools necessary to respond perform in part-load categorised as retro-commissioning, where to different occupancy levels. conditions – and usually, energy is not the only or main concern. They are also able to record the efficiency during part “This will attract investors looking forward Azmi S Aboulhoda the time-of-use and the load is a focus during design – to overcome the financial crisis of energy profile throughout the but has not brought much into focus the current and any future operations to gather data and when buildings are in operation. “This drastic pandemics,” he says. optimise their controls and change in occupancy in buildings has brought This move, Fayyad operations.” into attention both during new projects and says, is especially Fayyad says that in the retrofits how various systems operate in part evident in the retail UAE, there is an enormous load,” he says. and hospitality sectors. potential in the buildings Fayyad says that a lot of the older “Consumer confidence building stock is not equipped to handle these and construction sector and spending were challenges, as the existing control systems are to increase resource and influenced, as material efficiencies, outdated or, in some cases, not even present. employers took steps drive carbon emissions to manage the impact reductions and stimulate of COVID-19 by reducing economic growth. “Based salaries and cutting jobs,” Ronak Monga he says. “In light of the ease of on the EmiratesGBC’s Building Efficiency Accelerator Project restrictions, lockdowns and the Report, the best hotel and hotel apartment availability of vaccines, the tourism and retail performers consume 58% less energy and sectors are slowly picking up. These sectors 65% less water per unit area than the worst are looking to increase customer confidence performers in the category,” he says. “The and, as a result, are following not only social best performers among schools consume distancing protocols but also the overall 61% less energy and 84% less water per unit efficient operations of their facilities.” area compared to the worst. Among malls, Fayyad points to ASHRAE and REHVA, the lowest consumer uses 35% less energy which have released guidance for safe HVAC and 58% less water per area compared to operations for the prevention of transmission the highest consumer.” Fayyad points out of COVID-19 indoors, and these practices that this shows the strong potential for stem from proper IAQ and IEQ practices. savings and operational efficiencies that can “Increased outdoor-to-indoor ventilation be achieved through remedial actions, such and filtration, however, does increase energy as audits, retrofits, energy management and consumption, and the only way to mitigate the use of awareness campaigns or trainings this is through efficient operations and/or to drive changes in behaviour. retrofits,” he says. “This is not only limited to Grant says that there has been a lot retail or hospitality but other sectors, as well, of push from a sustainability perspective. such as schools and commercial buildings. “That’s only going to increase, because In critical times such as this, owners are there is going to be more and more increasingly aware that their buildings’ pressure to reduce energy consumption, operations should not only have minimal costs improve efficiency, reduce carbon, and hit but also be safe.” international, regional and local targets,” she Fayyad adds that the guidance developed says. “So, the pressure is going to mount from by ASHRAE and REHVA rely on the core a sustainability perspective, which is great, principles of sustainable and green buildings. because I think it needs to happen. There “Research has shown that health and needs to be that pressure, and we’re still not wellbeing features have a positive effect on on track to hit targets, and there is a lot more employee retention and mental health as well that needs to be done across all areas.” An reduced operational costs. This is a win-win area that Grant says has also been gaining situation for building owners and tenants, better awareness in retrofits is fire and life as owners do not have to spend as much safety, especially in existing high-rises, which capital on maintenance and operations,” he typically face risk from poor cladding. says. “Tenants, in turn, enjoy the benefits

The best hotel and hotel apartment performers consume 58% less energy and 65% less water per unit area than the worst performers in the category. The best performers among schools consume 61% less energy and 84% less water per unit area compared to the worst 10

February 2021

of a healthier indoor environment and do not have to pay as much on their utilities. Several businesses, especially in hospitality and retail, are now obliged to ensure health and safety in buildings as a top priority. Their business revenue is now more than ever related to how seriously they take actions to ensure the safety of their guests, visitors and occupants.” AboulHoda echoes this, saying that IEQ has become crucial for a successful retrofit. “COVID-19 has increased the awareness among building and business owners,” he says. “Further, COVID-19 has added another dimension of retrofit measures, such as economisers, which will more efficiently introduce outside air in buildings, and personalised systems, which will avoid running full systems when partial occupancies take place. The measures taken by building and business owners are more focused into concentrated hygiene practices that can be observed by occupants and visitors and can

result in some kind of assurance. However, system-wise measures are yet to evolve, since they encounter high capital investments.” For Grant, there was already a definite shift in mindset toward health and wellness being considered as part of sustainability even before the pandemic. “Buildings are expanding to have that social health and welfare aspect from a design perspective, which is really great to see,” she says. “This was already happening, pre-COVID, and of course, COVID shone a light on health on a global scale to make sure people have healthy and safe spaces to live and work. I would expect additional drivers to that growing area and field. It will shift the way residential design is considered.” Monga is in agreement, adding that pre-COVID, there was a lot of talk about improvement of employee productivity in relation to IAQ and IEQ “But the safety and health aspect of it has increased even more during the pandemic,” he says. “COVID-

19 has also increased the focus on water disinfection – controlling the growth of any micro-organisms, like Legionella, in the water that we use on a day-to-day basis is equally important to stop the spread of communicable diseases.” Grant believes while there has been positive movement, more needs to be done. “I would still say, we are not seeing as much activity in retrofit as we would like to,” she says. “It would be great from a sustainability perspective to see that part of the market incentivised more to promote improvements in the existing buildings stock. I know there are regulations and government incentives coming into play. I should say that would hopefully stimulate more retrofit activities. We are hoping to still see more happen.” Fayyad agrees. “While the efforts taken by the UAE government in this direction are commendable, we must continue to push the building and construction sector towards greater efficiencies and to

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lower the carbon emissions,” he says. “We only have a few years to meet the Paris Agreement targets, and now is the right time to start looking at deep retrofits as a key step in this journey.” Fayyad recommends achieving deep buildings retrofits, targeting 50% energy reduction by decreasing energy demand and implementing energy efficiency measures before adding on-site renewables. “In fact, 50% energy reduction is a realistic target for poor performing buildings, as our Deep Retrofit Study identified,” he says. Elaborating more on this study, Fayyad says that all respondents showed a positive position, with a majority agreeing that deep retrofits are achievable in the UAE with an acceptable payback period using the current technologies available in the market. “While most in the private sector agree that retrofits should be mandated, the developers prefer that building rating schemes should be

February 2021

made compulsory, instead, or retrofits made voluntary with more financial incentives developed,” he says. “Developers also agreed that an annual reduction target of 11-20% (in kWh) is adequate, should retrofits be mandated.” Monga says that possibly having an incentive-based model, where higher commercial value is given to energy-efficient buildings, would be a “dream come true”. “Denmark has a similar concept – where a home or a building that is rated higher in energy efficiency can demand higher rent and selling price,” he says. “Therefore, incentivising the building developers also incentivises the potential tenants or buyers, as it helps them save on energy and heating costs in the long run.” In the region, Fayyad adds that the top three challenges to deep retrofits identified by the respondents were lack of landlord

interest, lack of financial incentives and low tariff rates. “The results also showed there is greater need of market awareness of both retrofit projects and the expertise of the retrofit market,” he says. “EmiratesGBC recommends that ESCOs should report their project savings transparently and consistently to build confidence and repertoire within the industry to encourage the public to pursue more retrofits.” Fayyad adds that with the support of regulations and incentives, a decarbonisation roadmap can be realised. Reference: *IEA’s Energy Efficiency Report 2020

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FEATURE

Cold chain and coffee

‘ONE CUP AT A TIME' Andrés Londoño and Santiago Londoño, third- and fourth-generation farmers of Colombian Exotic Coffee, discuss the family-owned company’s commitment and investment to pioneering innovative cold chain processes, as part of its move to revolutionise the Middle East market’s coffee experience By Hannah Jo Uy | Contributing Editor, Climate Control Middle East

he cold chain may not come to mind when one thinks of a hot cup of coffee, but for Andrés Londoño and Santiago Londoño, third- and fourth-generation farmers of Colombian Exotic Coffee, this is the key to unlocking the critical tastes of coffee drinkers in the Middle East, which is a region known for its love of the brew.

February 2021

“Our goal is to change people’s view on coffee, one cup at a time,” Andrés says, adding that the family has been farming in Colombia for nearly 100 years and selling the beans to different parts of the world. His cousin, Santiago adds that although the company is new to the Middle East market, it is confident about the appeal of its products, given its history. “Our main

goal is to introduce our unique varieties, as these have never been seen before,” he says. “We take immense care of our product from start to finish, we feel that it is just as important for the end user to understand the great work that goes into it, and that is why we plan on educating the Middle Eastern market on what the procedure is.”

EVERY STEP OF THE WAY There are different factors that must be considered in green coffee quality, Andrés says, and names variables such as flavour profiles or scores, physical preparation, shelf life and safety for the consumer as the most crucial. “All these are carefully considered in our farming practices,” he says, “but we have also noticed from different research and our own experiments that the storage conditions afterwards affect all these factors of quality – temperature being one of the most important variables for these changes.” Santiago, in agreement, adds that this was an important realization, considering traditionally, only moisture content has been the indicator for the preservation of coffee. “We have been researching and experimenting in our farms and warehouses and found out that when the three variables – water activity, moisture content and temperature – are not controlled, the sensory and physical quality can decrease substantially. In coffee, a slight decrease in flavour and physical quality is problematic.” This also has ramifications in terms of safety, Santiago adds. “Not many people know that these fungi produce a toxin called Ochratoxin-A, which is resistant to temperature, which means it cannot be degraded in the roasting process or preparation of the beverage, and when drunk, the human body is not capable of liberating it, accumulating in it for long periods. Ochratoxin-A has also been associated with cancer development,” he says. “For this reason, assuring the proper conditions for storage and transportation not only helps us maintain the cup and physical quality but also helps prevent moulds and fungus to develop inside the bean, which, in terms of food safety, is very important.”

Andrés explains that quality control starts in the wet mill during the post-harvest process. “We must make sure that the embryo of the seed, the coffee bean, remains alive during the entire process, until it reaches the roaster,” he says. “Also, along the process, we reduce the water content inside the bean from around 55% to 11%, and this process should be performed in the proper way to ensure that the water activity doesn´t affect the flavor and the lifespan of the embryo.” Andrés emphasises that the post harvesting process is key to assure a good start to have a long-lasting quality and flavor in the bean. “Then, during storage and distribution, humidity and temperature must always be controlled to maintain this quality,” he adds. He explains that the company has data loggers in the farm’s warehouses that record both variables; they are checked periodically, and if needed, corrective actions are taken to maintain ideal conditions of temperature and relative humidity to ensure 20 degrees C and 55%, respectively. In the farms, Andrés says, the products are packed in GrainPro bag. He explains that this is a multilayer plastic bag for grains that protects the product from external conditions, such as infestations, mould growth and, most importantly, humidity and oxygen, which are responsible for the oxidation

process, resulting in quality degradation. “Once the coffee is packed in these bags, we store it in the farm’s warehouses, which are temperature controlled and are isolated to maintain the temperature in the range of 16-18 degrees C and relative humidity between 50% and 55%,” he says. “This storage step allows us to stabilise the quality. After this, the coffee, known as parchment or dried cherry at this stage, goes through a milling process, where it is selected with specialty standards of physical preparations and packed again in new GrainPro bags inside sisal bags.”

Andrés Londoño

Santiago Londoño

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FEATURE

Hy ev brid en t

Cold chain and coffee

10 TH MIDDLE EAST COLD CHAIN FOOD SAFETY CONFERENCE

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a 10 ye

and ely ens imm d of it! prou

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31 May 2021 | Dubai, UAE

OFFICIAL PUBLICATION

Theme: Digitalisation of cold chain and food machinery assets Harvest | Food production & processing | Transport Refrigeration | Food retail / HORECA / Vending solutions | Consumer

OVERVIEW At the time of the first edition of Food Chain, in 2011, terms like ‘predictive maintenance’ and ‘digital twin’ had not entered the food safety and food security lexicon. Today, they present themselves as being able to optimise the performance of the cold chain, with positive implications for greater reliability and energy efficiency. Today, it is about harnessing the capabilities of the Internet of Things and cloudbased ecosystem for preventing temperature excursions at multiple points in the food cold chain, from harvesting stage to recycling – creating a circular economy.

the capability of listening to, and interacting with, one another, taking diagnostics to a higher level, in the process minimising thermal abuse. The 10th edition of Food Chain, while addressing legacy topics, is dedicated to the digital transformation sweeping through the food industry. It is the coming together of cold chain with the world of algorithms to deliver more sophisticated solutions that cold storage, distribution, food retail, HORECA, e-commerce fulfilment entities and other sectoral end-users can no longer afford to ignore.

With automation, the possibility of not just monitoring but also controlling without human intervention in improving food safety and food security standards is alluring. The machines that underpin the cold chain infrastructure come with

February 2021 FOR SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES, CONTACT: advertising@cpi-industry.com September 2018

Santiago adds that the logistics at this stage must be very carefully handled; keeping this in mind, the coffee is sent to the port as fast as possible for export. “Traditionally, green coffee has been exported in regular containers, where the coffee goes through different environmental conditions of humidity and temperature, which are usually very extreme,” he says. “For this, we decided that it was very important to ensure the whole transportation and storage chain from the farm to the coffee centre in Dubai. The refrigerated container was loaded and sealed in the thresher facility; this way, we ensure the cold chain. We are pioneers at exporting coffee in this type of containers.” Santiago adds that the containers have sensors, which measure, record and correct, if necessary, the temperature during transit. “Our first container is 40 feet in length with a cargo capacity of approximately 29,500 kilograms or 65,080 pounds, which would vary depending on the packaging type of the transported goods,” he says. “In our case, we are transporting around 22,000 kilograms of coffee packed in GrainPro bags inside traditional coffee sisal bags. The container is equipped with a refrigeration unit that is connected to the electrical network of the ship, the port terminals, and the trucks. They have a temperature control disc that will reflect the temperature of the container, from when the merchandise is loaded in the warehouse of origin until its arrival at the warehouse of destination.” The containers, he explains, offer real-time cargo monitoring, 24/7/365, of temperature set point, supply air temperature, return air temperature, GPS location, container track and trace events, and that the most important features include temperature graph, location tracking in map mode and ability to download the data, Andrés points out: “The benefit behind the mentioned features is that there is full transparency through unfiltered and

untampered data, which will also allow us to provide feedback and request corrective actions, if necessary in real time or in future shipping. Once the product arrives at the DMCC warehouse, we will locate a data logger to record both variables. These will be checked periodically; deviations will be notified to the coffee centre, and corrective actions will be requested.”

INVESTMENT IN QUALITY SOLUTIONS Santiago also highlights the investment in data, adding that presently, the farms utilise a private software that was developed for the coffee industry and the different parts of its value chain. “It has a specific tool for each step of the value chain with accurate sample registration, monitors drying and storage conditions, green grading, sample roasting and cupping,” he says. “This data is useful to control and monitor our process and take corrective actions, if necessary. It can be easily shared with customers, as well. The idea in the near future is to integrate the last part of our value chain, which is the transit from Colombia and the storage and commercialisation here in the Emirates and even add the feedback of our customers; this way, we can really ensure quality of the whole coffee chain.”

A LONG-TERM OUTLOOK The cost of implementing and maintaining a process cannot be avoided. However, for Santiago, it is more important to think of the benefits that such investment offers. “Specialty coffee quality is measured within Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) standards, which are between 80 and 100 points,” he explains. “If you produce at the farm a coffee that is at 89 points grade and is a complex exotic variety, like Geisha, you can sell it up to USD 70 per kg. We have calculated that during the 2-3 months transit between Colombia and the UAE, this coffee could lose 2-3 points in grade, because temperature and humidity degrades quality, so an 89-score coffee becomes an 86, which would be sold for USD 35 per kg, which means a loss of USD 35 per kg. If you bring 1.000 kg of this single exotic coffee in a container, it means you would lose USD 35,000 in this single lot. Keeping a complete cold chain from Colombia to UAE for a single container can cost about USD 20.000. It means a return of about 175% in terms of quality preservation.”

HAVE YOUR SAY! We welcome your views on the article. Write to editor@cpi-industry.com

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FEATURE

HEATING HAMBURG WITH HYDROGEN F

orecasts predict that the hydrogen economy in Europe will generate 5.4 million jobs and EUR 800 billion in annual sales by 2050. For its part, Germany will be investing EUR 9 billion in the development of a green hydrogen economy and, according to the OECD, the Hamburg metropolitan is one of the most promising hydrogen hubs. Against this backdrop, the port city has embarked on a landmark initiative to build one of the largest electrolysers on the site of the former Moorburg coal-fired power plant, following a Letter of Intent (LoI) that was recently signed by Vattenfall, Shell, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) and Hamburg's municipal heat supplier Hamburg Wärme. Elaborating on this project is Stefan Kleimeier of Wärme Hamburg. “As you know, we have a coal phase-out in Germany,” he says. “The city of Hamburg, early on, tried to think of a good solution for the coal-fired power plant site in the transition towards green energy economy, and that’s when the idea of electrolysers came.” Kleimeier says that the discussion

February 2021

started two years back, prior to the Hamburg election, when the incumbent Hamburg mayor Peter Tschentscher came up with the idea to develop the city into a hydrogen hub. The city had a traditional powerplant suited for a gas-fired plant, he says, meaning a lot of the infrastructure required was already in place, such as a network of gas pipes, a connection to a 380,000-volt transmission network and to the local 110,000-volt

distribution grid ofthe City of Hamburg that could be further utilised. There is also a move from the municipal gas network company to expand a hydrogen network in the port within 10 years; it is in the process of developing the necessary distribution infrastructure. “It took some time, but now, all four partners signed the LoI to become more detailed in erecting an electrolyser with an initial 100-megawatt capacity by 2025.”

production processes. I think we can really make the best of it, because out of this 100-megawatt electrolysis, we get 13 megawatts of waste heat, which is an ideal source for heating purposes in Hamburg.” Kleimeier says that Wärme Hamburg will most likely start with providing heat to industrial sectors, considering there are a number of refineries and commodity industry in the vicinity. He adds this is especially useful, considering industries are often the ones that find it difficult to replace the use of power by natural means. The customers near the site also unlock an entire hydrogen value chain – from generation to storage, transport and utilisation in various sectors. However, he adds, there’s also strong potential to connect the site to the District Heating network in Hamburg and, in the long term, to heat the households throughout the city. “The reason for that is quite simple,” he explains, “The industrial customers close by don’t need such a long pipe connection. When you need to connect to District Heating of the city further away, you need higher investments to make the connection, and it makes more sense when you have higher capacity installed.” Kleinmeier adds that the 100-megawatt target could be just the starting point, as the electrolyser is scalable, and there is potential for much more electrolysis happening than initially planned.

Stefan Kleimeier

Photo courtesy Hamburg Marketing

According to the municipality, this would make the electrolyser one of the largest plants in Europe. Kleimeier highlights that this undertaking serves as a showcase of how the private and public sectors can work together and leverage their respective expertise. “We have Vattenfall and Shell, which already have a track record in Hamburg for use and production of hydrogen,” he points out. “They currently jointly operate hydrogen station in cities for transportation purposes; they were early movers and pioneers in Hamburg. As for Mitsubishi Industries, they brought to this project an international approach, and they have a track record of their own in hydrogen. What we bring into this partnership is the expertise on how to use waste heat from

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FEATURE VOICES Michael Westhagemann, Minister for Economy and Innovation of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg:

“I always believed in the project at the Moorburg site. There is no better location in Hamburg for a scalable electrolyser of this size. Via the 380 kV connection and the connection to Brunsbüttel, we have direct access to the supply of green electricity from wind power – and thus the possibility of actually producing green hydrogen in relevant quantities. With this announcement, a big step will be taken towards a long-term decarbonisation of the port and a competitive hydrogen economy in the metropolitan region of Hamburg, and I congratulate the partners on this forward-looking project." Fabian Ziegler, CEO, Shell in Germany:

Kentaro Hosomi, President and CEO Energy Systems, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries:

"We are looking forward to having the opportunity to apply our engineering and technology expertise to realize this project together with our partners. The establishment of a green hydrogen hub that is fully integrated into Hamburg's industrial infrastructure would show Europe and the world that the hydrogen economy is real and can make a significant contribution to the decarbonization of the energy system and heavy industry.”

“In the future, green hydrogen will play a very important role in the energy system and, therefore, also for us. We keep an eye on the development of the entire value chain for hydrogen, from the entry into electricity production from offshore wind to the expansion of capacities for green hydrogen production as well as to the supply for mobility or transport applications and other industries. To achieve this, we need to, and we want to collaborate with strong partners. We consider this project of the consortium of four together with the city of Hamburg to be exemplary.”

Kleimeier says that Hamburg is well on its way to becoming a European hub for green hydrogen, and that part of the work being done in this direction is to cultivate skilled personnel. “It can be a challenge,” he admits. “When it comes to hydrogen power and building electrolyser as well as all the technologies associated with it, there is a requirement to get the right skilled people on board. You might be aware there are different sites in Germany all competing when it comes to building the projects of common European interest, such as these hydrogen projects.Hamburg has a lot of highly skilled workers already located in the metropolitan. I think Hamburg is an attractive place to live, and therefore, I’m quite confident we would be able to attract the required personnel for the tasks we have ahead, and that’s perhaps an advantage Hamburg has.”

HAVE YOUR SAY! We welcome your views on the article. Write to editor@cpi-industry.com

Photo courtesy Hamburg Marketing

Andreas Regnell, Senior Vice President and Head of Strategic Development, Vattenfall:

“The production of fossil-free hydrogen is one key to the decarbonisation of the industry and the transport sectors. Vattenfall wants to enable fossil-free living within one generation, and we have high ambitions to grow within renewable energy production in the markets where we operate. In this project, we can contribute with our expertise and experience to the unique Moorburg site that has the infrastructure that is necessary for large-scale production of hydrogen. We are, therefore, pleased that we can support the city and the industrial location of Hamburg in implementing their ambitious climate goals." Christian Heine, CEO of Wärme Hamburg GmbH and Gasnetz Hamburg GmbH:

“Hydrogen has enormous potential, not just as a means of power storage. Wärme Hamburg has pledged to make available all sources of waste heat and to utilize this climate-neutral heat. This is the reason why Wärme Hamburg decided to take part in the electrolyser project. In addition, we want to evaluate if we can use the existing infrastructure at the Moorburg site, also to use other additional forms of renewable energy. Moorburg has the potential to become an innovative urban hub for renewable energies.”

February 2021

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covid

s economies reopen worldwide, post the global pandemic, commercial real estate (CRE) businesses are facing the prospect of an operational revamp, to adapt buildings for optimal occupant safety and efficiency. Building automation, key to limiting the spread of the COVID-19 contagion, are embedded HVAC systems. Securing the building community against the spread of infection is of paramount importance. However, building owners are also looking at the challenge from a business continuity perspective. Should there be an outbreak, a CRE business would be forced to shut down the entire building, leading to loss of revenue and reputation. Recognising the risk to the sector, professional associations, such as ASHRAE, BOMA and ISHRAE, have shared comprehensive guidelines and protocols, to help building owners maintain their HVAC systems in the new normal. In order to ensure occupant safety, building owners need to be able to implement these preventative measures meticulously.

A FIVE-PRONGED APPROACH TO OPTIMISING HVAC SYSTEMS Contemporary buildings, which typically secure premises within glassed walls, have to adhere to a new standard in operations, to curb the spread of the virus and maintain impeccable Indoor Air Quality (IAQ). How effectively building owners are able to comply will determine their ability to attract returning workforces and secure their buildings against a sudden loss of value. The processes and strategies being stressed, in order for HVAC systems to be operated in line with the guidelines issued by regulatory bodies, can be summed up within five key components, which include:

1. CONDUCTING REGULAR CHECKS AND ASSESSMENTS: Kickstarting

HVAC systems after an extended break requires a careful risk assessment, and gauging the ability of existing infrastructure to meet revamped guidelines. A long break in operations could have led to build-up and contamination in ducts, posing serious health threats and undermining efficiency. Guidelines recommend that: ►► Before HVAC systems are rebooted, building owners need to undertake preventive maintenance to completely disinfect filters, grilles, diffusers and indoor unit coils.

February 2021

Prabhu Ramachandran is the founder and CEO of Facilio Inc. He may be contacted at prabhu@facilio.com.

CRE OPERATIONS RELIANT ON SECURING HVAC SYSTEMS AGAINST COVID-19 This is the hard truth in the New Normal, asserts Prabhu Ramachandran, as he elaborates on a five-pronged approach to optimising HVAC systems

►► Fans, dampers and pump operations, etc., need to be reassessed. ►► Water quality in chillers and boilers needs to be checked. ►► Operations, such as replacing possibly infected filters, must strictly adhere to guidelines.

►► Recommissioning HVAC systems is recommended, to ensure safe HVAC operations. ►► Retrocommissioning is recommended, if an HVAC system has not been commissioned previously.

2. MAINTAINING THE CIRCULATION OF FRESH AIR: Good

ventilation is the key to reducing the risk of infection. It should be the non-negotiable priority of a CRE business to ensuring the expelling of infected, polluted or stale indoor air, even if this requires extra effort or capital inputs. Guidelines recommend that: ►► HVAC systems be allowed to run for longer than usual periods, to minimise re-circulated air, as per ASHRAE guidelines. ►► Additional air ducts should be installed in buildings, if current measures provide inadequate ventilation. ►► Monitoring humidity and optimising exhaust airflows is critical. These and other ventilation standards should be validated using remote IAQ monitoring tools. ►► HVAC systems should be operated in 100% airside economiser mode, whenever the building has occupants. ►► Building owners and operators should expect a spike in equipment wear and tear, due to longer operating durations. Real-time IoT data collation and intelligent analytics can help in predictive maintenance.

►► Preliminary checks ought to be carried out to ascertain if AHU system is compatible with a higher efficiency filter (such as MERV-15). Ensure that fans compensate for decreased airflow with increased speed. ►► Systems incompatible with high-MERV filters could be upgraded with ductwork modification. ►► It is essential to provide Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to technicians servicing or replacing dirty filters, and to dispose such filters safely. ►► Portable air purifiers, with HEPA filter and UV germicidal irradiation could be used for enhanced occupant protection.

4. MONITOR TEMPERATURE AND HUMIDITY ON AN ONGOING BASIS: Research has established that optimal humidity can help contain COVID19. Ascertain the optimal temperature and humidity for the regional climate and automate adherence to the acceptable setpoint range. Guidelines recommend that: ►► Temperature setpoint is between 24°C and 30°C, as per ISHRAE guidelines.

►► Sites using less complex HVAC systems can be optimised using as much natural ventilation as possible, with AC systems turned off. This approach also limits the need for risk assessment.

3. ENHANCE AIR FILTRATION THROUGH REGULAR CLEANING OF COMPONENTS: Frequent cleaning

and changing of HVAC air filters have a huge impact on limiting contaminants in airflow. As a bonus, this also promotes optimal energy efficiency and asset performance, as well as reducing operating costs relating to ongoing repairs. Guidelines recommend that: ►► Frequent filter changes are carried out and that the process is monitored in real-time by auto-generated IoT work requests.

►► Humidity ranges between 40% and 70%, depending on climate. ►► Data-driven automation of HVAC systems should replace manual inspection routines, so as to prevent out-of-range deviations and to ensure regulatory compliance.

5. ENSURE LONG-TERM EFFICIENCY AND COMPLIANCE, USING REMOTE MONITORING:

Dynamic and remote control of automation systems is non-negotiable, for long-term system reliability and optimization. Guidelines recommend the use of/practice of: ►► IoT-driven remote operations with portfolio-wide Fault Detection and Diagnostics. ►► Automated workflows for field-service personnel. ►► Agile HVAC operations that respond to on-demand tenant needs – based on occupancy, space occupied, and season. ►► Leveraging real-time HVAC data using exhaustive analytics and reporting, to empower stakeholders and overall refined control over asset performance.

REDEFINING HVAC STRATEGIES, IN LINE WITH NEW REQUIREMENTS In the new normal, HVAC operations need to be redefined in the context of holistic occupant well-being. However, each existing system presents a unique set of challenges, in adhering to revised guidelines and needs. Some existing HVAC systems might struggle to maintain recommended levels of ventilation, while some others might be limited by out-dated technologies. Building owners will need to embrace innovations such as digitised disinfection operations, dynamic HVAC control, portfoliowide automation and centralised remote platforms to manage operations. The postpandemic new normal has escalated the standards to which HVAC systems will need to adhere. Adopting emerging digital solutions will be crucial for building owners, if they want consistent, reliable and compliant HVAC systems, which adhere to these enhanced O&M requirements.

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.

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REGIONAL NEWS

Government initiative to boost recovery will drive green economy, says Graded Company official adds that trends will provide fertile ground for expansion of HVAC technologies

By Hannah Jo Uy | Contributing Editor

he governments in the Middle East region are taking the appropriate measures towards boosting economic recovery following COVID-19, said Giuseppe Gregorini, representative of Graded S.p.a., an energy solutions provider headquartered in Italy. Gregorini said that in the current development model, governments in the region are boosting public investments in strategic areas, such as economic sectors that add significant value to the economy, the green and innovative economy and inclusive human capital and infrastructure that contribute to greater productivity. Gregorini said, “Investments may look to phase out fossil fuel subsidies, strengthening the water, food and energy nexus, building the resilience of communities. Public policies and financial decisions may more consciously take account of exposure to climate risks and seek to preserve the region’s natural capital.” He emphasised that the newly created themes serve as fertile ground for the expansion of HVAC technologies and products, which the company has specialised in. “In this historical moment, the collaboration with university research institutes of excellence in the UAE is very important, both for expansion opportunities and for entry into the sector at the forefront of technology,” he said, adding that this will be reflected in the highly anticipated World Expo, scheduled to take place in Dubai in 2021. Gregorini said that Graded continues to view the UAE as a crucial part of the company’s expansion plans with a focus on renewable energy. “Innovation and new technologies are key in order to keep pace with a market that is expanding at a level that the UAE is,” he said. “To develop these projects, we make use of partnerships with Italian universities and, above all, with research institutes and universities in the UAE, particularly in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.” He said that in addition to renewable energy, Graded intends to promote the development and growth of geothermal energy through its GeoGrid Project, which aims to reduce costs and consumption and is tailored to the Emirates.

Minister of Climate Change and Environment confirms UAE’s new NDC is part of its economic, energy diversification drive

Commends the role of IRENA in facilitating and guiding the decarbonisation efforts of its members around the world

By CCME Content Team

is Excellency Dr Abdullah Belhaif Al Nuaimi, UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment, today participated in the Ministerial Plenary Meeting on National Energy Planning and Implementation for Fostering Energy Transition as part of the 11th Assembly of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), the Ministry said through a Press release. The virtual session provided an opportunity to discuss emerging experience in reinforcing energy planning and implementation at the national level, and aligning it with global climate action and goals through the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), the Ministry said. Highlighting the new targets set as part of the UAE’s NDC, Dr Al Nuaimi said: “With the support of our stakeholders, we were able to increase our ambition to reduce carbon emissions to 23.5% compared to

February 2021

business as usual for the year 2030. This translates into absolute emission reduction of about 70 million tons. Our clean power capacity is on track to reach 14 GW by 2030, from 125 MW in 2015 and 2.4 GW at present. To date, we have invested more than USD 40 billion in clean energy projects locally. “While the approval and implementation of the NDC is a key milestone, it’s only one step in the right direction. The move falls under our national economic and energy diversification drive, manifested in the country’s current energy transition.” The Minister reiterated the UAE’s commitment to doing its part to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement, and joining forces with the rest of the world to fight climate change. Dr Al Nuaimi also participated in a press briefing organized by IRENA alongside His Excellency Francesco La Camera, DirectorGeneral of IRENA, and Her Excellency Dr

Nawal Al-Hosany, Permanent Representative of the UAE to IRENA. Addressing members of the media, the Minister commended the role of IRENA in facilitating and guiding the decarbonisation efforts of its members around the world, and its significant contribution to the growth of the renewables market. Furthermore, he praised the Agency for providing its expertise to assist countries in revising their NDCs over the past year with a focus on increasing the share of renewables in national pledges. He added: “The work of IRENA couldn’t be more important. Renewable energy holds the solution to many of the issues the world faces today, such as climate change, air pollution, and economic slowdown. Therefore, its deployment should be a key item on the world’s sustainability agenda, along with leveraging cutting-edge technologies and artificial intelligence to ensure we respond smartly, promptly, and efficiently to the most pressing challenges.”

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REGIONAL NEWS

Empower reveals AED 901 million net profit in 2020 District cooling utility reports 3.4% growth By CCME Content Team

According to Empower, performance in a nutshell • Total cooling capacity crossed 1,640,000 RT, maintaining the position of the largest district cooling provider in the world • Over 140,000 customers • Total energy saving AED 3.4 billion in 2020 • A total of 350.474 kilometres of district cooling networks

Ahmad Bin Shafar

1,640,000 Refrigeration Tons (RT) during 2020 that covered various projects, such as Deira Waterfront, Blue Waters, Jumeirah Group, Jumeirah Beach Residence, Dubai International Financial Centre, Business Bay, Dubai Healthcare City, Jumeirah Lake Towers, Palm Jumeirah, Discovery Gardens, Ibn Battuta Mall, Dubai Design District and International Media Production Zone, amongst others, the utility said. “Empower has also saved a total of 1,312 MW of electricity worth AED 3.4 billion, as of the end of 2020,” Bin Shafar said. On the sidelines of the press conference, Bin Shafar also said: “We are proud of our achievements in terms of increased number of district cooling plants that has reached 84 plants across Dubai, including the world's first unmanned district cooling plant in Jumeirah Village Circle project, along with having the largest district cooling network. “Empower is committed towards efficient utilization of energy resources and supporting its customers and real estate developers, by providing high-quality and eco-friendly district cooling services.” Bin Shafar also stated that Empower had reduced its fuel surcharge rates by approximately 25%, effective December 1, 2020, in line with the initiative of the Dubai’s Supreme Council of Energy. He added: “We will continue our endeavors in 2021 to increase the number of district cooling plants and expand our district cooling network across Dubai.”

mirates Central Cooling Systems Corporation (Empower) reported a net profit of AED 901 million, with a total revenue of AED 2.26 billion in 2020. Making the announcement through a Press release, Empower said its revenues grew by three per cent, with a net profit increase of 3.4% year-over-year (YoY). Empower added that the performance has been commendable, given the difficult economic conditions resulting from the global pandemic. Commenting on Empower's financial results at the annual press conference, Ahmad Bin Shafar, CEO, Empower, said: “2020 has been another successful year for Empower, with growth in its financial as well as operational performance, which is clearly evident from increase in revenues and net profit, additions in the number of district cooling plants, expansion of district cooling pipeline network, increase in customer base and the number of buildings connected with our district cooling services.” According to Empower, the number of buildings it provides with its district cooling services exceeded 1,252, and the customer base has reached more than 140,000. The total cooling capacity has reached

1,640,000

140,000

refrigeration tones total cooling capacity achieved by Empower by end of year 2020

Total Number of customers using district cooling

THE WORLD'S LARGEST DISTRICT COOLING SERVICES PROVIDER.

17%

Empower is the world's largest district cooling services provider. Since it's inception in 2003, the company has achieved tremendous growth driven by the large urban growth that Dubai witnessed in various areas.

District Cooling Plants

76%

349

The market share of district cooling in Dubai

1,312

Million

Hotels served in Dubai

1,252

Megawatt

Power saving by using DC Vs Conventional systems

Saving fresh water in imperial gallons

Total Number of buildings using district cooling

= 3.4 Billion Dirhams

TOTAL COOLING CAPACITY

5,400

15,000

25,000

110,000

130,000

250,000

330,000

370,000

400,000

978,000

1,045,000

1,115,000

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

February 2021

1,250,000 1,340,000 2016

2017

1,430,000 1,530,000 2018

2019

1,640,000 2020

SAER pumps says reliability is key to winning customer trust in time of COVID-19 Company official discusses Italian company’s strategy to maintain strong ties with UAE By Hannah Jo Uy | Contributing Editor

eliability has been crucial for SAER Elettropompe, in terms of maintaining customer relations in the time of COVID-19, Ilaria Favella, the company’s Marketing and Sales representative, said, adding that the decision to keep the production in Italy rather than move it to other countries has played a fundamental role in the company’s ability to strengthen its position in the UAE. “We are giving continuity to our customers and providing a winning, high-quality solution to those who are looking for a supplier in these difficult moments,” she said. “This situation has given us the opportunity to increase customers’ trust.” Favella added that thanks to the Italian production and available stock, Saer has been able to keep the scheduled lead time, as well as win contracts where a short delivery time was required, even during the first phases of the pandemic.

Favella said that SAER has continued to maintain strong links with the GCC region, adding that it was the first market to be developed when the company started exporting from Italy over 50 years ago. Favella said the range of products that is more well-known from the company includes end suction, split casing, high pressure and in-line pumps, as well as submersible pumps and motors, and applications in the civil, agricultural and industrial fields as well. She added that the company is also positioning itself to address evolving demand for water, which is a critical resource, pointing out that desalination is becoming an important alternative to traditional freshwater resources.

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REGIONAL NEWS

AESG in global expansion drive with 45% growth target for 2021

Company budgets for 45% growth in team size to 140 professionals through 2021; announces its intention to expand physical presence into Asia with new regional headquarters in Singapore

By CCME Content Team

onsultancy, engineering and advisory firm, AESG announced the appointment of global directors for each of its lines of business, as well as the expansion of the role of the company co-founder, Saeed Al Abbar, to group-wide CEO. Making the announcement through a Press release, the firm said the move follows the establishment of offices in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom, and successful delivery of large-scale projects across the Middle East, Europe and Asia. The consolidation of service teams under unified global divisions, AESG said, will enable it to deploy the best skills and resources from all its international offices on projects worldwide. Outlining how this strategy bolsters the company’s ambitious plans for the upcoming year, Al Abbar said: “2021 is set to be a significant growth year for AESG, as we build on the momentum we have established. While the Middle East will remain a focal market for us, we are also seeing steady growth in our business in the UK and Europe, as well as a surge in opportunities in Asia. Our reorganization perfectly positions us to capitalize on these opportunities, as we draw on the brightest and most qualified talent

Saeed Al Abbar

Phillipa Grant

from each market to drive our success across the vast geography of our operations.” AESG said that under the direction of its newly appointed global directors it is looking to further grow its teams. The company said it has budgeted for a 45% increase in headcount, with the objective of scaling to 140 professionals through 2021. The company also revealed its intention to replicate in Asia the strategy that has proven highly successful in the Middle East and Europe by establishing a regional headquarters in Singapore. AESG said its newly appointed global directors will be tasked with leading teams, driving the growth of their service lines and ensuring best practices are implemented across regions. Two AESG Global Directors have been promoted from within the company, with Phillipa Grant and Nivine Issa now taking on the roles of Global Director of Sustainability and Global Director of Environment, respectively. Grant and Issa have also taken up equity partnership in the firm, demonstrating their long-term commitment to AESG and

Nivine Issa

Peter Downer

highlighting the company’s leadership in gender equality in the field. With its appointment of Peter Downer to the position of Global Director of Fire and Life Safety, AESG said it is also looking to draw from the experience and expertise of a business leader who has worked with large multinational construction consultancy firms. An industry veteran of over 35 years – 15 of which have been in senior leadership positions – Downer has worked extensively on projects across the Middle East, Asia and Australia, AESG said. Prior to joining AESG, he served as the Senior VP at Jensen Hughes, where he led the Asia region, which included offices in China, Malaysia, Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong and Macau. Al Abbar said: “AESG has successfully navigated the challenges of 2020, and as developers look to enhance and optimize the efficiency, sustainability, safety and manageability of their investments, our comprehensive portfolio of specialist services is now more relevant than ever. We maintain a highly optimistic outlook with confidence that our commitment to maintaining service excellence through our ongoing expansion will further validate our position as a leading global consultancy firm.”

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February 2021

AESG acquires Springboard Middle East Launches Data+, a digital commissioning, handover and asset management platform

By CCME Content Team

ollowing the announcement of its ongoing global expansion, AESG said it has strengthened its position as a leading provider of consultancy services for the built-environment through the acquisition of Springboard Middle East. Making the announcement through a Press release, the consultancy, engineering and advisory firm said that in addition to gaining ownership of Springboard Middle East’s regional contracts, staff, IP and assets, the deal has enabled it to launch its new digital commissioning, handover and asset management platform, called Data+. As highlighted in the seminal ‘Building a Safer Future – Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety’ report, insufficient or inaccurate data can significantly impact the performance, efficiency and safety of buildings, AESG said. While over the last decade, the building industry has gradually moved away from traditional paper-based documentation to digital alternatives, issues around the accuracy, accessibility and updatability of building data continue to linger due to the

Saeed Al Abbar

static nature of the pdfs, spreadsheets and documents typically used in the process, AESG said. By offering one of the first comprehensive digital handover solutions in the Middle East, AESG said it hopes to introduce new practices for the industry, while strengthening the value proposition of its existing services. “Our acquisition of Springboard Middle East perfectly aligns with our strategy of pioneering new and more effective means of service delivery,” Saeed Al Abbar, CEO, AESG, said. “Their revolutionary platform perfectly rounds out the digitalisation of our offerings and enhances both the immediate and longterm value of the projects we deliver. By adopting an integrated, digital approach across commissioning, handover and asset management, AESG is committed to leading the data revolution in the built environment.” As a value-add to its clients, AESG said, it will now offer full digital handovers on all commissioning and handover management projects, along with the

option of hosting project data on Data+, its cloud-based platform – making it accessible from anywhere, easily searchable and instantly updatable. When utilised as a subscription-based service, Data+ serves as a secure, collaborative environment that stands as a ‘single, central source of truth’ for all stakeholders and project teams, it added. Given the fact that Data+ has been built on industry standards and follows a COBie and BIM Level 2-compliant framework, it can be integrated with most Building Information Modelling (BIM) and Computer Aided Facility Management (CAFM) solutions, AESG said. This allows for accurate and validated asset data to be seamlessly exported to these platforms, greatly enhancing building owners modelling, performance optimisation, and maintenance capabilities, it added. The platform also features integration with IoT and AI systems to provide digital twins of assets that enable the use of advanced analytics to optimise the performance of systems during the operational phase of a building’s lifecycle, it further added. While AESG believes clients of all sizes can benefit from its new offering, Al Abbar noted that Data+ will prove to be especially valuable to mega-projects. “We are working on a number of such high-value projects across the region, and the size and scale of these undertakings warrant a more streamlined approach to data management,” he said. “With all teams having instant access to the up-to-date information they need, they can have a clear picture of the real-time project metrics, which will greatly enhance their efficiency and effectiveness. We are excited to work together with our clients in familiarising them with this new approach to handover and ongoing project management.”

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Eltizam offers FM services to Emirates Down Syndrome Association

Aims to enhance the environment for learning and development of children of determination and to reduce the carbon footprint of the association By CCME Content Team

s part of its ‘Get Wonky’ culture to make an impact on the communities it serves, Eltizam Asset Management Group has partnered with the Emirates Down Syndrome Association (EDSA) in Dubai for a corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme aimed at enhancing the environment for learning and development of children of determination with Down Syndrome, while also helping EDSA reduce its carbon footprint.

Making the announcement through a Press release, Eltizam said the initiative seeks to provide a range of facilities management services to EDSA through its subsidiary, Tafawuq Facilities Management, which include providing water-efficient washbasin faucets equipped with sensors; servicing of all air conditioning units; and the cleaning of external glass, play areas and car parking shades. These maintenance services will further help EDSA reduce its carbon footprint

Empower signs contract to supply 30,000 RT of district cooling to wasl1 development District cooling utility will direct AED 210 million in investments to finance the construction of seven energy transmission and storage stations (ETS), and connect the real estate project to its district cooling plant, which is under construction By CCME Content Team

February 2021

based on Tafawuq’s energy-saving tools and equipment. Eltizam said. Chris Roberts, CEO, Eltizam Asset Management Group, said: “Eltizam continues to support organizations that help promote inclusion through our CSR programs, which is one of the tenets of our Get Wonky culture. We believe that supporting the Emirates Down Syndrome Association in their activities will enhance the growth and development of people with Down Syndrome and contribute to the organization’s goals of improving social equity in the UAE.” Doctor Manal Jaroor, Chairwoman, EDSA, commented: “The Emirates Down Syndrome Association always welcomes individuals and organizations keen to support the association’s cause to serve people and children with Down Syndrome and give them a fair opportunity to advance in life. We are thankful to Eltizam’s assistance in enhancing our facilities through their high-quality services, which enable everyone who come to our center to safely engage in all activities.”

mirates Central Cooling Systems Corporation (Empower), announced that it has signed an agreement with Dubai-based Wasl Asset Management Group, one of the largest real estate development and management companies in Dubai, to supply its mixed-use development, wasl1, with 30,000 Refrigeration Tons of district cooling. Currently being carried out in several phases, the project is located in proximity to Dubai’s arterial Sheikh Zayed Road and Al Jafiliya Metro Station, with views of Zabeel Park. wasl1 will eventually feature 13 residential towers, of which the first phase, Park Gate Residences – comprising four towers and consisting of 746 residential units – has been completed and handed over. wasl1 will also include a range of entertainment facilities, children’s play areas, fully equipped gymnasiums, a multipurpose hall, and a number of retail stores, restaurants and cafes. In his comments, H.E. Hesham Al Qassim, CEO, Wasl Asset Management Group, said: “We chose Empower based on its tremendous capabilities in providing district cooling services, and we believe that its efficacy will contribute to strengthening the distinctive wasl1 project. The company’s advanced technologies support our mandate to contribute to the sustainable development of the emirate, while also ensuring the provision of the best cooling services to tenants, effectively enhancing the unique characteristics of wasl1 as a luxury residential project.” According to Empower, providing a project of such magnitude with green district cooling services has prompted the corporation to direct AED 210 million in investments to finance the construction of seven energy transmission and storage

Universal Voltas outlines IAQ measures that could help lower infection rates

Company official discusses important initiatives that can be undertaken to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and how occupant well-being should outweigh concerns related to cost

By Hannah Jo Uy | Contributing Editor

s the COVID-19 virus continues to spread, ensuring healthy indoor air quality (IAQ) is vital to help lower the rate of infections, said Ashok Jha, Head FM and Retrofit Projects, Universal Voltas, who highlighted a number of measures that can be implemented to help achieve optimum IAQ .“Studies have demonstrated that higher ventilation rates have a direct impact on reducing the spread of microbials in workplaces and other occupied spaces,” he pointed out. “The benefit of higher levels of outside air (OA) intake is that more OA will help slow the rate of microbial growth, including viruses, such as [the one that instigates] COVID-19, by

diluting the concentration of contaminants in the air.” Jha went on to point out that demand control ventilation (DCV), which reduces outside ventilation air, based on CO2 parts per million measurements, is being overridden for conference rooms or other heavily occupied areas to bring in more ventilation air. “Lower target CO2 PPM operating setpoints brings in more air,” he explained. “For example, if the building’s sequence has a max or target CO2 setpoint of 1,000 PPM, this is roughly 15 cfm per person. By lowering the target CO2 setpoint to 800 PPM, this will introduce about 30 cfm per person.” Jha said another important measure to improve IAQ is upgrading the filter from MERV 8 to MERV 13/14 to increase the filtration efficacy of the recirculated air. He explained that this helps ensure that moisture eliminators on outside air intakes are cleaned and kept free of obstructions. “It may be helpful to ensure outside airflow is meeting the minimum airflows required by building

codes and ASHRAE 62.1 guidelines for ventilation,” he said. Jha added that humidity levels should also be maintained Ashok Jha between 40% and 60% for human comfort and to prevent the rapid growth of moulds and bacteria. Keeping in mind these recommendations, Jha said that he remains fully aware that bringing in more outdoor air will most likely lead to an increase in utility cost, as having to heat or cool outside air can be expensive, depending on the indoor and outdoor temperature differential. “However,” he said, “the trade-off between increased outside air ventilation, and subsequent higher utility cost, and occupant’s health is being taken into consideration, and the decision is always in favour of maintaining better IAQ in the current pandemic.”

stations (ETS), and to connect the project to the new district cooling plant that is currently underway in the Zabeel area. This, Empower said, would require the building of a subway under Sheikh Zayed Road, in addition to the expansion of the district cooling network. Empower also said that the wasl1 project will be provided with district cooling services in a number of phases. By mid-2021, the first phase is expected to be completed, which would enable it to provide 3,351 RT of cooling and up to the total capacity of 30,000 RT – equivalent to half of the production of the new Zabeel plant, Empower said. Subsequently, the district cooling plant in the Dubai Financial Centre, currently under Ahmad Bin Shafar with H.E. Hesham Al Qassim during the signing ceremony operation, will be connected to the new Zabeel plant, with a total load of 112,000 RT, Empower added. This with the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al comes in the framework of a proactive plan it has established to meet Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler the needs of the existing as well as of the upcoming mega development of Dubai, may God protect him.” projects launched in this vital area of Dubai, Empower further added. Bin Shafar pointed out that adding the wasl1 project to Ahmad Bin Shafar, CEO, Empower, said: “We are working hard Empower’s portfolio reflects the confidence real estate developers to serve the pioneering real estate projects, and we aim to provide and dealers have in the reliable services it provides. He added that all residential, commercial and entertainment facilities and sectors the association with the project also enhances its role in providing in the emirate of Dubai with district cooling services of sustainable more quality cooling services with 50% less energy consumption, international standards. This emphasizes the pioneering role Dubai compared to the currently used traditional refrigeration services. plays with regards to reducing carbon emissions, which comes in line

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Khalifa Port strengthens UAE food security with new facility

Says storage and processing plant to be operated by National Feed; highlights how it has a tradition of developing ultra-modern cold and dry storage installations that provide importers and companies involved in food distribution with efficient and sustainable services

By CCME Content Team

bu Dhabi Ports said it has inked a 50-year land lease agreement with Anchorage Investment, for the development of grain storage and processing plants at Khalifa Port, to be managed by National Feed, one of the largest Agro commodity processors in Abu Dhabi. Making the announcement through a Press release, it said the new facility is set to be developed on a 100,000-square-metre plot. With an initial design capacity of 300,000 metric tons, the facility will introduce grain storage and processing capabilities to the multi-purpose port for the production of key food and animal feed ingredients, it added. Providing Abu Dhabi Ports’ customers with direct access to competitive food ingredients, the facility will utilise grain resources to convert wheat into flour for baked goods, corn into starch, and glucose, barley, corn, and wheat by-products into animal feed, it said. Saif Al Mazrouei, Head of Ports Cluster, Abu Dhabi Ports, said: “It is a great honour and privilege that Khalifa Port has been selected to serve as the future home for National Feed’s grain storage and processing facilities. Furthering the capabilities of our multi-purpose port and bolstering our ongoing activities within the region’s food supply chain, the operation will introduce several key advantages for the benefit of new and existing manufacturing customers. Our clients will be able to source ready-made, competitive products quickly.” Following the official handover of the plot of land in the first quarter of 2021, the new project will house several grain silos capable of storing grain for an extended period, providing Abu Dhabi and the wider UAE with a long-term storage solution contributing to national food security, it said in the release. Abu Dhabi Ports, part of ADQ, one of the region’s largest holding companies, has witnessed a tremendous increase in demand for food storage solutions across its ports and industrial zones, and has been quick to respond to demand, it said. As such, it said, it has also developed ultra-modern cold and dry storage installations that provide importers and companies involved in food distribution with robust, efficient and sustainable

During the signing ceremony

services, along with local and regional distribution centres for handling food and medical supplies. Edward Hamod, General Manager, National Feed, said: “We are extremely proud to be part of one of the most important ports in the region and the world. Having direct access to superior logistical capabilities not only enhances our service delivery but also allows us to expand our contribution to the national food security ecosystem. “A robust logistical offering can play a fundamental role in the accessibility and cost structure of food commodity supply chains. With its deep-water capabilities, a strategic geographical location, and access to an extensive road and future rail network, Khalifa Port will unlock new opportunities for National Feed.” Hamod added that the port will not only increase National Feed’s grain storage and industrial capacities but also enhance the movement of products, which will be instrumental to “the abundance and competitiveness of food and feed strategic commodities in the UAE”. Following the completion of the new facility, Abu Dhabi Ports said, it will leverage the capabilities of the new food storage and processing plant to extend its food supply chain activities within the region. In addition to expanding Khalifa Port’s role beyond handling food containers and livestock, the new facility, it said, will support the operations of world-leading food production brands that have established themselves in Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi (KIZAD).

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February 2021

Ministry of Climate Change and Environment launches policies to boost UAE’s sustainability agenda

Releases UAE Sustainable Finance Framework 2021-2031, UAE Climate Change Research Network, The UAE State of Climate Report

By CCME Content Team

is Excellency Dr Abdullah Belhaif Al Nuaimi, UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment, launched new initiatives and policies to boost the UAE’s sustainability agenda, the Ministry said through a Press release. The launch happened during the annual Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW), the Ministry added. The Minister highlighted the importance of driving coordinated action to expedite the energy transition and increase the share of renewables in the countries’ energy mix at the opening ceremony of the 11th Assembly of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). He reflected on the UAE’s journey in deploying renewables at home and abroad, leading to a considerable surge in its domestic production capacity, as well as playing an effective and distinct role in reducing the cost of renewable energy worldwide. At the Ministerial Plenary Meeting on National Energy Planning and Implementation for Fostering Energy Transition, Dr Al Nuaimi presented the UAE’s new climate ambitions, set out in its second Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement. He noted that the NDC fell under the country’s national economic and energy diversification drive, manifested in its current energy transition. Moreover, Dr Al Nuaimi delivered the closing remarks at the first joint meeting to

prepare for two landmark UN summits that will take place in New York in September 2021 – the Food Systems Summit and the Highlevel Dialogue on Energy. The participants proposed targets, policies, initiatives, and other outcomes for the summits that have simultaneous food, energy and climate benefits. At a panel session, titled ‘COP26 – a Crucial Stepping Stone on the Path to a Sustainable Global Recovery’, the Minister stressed that the UN Climate Change Conference 2021 (COP26) is a timely opportunity for leaders to resume climate negotiations and work on a shared vision for raising climate ambition in the context of a green recovery. He pointed out that throughout the tough times posed by COVID-19, the UAE

has remained dedicated to accelerating its transition to a green economy, as part of its recovery plans, and has taken great strides along this path, including moving forward with its renewables and nuclear projects. At the third edition of the Abu Dhabi Sustainable Finance Forum, His Excellency Dr Al Nuaimi announced the launch of the UAE Sustainable Finance Framework 2021-2031 in partnership with Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM). Pioneered by the Ministry, the national framework supports the mobilisation of private capital towards low-carbon, environmentally sustainable and climateresilient investments. With the aim of ensuring the UAE emerges as a leader in climate knowledge, the Minister launched the UAE Climate Change Research Network that brings together a group of committed scientists and researchers to advance climate data collection and policy-relevant research on climate change impacts and adaptation. The Network presents opportunities for climate scientists in the UAE to engage with one another and with their peers from other countries as well as to facilitate research collaborations. Dr Al Nuaimi also unveiled the inaugural edition of The UAE State of Climate Report, which provides an overview of the state of knowledge on historical and projected climate changes and their impacts on the UAE and the wider Arabian Gulf region. On the sidelines of ADSW 2021, the Minister opened the winners’ announcement of the third edition of the Global Innovation Award (GIA), organised by Globally on behalf of MOCCAE. The competition aims to attract innovations from around the world to the UAE to support the country in its quest to become a world leader in sustainable development. This year’s GIA received a record number of applications – more than 1,200 from 65 countries. The winner was Cambrian Innovation, from the United States, with its innovative waste-to-energy solution that purifies wastewater while producing energy from the contaminants.

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Utico announces AED 3 billion primary listing in 2021

Company, which describes itself as the largest full-service utility in the Middle East, will float its shares in Dubai

By CCME Content Team

tico said it intends to list the company in 2021. Making the announcement through a Press release, the company, which describes itself as the Middle East’s largest full service utility and the only private water and power company in the UAE, said that its advisors were in negotiations to list the company through an AED 3 billion valuation IPO in Dubai later this year. “It is a coincidence that the government’s decree that all private joint stock companies and international private companies, which derive greater than 50% of their profits from the UAE, are to be listed in the local securities exchanges, and that our own intent to list in the UAE is pleasantly in line with the vision of the country’s leadership, said Richard Menezes, CEO, Utico.

February 2021

Utico said that by virtue of being a large investor and service provider in the UAE, it has a firm footing in the society, and it now intends to build on this by improving its offerings and bringing more products and services to the consumers and customers, in line with its full-spectrum circular economy sustainability business model. It added that its ESG metrics is one of the highest in the world in many aspects. Menezes said that Utico intends to list 20-30% of the company, and that this will be of great value to the public investors offering forward multiples in the range of about 11. Investors, he said, could expect a stable incremental dividend increase by 8-10% thereafter, which with current outlook can beat forward market metrics. The shareholders of Utico, he said, will finalise the dilution after due consultation with advisors and market regulators. Utico said that it being the lowest-cost reliable quality producer serving five of the six emirates in the UAE and having lately been awarded Dubai’s largest Hassyan IWP desalination project for 35 years supply, as well as winning a water supply project in Oman with the lowest IWP tariff in the Sultanate, makes it a desirable stock to own. Utico said it currently serves a population of about 200,000 and holds a market share of 20% in the areas it serves. Utico said it has been a committed company to the UAE and the countries it serves, building a sustainable business model with large expertise in the water and utilities services with its unique standing and offerings. It added that it hopes to improve its value proposition, globally, contributing to the drinking water and water treatment solutions, worldwide.

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ASHRAE Learning Institute opens registration for Spring online courses

Training focused on mitigating the spread of infectious diseases, Institute says

By CCME Content Team

SHRAE Learning Institute announced that registration is open for its 2021 Spring online instructor-led course series. The 16 online offerings, including eight new courses, run from January through June, the Institute said. The course, ‘Health Impacts of Indoor Air Extraction, Ventilation, and Filtration – Same or Different’, scheduled for February 17, the Institute said, will cover the future design of forced air ventilation systems and the most cost-effective HVAC operational changes and system modifications to improve existing indoor environments in reducing the spread of viruses. The course, ‘Hospital HVAC – Infection Mitigation, Comfort, Performance’, scheduled for February 23, will address the role of HVAC systems in helping to reduce Hospital Associated Infections (HAI), explaining airborne versus contact transmission, the Institute said. This course will describe the why and how filtration, air patterns, air changes, dilution, temperature, humidity, UV and pressurization in hospital HVAC can either help or hinder efforts to reduce HAI, the Institute added. According to the Institute, the following is the full schedule of online instructor-led course offerings: • January 26: COVID-19 and Buildings: Re-occupation after Lockdown • January 27: Reopening Commercial Buildings: Evaluating Your HVAC System’s Readiness to Mitigate the Spread of SARS-CoV-2 • February 17: Health Impacts of Indoor Air Extraction, Ventilation, and Filtration – Same or Different? • February 23: Hospital HVAC – Infection Mitigation, Comfort, Performance • February 24: Evaluating Your HVAC System’s Readiness to Mitigate the Spread of SARS-CoV-2 • March 2: Latest in High-Performance Dedicated Outdoor Air Systems • March 4: Humidity Control I: Design Tips and Traps • March 25: Save 40% by Complying with Standard 90.1-2019 • April 6: Commercial Building Energy Audits – Part I • April 13: Commercial Building Energy Audits – Part II • April 20: Air-to-Air Energy Recovery Fundamentals • April 22: V in HVAC – What, Why, Where, How, and How Much • May 4: An Introduction to ASHRAE Existing Building Commissioning • May 11: Fundamentals of Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation (UVGI) for Air and Surface Disinfection • May 20: Introduction to BACnet • June 1: Principles of Building Commissioning: ASHRAE Guideline 0 and Standard 202 • June 8: Powering with Renewable Resources: Thermal Energy Storage

February 2021

JCI CEO named Chair of Business Roundtable Energy & Environment Committee

As the incoming Biden administration prepares to put clean energy at the heart of the US economic recovery, such business-led initiatives will be key in helping the new administration meet its proposed goals, company says

By CCME Content Team

ohnson Controls (JCI) announced that George Oliver, its Chairman and CEO, will be serving as Chair of the Energy & Environment Committee of the Business Roundtable. Making the announcement through a Press release, JCI described the Business Roundtable as an association of chief executive officers of America’s leading companies. Through research and advocacy, Business Roundtable supports policies to spur job creation, improve US competitiveness and strengthen the economy, the company said. Its William Bahnfleth Energy & Environment Committee is dedicated to advancing policies that encourage innovation and support an environmentally and economically sustainable future, it added. As the incoming Biden administration prepares to put clean energy at the heart of the US economic recovery, such business-led initiatives will be key in helping the new administration meet its proposed goals, the company said. “I am honored to be selected as Chair of the Energy & Environment Committee and look forward to working with my fellow CEOs to support policies that preserve our environment and maximize our energy options,” Oliver said. “Climate change is one of the greatest challenges facing the planet today. Business Roundtable believes that businesses are an essential part of the solution and calls for collective action and policies to drive innovation, significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and limit global temperature rise.”

ASHRAE releases core recommendations for reducing airborne infectious aerosol exposure Also releases guidelines for operating places of worship

By CCME Content Team

he ASHRAE Epidemic Task Force has released new guidance to address control of airborne infectious aerosol exposure and recommendations for communities of faith buildings, ASHRAE said through a Press release. An infectious aerosol is a suspension in air of fine particles or droplets containing pathogens, such as the SARS-CoV-2 virus, William Bahnfleth which can cause infections when inhaled, ASHRAE said. They can be produced by breathing and talking and sneezing as well as by flushing toilets and by certain medical and dental procedures, it added. ASHRAE’s Core Recommendations for Reducing Airborne Infectious Aerosol Exposure concisely summarize the main points found in the detailed guidance documents produced by the ASHRAE Epidemic Task Force, it said. They are based on the concept that ventilation, filtration and air cleaners can be combined flexibly to achieve exposure reduction goals, subject to constraints that may include comfort, energy use and costs, it added. “This guidance outlines a clear approach for lessening the risk of infectious aerosol exposure for building occupants that can be applied in a wide range of applications, from homes to offices, to mobile environments, such as vehicles and ships,” said William Bahnfleth, Chair, ASHRAE Epidemic Task Force. “ASHRAE’s Core Recommendations are based on an equivalent clean air supply approach that allows the effects of filters, air cleaners, and other removal mechanisms to be added together to achieve an exposure reduction target.” According to ASHRAE, specific recommendations include the following: ■■ Public health guidance • Follow all regulatory and statutory requirements and recommendations.

■■ Ventilation, filtration, air cleaning • Outdoor airflow rates guidance for ventilation, as specified by applicable codes and standards. • Recommendations on filters and air cleaners that achieve MERV 13 or better levels of performance. • The use of air cleaners. • Control options that provide desired exposure reduction while minimizing associated energy penalties. • Air distribution. • Promote the mixing of space air. ■■ HVAC system operation • Maintain temperature and humidity design set points. • Maintain equivalent clean air supply required for design occupancy. • Operate systems for a time required to achieve three air changes of equivalent clean air supply. • Limit re-entry of contaminated air. ■■ System commissioning • Verify that HVAC systems are functioning as designed. According to ASHRAE, the task force’s Communities of Faith Buildings guidance offers recommendations on conducting worship services under epidemic conditions. Rick Karg, ASHRAE Epidemic Task Force member, said: “The intent of the Communities of Faith guidance is to offer those who operate and care for buildings used for worship a plan for implementing short- and long-term HVAC strategies to reduce the possibilities of transmission of the SARS-CoV2-2 virus. The document also helps communities move toward a new 'normal' operation after this public health emergency nears an end.” According to ASHRAE, recommendations for Communities of Faith include the following: ■■ Identify HVAC system characteristics. Compile and review operation and maintenance manuals and schedules.

■■ Verify HVAC systems are well maintained and operating as intended. For maintenance, follow the requirements of ASHRAE Standard 180 - 2018, Standard Practice for the Inspection and Maintenance of Commercial HVAC Systems. ■■ Consider PPE when maintaining HVAC systems, including filters, coils and drain pans. ■■ Operate HVAC systems, if present, with system fan set to run continuously when building is occupied for services or cleaning. ■■ Operate the system for a time required to achieve three equivalent air changes of outdoor air (effect of outdoor air, filtration and air cleaners) before the first daily occupancy and between occupied periods, if appropriate. Three equivalent air changes can be calculated using ASHRAE’s Building Readiness Guide. To view the complete ASHRAE Core Recommendations For Reducing Airborne Infectious Aerosol Exposure and Communities of Faith Building guidance, ASHRAE suggested visiting ashrae.org/COVID-19.

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JCI unveils sustainability commitments

Company says it is accelerating vision for a healthy, sustainable planet, including committing to achieving net-zero-carbon emissions before 2040

By CCME Content Team

"Rejoining the Paris Agreement is a critical first step in the US assuming a seat back at the leader's table on climate change. It indicates that the US is once again a part of the solution, as opposed to part of the problem. But rejoining is just table stakes. The hard work of putting the country on a course to becoming net zero emissions by mid-century begins now. Achieving this goal will require an unprecedented whole-ofGovernment approach - and this is precisely what the Biden/Harris administration has indicated that it will put in place."

ohnson Controls (JCI) announced new environmental, social and governance (ESG) commitments, sciencebased targets as well as a net-zero-carbon pledge to support a healthy, more sustainable planet over the next two decades. Making the announcement through a Press release, the company said its emissions reduction drive and that of its customers will be powered by its OpenBlue technologies and innovations, which leverage big data and artificial intelligence to optimise buildings sustainability. “Sustainability is at the heart of our - John Morton, Partner, Pollination; former US business and fundamental to everything that we do as a company,” said George President Barack Obama's Senior Energy Oliver, Chairman and CEO, Johnson Controls. & Climate Director at NSC “Today’s announcement reinforces our continued commitment to developing bestin-class climate solutions, and OpenBlue will empower our customers to streamline building operations and uncover energy efficiencies that will help meet their environmental goals. We continue to make sustainability a top priority for the company, • Launch an initiative to educate the next • Invest 75% of new product development our customers and our suppliers, and have generation of diverse sustainable building R&D in climate-related innovation to set ambitious goals that will drive significant industry leaders, in partnership with develop sustainable products and services improvements in carbon emissions.” Historically Black Colleges and Universities • Achieve 100% renewable electricity usage The launch of the new commitments, (HBCUs) globally by 2040 the company said, will enable it to deliver • Include sustainability and diversity quantifiable efforts to reduce carbon goals in senior leaders’ performance Customer and supply chain commitments: emissions, drive climate-focused innovation assessments, which are linked to executive • Double annual avoided emissions by 2030 and work closely with customers and compensation to drive accountability through customer use of Johnson Controls’ suppliers to meet sustainability goals as well • Launch an initiative focused on OpenBlue digitally enabled products and as measurable impact against its three key underserved markets and increase services OpenBlue healthy building pillars: healthy Johnson Controls’ spend with women- and • Create a supplier sustainability council people, healthy places and a healthy planet. minority-owned businesses with cohorts of suppliers, and their tierThese commitments, it added, are: one suppliers, and provide suppliers with Katie McGinty, Vice President & Chief training on sustainability best practices Environmental Sustainability Sustainability, Government and Regulatory and OpenBlue digital tools in order to meet Commitments: Affairs Officer, JCI, said: “Our commitments ambitious, public sustainability goals • Set science-based targets consistent reinforce the urgency to make positive • Weight sustainability equal to other key with the most ambitious 1.5 degrees metrics in supplier performance evaluations changes that will improve the health of C Intergovernmental Panel on Climate our planet, and we believe we are uniquely and provide a preference for suppliers with Change scenario positioned to help customers and suppliers excellent sustainability ratings • Reduce Johnson Controls’ operational achieve their sustainability goals, in addition emissions by 55% and reduce customers’ to our own. We are excited to step up the Social and Governance Sustainability emissions by 16% before 2030 role we play and will continue to innovate Commitments: • Achieve net-zero-carbon emissions before and uncover new pathways to meet our • Intends to double the representation of 2040, in line with the United Nations goals which will contribute to healthier women leaders globally and minority Framework Convention on Climate Change people, healthier places and a healthier leaders in the United States within five Race to Zero and Business Ambition for 1.5 planet.” years degrees C criteria

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Danfoss in predictive maintenance initiative LU-VE GROUP reports achieving Eurovent certification for its CO2 unit coolers Says its Alsense IoT services, equipped with a holistic store-level software suite, will empower food retailers

By CCME Content Team

Says it is amongst the very first companies to achieve the certification for thermal capacity, sound level and energy consumption

By CCME Content Team

anfoss said it has strengthened its Alsense IoT services with a holistic store-level software suite, moving store maintenance from reactive to proactive. Making the announcement through a Press release, the company said the technology enables food retailers to prioritise and reduce their maintenance efforts across stores and critical events. It added that the software solution was originally developed by Honeywell. “We are thrilled to welcome the Smart Refrigeration Solution and incorporate it into our Alsense cloud-based services,” said Jürgen Fischer, President, Danfoss Cooling Segment. “We are now putting predictive maintenance into action, allowing the food retail industry to prevent unplanned cooling system downtime and inefficiencies in energy consumption.” Natalie Schnippering, Head, Product Management Digital Services, Danfoss, said: “Combining the Smart Refrigeration Solution with our existing Alsense portfolio accelerates our ambition of meeting food retail customers’ needs for optimizing and proactively maintaining a high store performance. The solution goes beyond the traditional monitoring systems that are primarily providing alarms and data overviews. It identifies operating issues, such as compressor failure or coil icing, and provides hands-on guidance to fix them.” According to Danfoss, Alsense provides food retail professionals with transparency and executive overviews of refrigeration assets and energy efficiency at chain level. Going forward, the combined Alsense offering will enable managers to easily benchmark and prioritise efforts across stores to save time and optimise the impact of their maintenance spend, Danfoss said. Further, Alsense will provide service technicians with a prioritised action plan, empowering them to immediately address equipment performance and operating concerns upon arrival at a store, Danfoss added. Chris LaPietra, Vice President and General Manager, Honeywell Stationary Refrigerants, said, “The Smart Refrigeration Solution software was developed based on customer requirements gathered from leading food retailers, who were

February 2021

U-VE Group said it is amongst the very first companies to obtain Eurovent certification (No. 00.10.214) for CO2 unit coolers (thermal capacity, sound level and energy consumption), marketed under the brands LU-VE Exchangers and AIA LU-VE. Making the announcement through a Press release, LU-VE added that in 2016, it was the first manufacturer to achieve a certification from Eurovent that its heat exchangers for refrigeration had never registered a single negative test during three different test cycles (between 2011 and 2015). In 2000, LU-VE further added, it was the first company in Europe to obtain Eurovent's then new “Certify All” certification, for all ranges of condensers, dry coolers and unit coolers. In the 20 years since then, LU-VE said, its products have passed all the laboratory tests required by the certification procedure, which provides for an annual verification of some models of the ranges, chosen by Eurovent as samples, and tested at specialised international institutes.

looking to save money by reducing energy spend and improving performance of their refrigeration system.” According to Danfoss, the step follows the launch of its Alsense IoT platform in October 2020 and will accelerate its efforts in providing food retail professionals with intuitive software tools and data-driven, expert-enabled insights to optimise operational efficiency, refrigeration asset performance and energy efficiency.

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