CCME March 2013 by Climate Control Middle East

www.climatecontrolme.com

News DEWA’s new sustainable building opens p6

KSA launches solar power CPI Industry holds 1st Annual procurement program p8 Middle East VRF Conference p12 MFRI bags USD 27 m Jeddah

airport DC deal p8

A boost for renewable energies? p14

Feature: Qatar

Cool turns 10 p26

Interview: Greenheck p36 Global Workplace Innovation p38

PERSPECTIVE Saeed Alabbar on energy and sustainability p55

AHG tests Fresh-Aire’s Spotlight: Pockets of resistance p56 APCO air purifier p16 Plus: Marketplace, Comings&Goings, ASHRAE Update

MARCH 2013

""WE ARE THE

BLUE CH IP of dc

Empower has begun work on two new District Cooling plants in Dubai’s Business Bay area. An exclusive face to face with Ahmed Bin Shafar, the CEO of the company. PUBLICATION LICENSED BY IMPZ

US$15

速

Vol. 8 No. 3 | MARCH 2013 04 from the editor

Open loop, closed loop

happenings

contents

06 The region 14 At large 20 Marketplace 30 FOCUS

In pursuit of quality

IN 12 HAPPENINGS THE REGION

In the second and concluding part, we find out how insulation materials help improve the quality of the indoor environment and why preventive maintenance and systems cleaning still remain relevant.

CPI Industry holds 1st Annual Middle East VRF Conference

Participants recommend standardisation of regulations and information dissemination to drive industry growth

INTERVIEW

36 In defiance of the crisis

There’s no denying that the economic downturn of recent years has affected not only the US HVACR companies, but also other business entities globally. Jordan Baker, Regional Manager, Middle East, Greenheck, speaks about strategies his company has adopted.

COUNTRY REPORT

38 Rethinking sustainability at work

Dr Marie Puybaraud, Director, Global Workplace Innovation, Johnson Controls, reveals that employers, employees and customers increasingly want to be partners in environmental initiatives in a business organisation. Her team’s project, entitled Sustainable for All, tackles sustainability from a socio-technical perspective.

43 REPORT

All in one roof Industry players welcomed AHR Expo's success in the hope that enthusiasm on display at the show floor would translate into a positive outlook for the HVACR industry. We bring you our report.

54 PERSPECTIVE

The shape of things to come

Saeed Alabbar, Director at AESG, an energy and sustainability consultancy in the Middle East, shares his insights into what he believes will be the top sustainability trends for the construction industry in 2013 in the region.

The sun rises in the Kingdom

26 FEATURE

Qatar Cool turns 10

Celebrates a decade in the district cooling industry

COVER STORY

The current trend of energy demands in Saudi Arabia is alarming. At a time when it needs it most, the sun rises to the occasion and offers the Kingdom a sustainable solution to its present power crisis. Report by Jerome Sanchez

"WE ARE THE

BLUE CHIP OF DC"

56 Spotlight Pockets of resistance

There appears to be a preconceived notion that the greater the surface area covered, the more efficient the filter performance, which leads to the introduction of extra pockets. Dr Iyad Al-Attar systematically dispels this notion and emphasises the need for a filtration strategy for achieving better indoor air quality (IAQ).

Empower has begun work on two new District Cooling plants in Dubai’s Business Bay area. Clearly, the mood is upbeat at the Dubai-headquartered District Cooling provider. Ahmed Al Shafar, the company’s CEO in conversation with B Surendar of Climate Control Middle East…

March 2013

www.climatecontrolme.com

from the

editor

Publisher Dominic De Sousa Managing Director & Associate Publisher Frédéric Paillé | fred@cpi-industry.com

OPEN LOOP, CLOSED LOOP

Editorial Director & Associate Publisher B Surendar | surendar@cpi-industry.com COO Nadeem Hood | nadeem@cpidubai.com Contributing Editors Pratibha Umashankar | prati@cpi-industry.com Anoop K Menon | anoop@cpi-industry.com

’m not sure if you would remember, but in early 2011, Climate Control Middle East magazine had hosted a conference in Abu Dhabi, where District Cooling and standalone DX systems got a fair and decent hearing. The conference, conducted in a courtroom format, had advocates for both sides extolling the virtues of each system. Eventually, the ‘judge’, Dr Nawal Al Hosany of Masdar, after patiently listening to the ‘jury’ of end-users, declared that it had to be a horses-for-courses approach. Matters did not rest there, though, with both sides having a go at each other during individual product seminars and at the odd conference. In November 2012 in Riyadh, we took the first step away from mind-numbing comparisons and, instead, sought to reconcile the two. It was the need of the hour, considering that RACs and splits command 96% of the market for air conditioning in the Kingdom, while District Cooling and VRFs, with their purported vastly greater efficiency, continue to lag behind. The consensus in Riyadh was that the stakeholders of the two approaches would be far better off trying to advocate their benefits and present a case for their being the most energy-efficient approaches to cooling. Towards the end of last month, we at the magazine took a step further by conducting a dedicated VRF conference, where District Cooling and comparisons did not figure to the extent of earlier; instead, it was almost pure VRF territory – an unabashed, no-holds-barred advocacy of VRFs. The consultants and contractors in attendance listened to the panegyric, but at the end of it all, let it be known that while they were willing to give VRFs a go, they wanted to see the industry emerge from the secrecy it had shrouded itself in by showing a deep reluctance to share operational data of any form. As one consultant put it, “The VRF industry’s survival depends on its willingness to migrate from a closed loop to an open loop.” We shall wait and see how things pan out on that front. A detailed story on the conference will appear in the April issue; this issue contains an appetiser. The highlight of this issue (as is obvious from the cover page) is the interview with the CEO of Empower, the district cooling operator that has been instrumental in establishing a global ASHRAE design standard for District Cooling. We escalated the interview to cover story status, because it marks a rare occasion where the region is an influencer, as opposed to merely embracing an international standard. In that regard, Empower’s achievement ought to be an occasion for celebration for the entire District Cooling industry in the region. Speaking of celebration, this issue contains detailed coverage of the 10th Anniversary celebrations of Qatar Cool. Space does not permit to discuss it here, so I am going to ask you to flip to the story, on page 26.

Business Development Consultant Stephanie McGuinness stephanie@cpi-industry.com Design Genesis Salao | getty@cpi-industry.com Webmaster Troy Maagma | troy@cpidubai.com Database/ Subscriptions Manager Purwanti Srirejeki purwanti@cpi-industry.com Advertising Enquiries Frédéric Paillé: +971 50 7147204 fred@cpi-industry.com Stephanie McGuinness: +971 55 6503757 stephanie@cpi-industry.com USA and Canada Kanika Saxena Director (North America) 25 Kingsbridge Garden Cir Suite 919 Mississauga, ON, Canada L5R 4B1 kanika@cpi-industry.com Tel/fax: +1 905 890 5031 Euro Zone and UK Sicking Industrial Marketing Wilhelm Sicking 45130 Essen - Emmastrasse 44 Tel: +49 (0)201-779861 Fax: +49 (0)201-781741 Andreas Sicking 59872 Freienohl - Kurt-Schumacher-Str. 16 Tel: +49 (0)2903-3385-70 Fax: +49 (0)2903-3385-82 sicking-media@email.de • www.sicking.de

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With Best Wishes,

B Surendar News DEWA’s new sustaina

KSA launches solar power procurement program p8 MFRI bags USD

27 m Jeddah airport DC deal p8

A boost for renewable

Get the next issue of Climate Control Middle East early! Did you know that Climate Control Middle East is also available electronically? Get a digitised copy of the magazine every month, before the issue goes for print! As a bonus, the digital version includes such features as a keyword search, annotation, highlight, note-making and hot links. For more details, please access www.cpi-industry.com/digital

Also available at WWW.ISSUU.COM/CPI-INDUSTRY

energies? p14

ble building opens

CPI Industry holds

1st Annual Middle East VRF Conferenc e p12

Feature: Qatar

Cool turns 10 p26

www.climatecontrolm e.com Interview: Greenhec

Global Workplace Innovationp36

p38 VE Saeed Alabbar AHG tests Fresh-Aire’s on energy and sustainabilit y p55 APCO air purifier p16 Spotlight: Pockets of resistan ce p56 PERSPECTI

Plus: Marketplace,

Comings&Goings, ASHRAE Update

MARCH 2013

""WE ARE THE

BLUE CHIP of d C"

Empower has begun work on two new District Business Bay area. An exclusive face to face Cooling plants in Dubai’s with Ahmed Bin Shafar, the CEO of the compa ny.

PUBLICATION LICENSED BY IMPZ

US$15

Climate Control Middle East March 2013

Head Office PO Box 13700 Dubai, UAE Tel: +971 4 375 68 30 Fax: +971 4 43 419 06 Web: www.cpi-industry.com Printed by: Excel Printing Press, Sharjah, UAE © Copyright 2013 CPI. All rights reserved. While the publishers have made every effort to ensure the accuracy of all information in this magazine, they will not be held responsible for any errors therein.

A . P S. 12 0 8 _ K- E C O L I N E _ b a s i c . E N //

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happenings the region

DEWA’s new sustainable building opens

Reported to be the largest government building in the world to be awarded LEED Platinum

H.H. Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum opening DEWA's sustainable building

.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Minister of Finance, and President of the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), on February 19, 2013, opened DEWA's new sustainable building. The inauguration ceremony was attended by dignitaries, including H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Supreme Council of Energy in Dubai; H.E. Matar Humaid Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board of Directors of DEWA; H.E. Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Managing Director and CEO of DEWA; members of the board; Executive Vice Presidents from DEWA; senior officials and VIPs from Ministries and Government Departments; and media representatives. 6

“We dedicate this achievement to His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum,” Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer said. He added that, as per Sheikh Hamdan’s directives to set a clear roadmap and integrated framework for the construction of the building, the DEWA Sustainable Building was now recognised as the largest government building in the world with a LEED Platinum rating from the US Green Building Council. “The DEWA Sustainable Building achieved 98 out of 110 points,” Al Tayer revealed. In an exclusive interview with Climate Control Middle East, Abdullah Obaidullah, Executive Vice President of Water and Civil Engineering Division, DEWA highlighted a few of the salient

Climate Control Middle East March 2013

features of the new DEWA Sustainable Building: “The glass panels used in the building are specially ordered from a German company, and are designed for heat rejection,” he said. “The specifications were assigned by our green consultants, Green Technologies.” He added that because the glass panels helped in rejecting the heat from the outside, the temperature inside the building could be kept within the range of 23°C to 24°C. He also pointed out that the entire building was installed with LED lighting systems and was equipped with motion sensors. The building management system, he further elaborated, controlled around 90% of the functions of the building. “The system can control the chillers, the AHUs, the fans, the ventilation fans for the basement and the solar power, among others,” he said. Though already an integral part of the building’s operation, Obaidullah pointed out that the systems were in the process of being finetuned and more data was being gathered to find out the best way to operate the new building. “It will take some time, as it is an evolving knowledge,” he explained. Regarding the power being generated by solar panels installed at the rooftop of the building, Obaidullah elucidated that all the power being generated went directly to the grid of the building, and that there was no special power allocation to any system within the building. He said that this was to avoid wastage of power in situations when allocated power was not consumed. In an official communiqué, DEWA highlighted other sustainability features of the

new Sustainable Building. Listed below are a few of them: • Thirty-six per cent of the total construction materials used is recycled materials. • An in-house laboratory ensures that the quality of water conforms to environmental standards. • Additional insulation in walls and roof and the use of water-cooled chillers helps cut down energy consumption. • Renewable energy is available through an on-site 660 kW solar power plant, which also helps in the reduction of the building’s carbon footprint • Special regulators, sensor taps, low-flow fixtures and waterless urinals help reduce water consumption by as much as 48%. • Sewage water is treated by a grey water treatment plant and sewage treatment plant. • Treated water is reused in the cooling tower for irrigation and flushing toilets. • Carbon dioxide sensors with alarms in all densely populated areas constantly monitor the quality of indoor air. • Twenty per cent of the project site features vegetated open spaces. • Waste reduction is aided by dedicated areas for collection and storage of materials for recycling. According to DEWA, sustainability standards have been a priority throughout the construction process of the building and in the choice of the materials used, which have helped it achieve its strategic goals and attain recognition for its projects, both locally and internationally.

happenings the region

KSA launches solar power procurement programme

K.A. CARE’s White Paper paves way for deployment of 41 GW solar power projects

audi Arabia’s King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy (K.A. CARE) has issued its longawaited White Paper paving the way towards the deployment of 41 GW of solar power projects worth over USD 60 billion. Revealing this in a news release, The Emirates Solar Industry Association (ESIA) elaborated that K.A. CARE has announced the launch of its Renewable Energy Competitive Procurement Portal and released the White Paper outlining how this vast procurement process would unfold. A copy of the White Paper can be downloaded free of charge on www.kacare.gov.sa/cpp, the news release added. According to ESIA, the announcement marks the launch of a registration process for interested companies to submit feedback and obtain important information in connection with the Renewable Energy Program, which will lead crucially to the introductory procurement round. The introductory procurement round will consist of five to seven projects with a combined capacity of up to 800 MW, and the round is part of Saudi Arabia’s colossal programme to procure 41,000 GW of solar power facilities by 2032, ESIA explained. “This is a very important milestone, both for Saudi Arabia and the Middle East solar market as a whole,” Vahid Fotuhi, President of ESIA said. ESIA will continue to work closely with K.A. CARE to make sure this programme becomes a resounding success and a benchmark for excellence.” 8

Climate Control Middle East March 2013

MFRI bags USD 27m Jeddah airport DC deal First phase of district cooling system expansion project at King Abdul-Aziz International airport to begin

ccording to a news item that appeared in the Arab News and posted on the Zawya website, February 7, 2013, MFRI has announced that its Perma-Pipe Saudi Arabia subsidiary has received new orders exceeding USD 27 million for the first phase of the district cooling system expansion project at King Abdul-Aziz International (KAIA) airport in Jeddah, claimed to be one of the largest projects in the recent history of Saudi Arabia. These orders are reportedly in addition to the USD 23 million that the company has announced earlier, bringing the total of major project work in Saudi Arabia to nearly USD 50 million. MFRI, a multi-line company engaged in businesses such as pre-insulated specialty piping systems for oil and gas gathering, district heating and cooling and other applications, gave details of the mega project, as per the news release: • The passenger terminal complex comprises an area over 6.7 million ft2 (622,000 m2) with 46 gates, 96 boarding bridges, including double deck access for the A380 Airbus. • The total facilities span over 25,000 acres (100 km2) including the chilled water distribution system, utility plants, utility tunnel, plant nursery, and transportation centre with integrated rail station. Speaking about his company being awarded the project, Fati Elgendy, President, Perma-Pipe, reportedly said: “This order represents a further validation of our strategy to expand our footprint to the rapidly developing Saudi market. Delivery is expected to start in the first fiscal quarter of 2013 and be completed in the fourth quarter. We plan to produce the insulated pipe, spools and fittings at our new factory in Dammam, with important support from our UAE factory. Our team has been working for over one year, pursuing this very prestigious order. The KAIA project positions us very well for a strong 2013 in the Middle East.” Bradley Mautner, CEO of MFRI, is said to have added: “The Jeddah Airport is the largest single project we have received since we started our business activities in the Middle East some seven years ago. Perma-Pipe has already successfully completed the supply of insulated piping systems to several other major airports in the UAE, Qatar, and Oman. Our best-in-class products, engineering skills and support services have proven to be a successful formula in establishing Perma-Pipe as the market leader in the region.”

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happenings the region

Emrill opens new training facility

Centre equipped to impart technical and theoretical training

mrill, a UAE-based facilities management company, has announced welcoming its employees and fresh recruits to a new training and development facility – the Centre of Excellence – dedicated to soft and hard services training for all personnel. The new facility was planned and built to meet the demands of its rapid expansion and growth over the past two years, Emrill said, and claimed that the Centre was spread across 400 m2, had an increased capacity and provisions for technical training, comprising several fully equipped technical and theoretical training rooms that have been used to train 1,000 employees to date, including

new recruits and current employees for their career development. Ben Churchill, the organisation’s Managing Director, said: “We believe in developing and investing in their progress through continuous training and further education. As industry leaders, we work towards continuously raising standards and applying best practices across the business.” Emrill revealed that with the acquisition of several new contracts to the company’s portfolio, including Torch Tower, Etihad Towers and Princess Tower, the tallest residential building in the world, the Centre had the

Empower awards contract to HSSG

DC plant first in Dubai to be constructed compliant with new TSE and TES requirements

mpower has announced awarding Al Habtoor STFA Soil Group (HSSG) the contract for carrying out shoring and enabling works in its new district cooling plant in Business Bay. The new plant is the first district cooling plant

to be constructed in Dubai compliant with the new TSE and TES requirements, as per Dubai Executive Council Directive for conserving environmental resources, including water, in providing district cooling services, the announcement highlighted.

Climate Control Middle East March 2013

capacity to provide technical and theoretical training to 140 employees daily in eight fully equipped training rooms. According to Emrill, a large variety of

courses are available, ranging from team building and client management to technical skills that include HVAC, plumbing and electrical. Commenting on specific areas of training in terms of HVAC, Churchill said: “Our HVAC training follows

Once ready, the new plant will provide 34,000 TR, catering to the needs of the Business Bay residents, businesses and offices, it added. In this context, Ahmed Bin Shafar, CEO, Empower said: “We awarded this project to Al Habtoor STFA Soil Group LLC (HSSG) as the company is handling projects of similar nature in Business Bay. We always select our constructors after due diligence, and we have chosen this company for its record and experience in the UAE in this domain.

a solid quality process of the ISO 9001 at the Centre of Excellence. We have developed a bespoke training solution that is based on the SFG20 standards, CIBSE and BISRA guidelines to equip our staff with best practice maintenance techniques to understand productivity and asset life cycles when maintaining our buildings. Alongside this, the Centre of Excellence has dedicated practical workshops to ensure that our technical staff is highly competent and understand techniques that are used globally for commissioning, HVAC, controls and energy efficiencies within heating and cooling systems.” The programmes are delivered by internally and externally accredited experts from all the major disciplines of facilities management, the announcement elaborated.

“The implementation of the contract will take three months. We are getting ready to open the tender to appoint the primary constructor to build the plant, with preference being given to local companies and those that we have worked with in the past. The new plant will serve the needs of residents and offices based in Business Bay, around the area of Al Khail Road. It will increase the production capacity of Empower by 10% once it is up and running." (See related story on page 32.)

happenings the region

CPI Industry holds 1 Annual Middle East VRF Conference st

Participants recommend standardisation of regulations and information dissemination to drive industry growth

Plenary discussion: (L-R) Xiucheng Ji, JCI; Justin Patrick, JCI; Brij Sharma, Daikin McQuay; Peck Zhao, Midea; Amjad Abu Alika, LG

he first Annual Middle East Variable Refrigerant Flow Conference (VAR-Fair) was held on February 24 and 25 at Radisson Blu, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. The conference, presented by CPI Industry, was attended by representatives from government bodies and agencies, the industry, the media, and academia from all over the world. The Fair served as an opportunity for speakers and participants to discuss trends, technologies, and relevant issues and concerns regarding variable refrigerant flow (VRF) systems. In his keynote address, Mohammad Ahmad Al Mulla, Director, Metrology Department, Emirates Authority for Standardization and Metrology (ESMA), and

the President of the Gulf Association for Metrology (GULFMET), highlighted the current programmes of ESMA relating to energy-efficient standards and to limiting the use of HCFC refrigerants, in accordance with the ongoing campaign of phasing-out refrigerants responsible for destroying the ozone layer. Edwin Young, Programme Manager, Estidama, Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council, elucidated Estidama’s policies and regulations. He also spoke about the entity’s standards in relation to VRF systems and made recommendations that could help encourage growth for the overall HVACR industry. Dr Esam Elsarrag, Director, Gulf Organisation for Research and Development (GORD), introduced the agency, saying that its main

Climate Control Middle East March 2013

focus was sustainability, improvement of well-being, conservation of resources, protection of the environment, and social and economic development. “Our aim is to create a sustainable built-environment that minimises ecological impact through the development of a sustainability rating system supported by a set of performance-based products,” said Elsarrag. Highlighting the system’s energy-saving capabilities and flexibility of design and function, George Kenich, Head of Infrastructure and MEP, ALDAR Properties, spoke about the salient advantages of VRFs. He added that VRFs provided quiet operation, used less space in a facility, and could be managed through a centralised monitoring system. He also pointed out concerns

over VRF systems, including higher installation costs and life cycle costs, the possibility of a refrigerant leak, and the general lack of awareness about the system. “Facilities managers and technicians are not familiar with the system,” said Kenich. “There also exist some uncertainties in operation and maintenance. So, contractor bids are a bit higher to manage the uncertainty.” He also attributed the higher life cycle cost to unknown maintenance issue and concerns about the system’s life expectancy. Other speakers who made presentations during the first half of the event included Yaqoub Almatouq, a refrigerant expert from Kuwait, and Justin Patrick, Director for Channel Marketing and Strategy from Johnson Controls, Milwaukee. A plenary discussion on coefficient of performance (COP), the status of testing and certification for VRF systems, the impact of the choice of refrigerants in VRF systems and the feasibility of earning Certified Emissions Reductions (CERs) in high-density real estate developments with VRF systems, ensued. The earlier speakers, as also Erick Melquiond, Managing Director of Eurovent Certification Company, took part in the discussion. B Surendar, Editorial Director and Associate Publisher, CPI Industry, then presented a new online platform for meeting and exchange of insights and information for the VRF stakeholder community, VARsity (www. var-sity.com). Day One of the event concluded with technical presentations by representatives from Johnson Controls, Midea Commercial

Tuned to Your Cooling Needs

Peck Zhao, Midea

Erick Melquiond, Eurovent Certification Company

Plenary discussion: (L-R) George Kenich, Aldar Properties PJSC; Dr Esam Elsarrag, Gulf Organisation for Research & Development (GORD-GSAS); Edwin Young, Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council Estidama Program; Salah Nezar, QPM

•

of an association will give VRF stakeholders a “voice”. The efficiency of VRF systems has not yet been proven because of lack of standards in the technology’s certification process. The government has to get involved in making standard codes and regulations for the certification of VRF systems. A collaborative effort among VRF stakeholders is important to promote the technology, test the system and present the test results to the government. Information regarding VRF installations should be gathered in a single open database to promote transparency among industry players and stakeholders. 

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Air Conditioner, Daikin McQuay and LG Electronics. The highlight of the second day of the conference was a cluster discussion, during which the participants were given an opportunity to exchange ideas, insights and perspectives about various key issues concerning the VRF industry. Based on the discussion, participants were asked to draft recommendations on a range of topics, including the formation of an association for VRF stakeholders, standardisation of codes and regulations for VRF system certification, information dissemination among VRF system manufacturers and training for installation and maintenance personnel. Below are a few of the key points: • Industry representation is missing in the region, and therefore, the formation

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March 2013

www.climatecontrolme.com

happenings at large

Carel to participate in ISH 2013

Its avowed theme is highefficiency solutions

arel has announced its participation in ISH, the trade fair being held in Frankfurt from March 12 to 16. It will have its presence at booth 11.0 C 51, where it will showcase its products, including control of variable speed compressors

with BLDC (brushless DC) technology, electronic expansion valves and the new optiMist adiabatic system for humidification, as well as direct or indirect evaporative cooling, the announcement elaborated. According to Carel, working simulators will be used to help explain the technology on display. This, said the company, will include a refrigeration system with glass evaporator and glass condenser to show the effects of oil

and refrigerant in various stages of the thermodynamic cycle and to compare the difference between the different expansion valve technologies currently available in the market. An air conditioning simulator will also be used to show the effectiveness of BLDC compressor technology while a mini air handler will show the effectiveness of evaporative cooling in commercial buildings, Carel added.

A boost for renewable energies? Conference to discuss viable storage solutions for renewable energies

ith the first staging of Energy Storage North America (ESNA) from September 10 to 12 at the San Jose Convention Center in California, Messe Düsseldorf will bring its successful concept from Germany to the United States. Announcing this, Messe Düsseldorf said that ESNA 2013 would be the first energy storage conference and expo in the United States to focus exclusively on practical and economically viable storage solutions for renewable energies. Future-oriented applications, customers and deal making, as well as political parameters, would be focus points, it added, and revealed that the event would be jointly organised by Messe Düsseldorf North America

and Strategen Consulting, a strategy consulting firm. According to the organisers, ESNA is timed to coincide with potential new energy storage procurement targets for California, with the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) required to establish appropriate 2015 and 2020 energy storage procurement targets, if costeffective and commercially viable by October 2013. In this context, Hans Werner Reinhard, Deputy Managing Director of Messe Düsseldorf, said: “In the long term, efficient storage technologies have a key function in enabling a sustainable energy supply based on renewable

Climate Control Middle East March 2013

energies. This awareness forms the basis of Energy Storage Düsseldorf, and it also applies, of course, to the United States, adapted to the situation in that country. Our goal is to bring together experts from science, industry and politics, so that storage technologies can be considered in the overall context of energy management development.” Janice Lin, Executive Director of the California Energy Storage Alliance (CESA) and

Managing Partner of Strategen Consulting, added: “Energy Storage North America will be the ideal event to showcase profitable energy storage applications and innovative new business models for the electric power system. The global reach of Messe Düsseldorf and its partners underscores the importance of grid storage as a key solution to enable a cleaner, more affordable, reliable and secure electric power system around the world. ” Exhibitor applications and information as well as conference registration are available online at www. ESNAexpo.com, the organisers said.

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happenings at large

AHG tests Fresh-Aire’s APCO air purifier

Lab test proves UV light, activated carbon media and PCO processes "highly effective" for IAQ

irmid Healthgroup (AHG), an Irelandbased third-party indoor air cleaning device test facility, has announced the successful laboratory test results of a new combination ultra-violet (UV-C) light,

activated carbon media air purification and photocatalytic oxidation (PCO) device – the APCO air purifier manufactured by Fresh-Aire UV, Jupiter, Florida. AHG added that the demonstration proved APCO’s capability to

both sterilise microorganisms and reduce volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and reported that the APCO’s UV light was “highly effective” at inactivating microbes, and that its titanium-dioxide infused carbon media matrix and PCO combination was “capable of reducing high concentrations” of VOCs commonly found in residential, as well as commercial buildings, such as hospitals, hotels, offices and schools. The company gave further details: The UV-C

Record Italian presence expected at ISH China & CIHE

Newly designed sessions to highlight key trends at SinoEuropean HVAC Congress, claim organisers

sia’s HVAC and sanitation exhibition, ISH China & CIHE – China International Trade Fair for Sanitation, Heating, Ventilation & Air-Conditioning – will be held once again at the New China International Exhibition Center, Beijing, from April 8 to 10, the event organisers, Messe Frankfurt (Shanghai) Co Ltd and Beijing B&D Tiger Exhibition Co Ltd, have announced through an official communiqué. The show will cover six halls with a range of products, including boilers, wall-hung boilers, heat pumps, solar energy-based products, radiators, heat exchangers,

Climate Control Middle East March 2013

ventilation and air conditioning units, sanitation wares, floor-heating devices, heat meters and a number of energy-saving HVAC products, the communiqué added. According to the organisers, this year’s edition of the show is expected to attract over 900 exhibitors, 38,000 professional visitors and an estimated 22 countries and regions being represented. Italy, in particular, is expected to be one of the largest overseas exhibiting countries, with 30 exhibitors confirmed, they highlighted. The organisers said that Italian firms have reserved over 2,500 m2 of space combined – a 30% increase from the

light portion of the study simulated airstream microbe inactivation in an ASTM/ AHAM style environmental test chamber simulating a typical building’s indoor environment and HVAC air handler arrangement. A single pass test was also performed on an ASHRAE Standard 52.2 test duct system. AHG revealed that the test’s UV-C light single-pass inactivation results were: Bacteria (S.epidermidis) – 98.85%; Virus (MS2 coliphage) – 99.03%; and

previous year. A few of the Italian brands expected at the 2013 show include Ariston, Caleffi, IDEA, Immergas, and IRSAP. A number of new exhibitors from Italy have also been confirmed, including Bugatti, MFB Bonimi, R B M, Seitron and Tecnocontrol. They see ISH China & CIHE as their top choice for tapping into China’s increasingly sought-after HVAC market, the organisers added. Commenting on this, Wang Moyan, Marketing Manager of Italian exhibitor R B M SpA, said: “As a long-term partner of ISH Frankfurt, we are well-known for the quality of our HVAC products. We make great efforts to promote our indoor systems. The Beijing show is our first attempt at exhibiting in China and gaining recognition in the local market. We will be showcasing advanced floorheating systems, ceiling radiant systems and various kinds of HVAC valves. My hope is that we can gain strong local partners and leave lasting impressions on the quality of our Italian products.” The organisers claimed that, with a positive response from attendees, ISH China & CIHE’s 2013 show will feature more extensive fringe programmes that cover a wider range of topics, and the Sino-European HVAC Congress, scheduled to be held from April 8 to 9, will highlight some of the biggest issues in terms of industry growth and the development of HVAC technology between China and Europe.

Mould (A.niger) – 78.80%. According to AHG, the test, which simulated the typical indoor HVAC conditions of 73°F (23°C), 55% relative humidity and airflow velocity of 492-fpm (0.93 m3/sec), was performed on a single pass. IAQ experts claim even higher inactivity rates among the three tested microbes could occur in a multiple pass environment, such as a typical building HVAC recirculation unit with an APCO device, the company added. Additional multiple passes of the air contaminants through the APCO product will further decrease the total concentration (mg/m3 or ppmv) of the air contaminants in the test chamber or indoor space, believes Dean T Tompkins, PhD, PE, a

Milwaukee, Wisconsinbased IAQ consultant who reviewed the AHG test results. “For practical reasons, demonstration test data assessing the performance of the APCO were based on experiments performed for a finite period of time,” Tompkins said. “When operating in a building’s HVAC system with no finite time period of concern, additional air passes through the APCO will result in contaminant concentrations below those achieved at the end of AHG’s experimental test period.” Tompkins is the former chairman of ASHRAE Technical Committee 2.3. – Gas Phase Contaminants and Removal Equipment – and a 15-year research scientist in the Environmental Chemistry

and Technology Programme of University of Wisconsin, Madison, in the United States. AHG went into the nittygritty of the test process: The commercial and residential APCO models are designed to sterilise and inactivate mould, fungi, viruses and other microorganisms in the airstream and on internal surfaces of HVAC air handlers. Meanwhile, the activated carbon media matrix element adsorbs airborne VOCs, such as cleaning agents, off-gassing from interior furnishings materials and other gaseous contaminants. The UV-C light performs a second duty because its close positioning to the activated carbon media creates a PCO process that chemically transforms the captured gaseous

contaminants to harmless carbon dioxide (CO2) and water vapour (H2O) molecules. In addition to UV light disinfection, VOC removal capabilities using APCO’s activated carbon media and PCO functions were also reportedly tested. According to AHG authorities, the APCO is “capable of reducing very high concentrations of formaldehyde and acetaldehyde.” This is in light of the fact that the test used a limited residence time combined with 100 times normal gas contaminant concentration exposures found in typical commercial building environments. Multiple passes, typical of a re-circulating HVAC system, Tompkins said, will also reduce gaseous contaminants further.

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comings&goings TA Hydronics appoints new MD

Management and sales expanded at GEA Bock Ralf Eichentopf and Erik Aust elevated to new positions

Biren Patel comes with two decades of HVAC experience

ith the beginning of the new year, GEA Bock has announced changes within the management and sales team at the headquarters in Frickenhausen, Germany. The company has provided the following information regarding the changes: Since January 1, Ralf Eichentopf is part of the Management Team at GEA Bock. He has already worked at different locations for the GEA Group as Production and Plant Manager, and will be responsible for the entire manufacturing at GEA Bock. In the market segment Mobile Applications (compressors for buses and trains), Erik Aust is the new Sales Director at GEA Bock since January 1. Until recently, Aust was Key Account Manager for motor cooling at the automotive supplier Behr, and will now be responsible for managing the mobile Sales Department.

A Hydronics has announced the appointment of Biren Patel as the new Managing Director, Middle East Africa and India operations. He has worked within HVAC businesses for over 20 years. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering and has recently graduated through the IMI Management Fundamentals programme, the news release added. Patel, who has been associated with TA Hydronics since December 2006 as Regional Manager, and has contributed to the growth of the company ever since, has been instrumental in key project wins for his organisation, some of which include Burj Khalifa, Formula 1

Race Track Abu Dhabi, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi and Majlis Oman, the company revealed. On his elevation to the new post, Patel said: “I am delighted to be appointed as the Managing Director for TA Hydronics Middle East and India operations. Although it is an exigent time for our industry, I am certainly optimistic of the future outlook in this region…. Despite unacceptable temperature regimes, higher energy consumptions, poor indoor climate, as seen on several installed projects, we do not see emphasis on correctly designing the distribution chilled water network. We look forward to bringing a change by stepping up to be a solution provider in the region.”

GAMI names new Business Development Manager

Iyad Dib aims to make GAMI one of the major players in the industry

yad Dib has joined Gulf Air Conditioning Manufacturing Industries (GAMI) as the new Business Development Manager and Head for Marketing and Sales, effective January 2013. In his new capacity, Dib looks to enhance and support the present market of GAMI

in the UAE, and to open new offices, increase the network of customers and expand GAMI’s operations in the region and in Africa. He was previously connected with the VTS Group, where he worked for nine years, serving as the Managing Director for Middle East and Africa in the last

Tyco opens new office in Dubai

Will include a dedicated fire protection products training facility yco, which deals in fire protection products, has announced opening of a new office in Dubai, integrating four of its divisions – Fire Protection Products, Safety Products, Fire & Integrated Solutions and Retail Solutions. According to Tyco, its expansion plans in the Middle East also include a new dedicated Tyco Fire Protection Products training facility. Part of Tyco’s new office 18

Climate Control Middle East March 2013

in Dubai, the TechXchange training centre will offer customers and distributors access to hands-on training and product demonstrations, as well as training seminars on system design and installation across the fire protection product range, the company explained. The new training centre, said Tyco, is scheduled to open later in 2013, and will follow on from other successful TechXchange centre launches in Sweden and the UK.

five years. He was also with Faisal Jassim Trading Company for four years as a Production and Sales Engineer. Dib is based in Dubai and lives with his wife and daughter. He likes football and reading. He can be contacted at idib@gami.ae, at +971 50 427 5842 or at +971 2 550 6777. “This is an important step for Tyco in supporting our key markets and territories in the Middle East,” commented Phil McCowen, General Manager, Tyco Middle East. “Expanding our presence enables us to bring together several parts of the Tyco business and enable our customers to benefit from closer collaboration and integrated solutions. We’re seeing continued demand for high quality fire protection, detection, security and life safety products, supported by leading technical expertise and an understanding of the local market, and this investment demonstrates our continued commitment to the region.”

CY CMY

ASHRAE UPDATE ASHRAE Oryx conducts seminar

ccording to the news provided

by the December 20, 2012 SOFT START…

issue of The HVAC&R Industry, ASHRAE’s weekly eNewsletter, DuPont has successfully acted against a Chinese company for counterfeiting DuPont refrigerants. A recent judicial settlement requires Quzhouzhou Fuming Co of Quzhou City to pay the equivalent of USD 39,400 to the Chinese Government and to pay USD 32,000 in damages and

Experts make presentations on smoke control in car park facilities In a news release, ASHRAE Qatar Oryx Chapter announced that it held a seminar on February 16 on the topics: • Designing a Smoke Control Car Park System in Accordance with QCDD, Section 7.2 • Pressurisation and the Use of Door Proximity Sensors. The event, sponsored by Flaktwoods UK and Central Air Conditioning Trading, took place at College of North Atlantic, Doha, where James Allen and Richard Brooks made their presentations, the news release added. ASHRAE Oryx gave details of the speakers:

James Allen is Senior CFD Applications Engineer with over 11 years of experience within the building services industry, responsible for ventilation system design services and technical support to customers in Qatar, Dubai, Saudi Arabia, Australia, Brazil, Finland, Turkey, France, Ireland and the UK. Richard Brooks is General Manager of Advanced Smoke Group Limited, a company specialising in various aspects of smoke control within buildings, and has 30 years of experience in the smoke control industry and was Chairman of the Smoke Control Association.

KSA-based consultant awarded CPMP certification

rotecooling Division, Suhaimi Design, Kingdom of Saudia Arabia, has announced that its Chief Consultant, Mohamed R Zackariah is now an ASHRAE Certified Commissioning Process Management Professional (CPMP). The company, which claims to have been involved in the commissioning of Hadeed District Cooling Project, KAPSARC project Riyadh for Saudi Aramco and Chiller plant for King Khalid Hospital in King Saud University, congratulated Zackariah on his achievement. According to ASHRAE: “Individuals who have earned the CPMP certification have demonstrated mastery of a body of knowledge that subject matter experts have identified as reflecting best practices in the field of commissioning process management. “The primary purpose of ASHRAE’s CPMP certification programme is to certify an individual’s ability to manage the building commissioning process.”

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Vortab

New Brochure: Vortab Flow Conditioners

laiming that plant, process and instrumentation engineers want to learn more about flow conditioning devices to improve the performance, accuracy, and repeatability of flow meters and other flow profile critical process equipment, Vortab has announced the release of its new

brochure: Flow Conditioners: for Flow Meters, Pumps and Other Flow Profile Critical equipment. According to the company, the brochure will help support flow meter accuracy and process efficiency. The company added that the brochure could be downloaded online.

VORTAB FLOW CONDITIONERS ®

For Flow Meters, Pumps and Other Flow Profile Critical Equipment

 Reduce flow meter straight-run requirements into just a few diameters  Balance pump inlet flow to eliminate premature wear and cavitation  Install after elbows, valves, pipe expanders or reducers and other flow disturbances  Very low pressure drop technology

Dyson

Airblade hand dryers

alling it the fastest, most hygienic and sustainable way to dry hands, Dyson has announced launching a series of new hand dryers in the UAE and across the globe, with what it claims to be the world’s first sports stadium installation of the product in the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium. Developed by a team of 125 Dyson engineers, three new Dyson Airblade hand dryers are smaller in size, without compromising on performance, Dyson Airblade Tap hand dryer It washes and dries hands with no need of leaving the sink. Infrared sensors pinpoint hand positions and release water from the tap stem. Once hands are wet and drying is requested, integrated circuitry computes the information and activates the digital motor, creating two high velocity sheets of air on the tap’s branches. Unheated clean air is released to dry hands in 12 seconds.

Climate Control Middle East March 2013

and are ideal for use in commercial sectors, including hospitality, retail and food and beverage segments, the company said. Explaining the Airblade technology, Dyson claimed that sheets of high velocity unheated air travelled through tiny apertures at 430 mph, quickly scraping water from hands like a windscreen wiper, leaving them fully dry. Further, Dyson digital motor V4 was used, which it said was a power-dense brushless DC motor, utilising

a bonded magnet encased in a carbon fibre sleeve. Using digital pulse technology, it accelerated from 0-90,000rpm in less than 0.7 seconds, the company added. The range of hand dryers was available in the UAE in three models, the company revealed: Dyson Airblade Tap hand dryer; Dyson Airblade V hand dryer; and a reengineered Dyson Airblade hand dryer. The manufacturer listed other product features and advantages:

Dyson Airblade V hand dryer It is 60% smaller than the original, yet dries hands fast. Two sheets of high velocity air angled at 115° span the width of each hand, and scrape off water. Hands are dry in 10 seconds.

Dyson Airblade mk2 hand dryer Engineers have removed 1.1 kg of materials from the machine, reducing carbon emissions through manufacture in the process. It is HACCP-approved for hygiene. Hands are dry in 10 seconds.

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Ecotherm

High-capacity storage tanks

cotherm, which deals in solar, hot water and steam systems, has introduced what it claims to be high-capacity storage tanks with large internal heat exchanger surfaces of up to 20 m2. On the one hand, this is based on the individual production of up to three-fold wound tube heat exchangers made of stainless steel, and on the other hand, Ecotherm uses the selfdeveloped and patented flat heating coils, the announcement elaborated. The manufacturer lists the following product features and advantages: n The special heating coil has a height of only a few centimetres, and can, thus, be installed horizontally at the very bottom of the storage tank. n Due to its horizontal design, the flat heating coil is installed in hot water storage tanks entirely at one level of constant temperature. The heat transfer rate, thus, increases compared to

conventional spiral coils. The storage tank is heated up almost entirely to the desired final temperature. n The standby capacity is 97%, reducing the risk of the formation of Legionella bacteria. n The time for heating up the water in the storage tank is reduced. n For high-capacity storage tanks, it is possible to mount several flat heating coils on top of each other, or to combine with tube heat exchangers or to use only tube heat exchangers. n Large heat exchanger surfaces up to 20 m2 can be installed in small storage tanks with, for example, an output of 350 kW. The heat exchanger surface is, thus, up to four times bigger than at conventional products. n At the beginning of this year, the company started to program the sizing software ECOSIZE, which should enable registered users to configure storage tanks and even small compact systems.

Idrobase Group

èSoffio 360° cooling system

drobase Group has announced adding èSoffio 360°, yet another product in its new Perfect Cool’s Cooling System at 360° line. According to the manufacturer, the system uses a 360° fan placed at a height of 2.5 m, which blows millions of microdroplets of water, atomised at high-pressure, forming a sort of cloud that covers a diameter of 6 m (30 m2 around the fan). These water droplets hover in the air, and then, while evaporating, absorb the heat from the environment, reducing the surrounding temperature by up to 10°C, without wetting people and objects and keeping insects and mosquitoes at a distance. Idrobase lists other product features and advantages: Technical features n Crankshaft pump: 0.5 l/min n Electric motor 230V-50Hz, 390 Watt, 1.53A n Thermal protection on the pump n Lack of water automatic stopped n Integrated digital timer sets the duty cycle, manual and automatic working, 24 hours scheduling and alarm for lack of water n 40-litre water tank (five hours of autonomy with timer at 50%) n Direct connection to water supply n Wheels with security brake n Frame made of painted steel n Electric motor 1375 Rpm, 230 V-50 Hz, 96 Watt, 0.47 A n ON/OFF switch n Noise 59 dB n Air capacity 4000 m3/h

Climate Control Middle East March 2013

n Flow range 3 to 4 m n Mist fan ring with six nozzles, hole 0.15mm Advantages n èSoffio 360° is ideal for outdoor areas like bars, restaurants and gardens, and also for all the environments where you need to reduce temperature n It is practical, powerful and efficient n It is easy to set its height and the time of emission of the nebulised water n It has four wheels which allow it to be moved and placed where needed n It is economical, as the system works with only 390 Watt of power

PRESENTED BY

FirsT AnnUAl MiDDlE EAsT ConFErEnCE on inDoor EnvironMEnTAl QUAliTy

SpeakerS So far...

Tawfik A M Khoja Director General Executive Board Health Ministers Council for Cooperation Council

Health | occupant Comfort | Productivity | Cost reduction | HvAC 12 - 13 May 2013 | Hall 5 & Al Multaqua, Dubai World Trade Center, UAE The First Annual Middle East Conference on Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) will be the first ever focused and dedicated regional meeting platform on IEQ from HVAC and Architecture perspectives. It will be the largest, third-party event in the region. IEQ addresses Indoor Air Quality, Views, Daylight, Occupancy comfort, and health hazards such as VOCs.

Key Topics

n Regulations and standards in the GCC n Commissioning, re-commissioning and retrocommissioning n Quality of installation and insulation in the case of galvanised sheet-metal ducts n Mould remediation in ducts and walls n Fabric ducting n Dehumidification and humidification n Air filtration n Air diffusion

n Ionisers: Opportunities and concerns n Acoustics and vibration n VOCs in the built-environment n Cleaning of coils n UV retrofit in AHUs for healthcare applications n Triple glazing n Get the design and operations right n Impact of IEQ on Rating Systems

Who WiLL ATTeND

Farhan Juratli Project Manager, District Cooling Nakheel PJSC

n Learn first-hand about regulations & standards in the Middle East, technology solutions, specialised IEQ services, best practices in installation, training, sales support strategies, project references in the Middle East and case studies n Opportunity to collaborate and partner with IEQ technology manufacturers and service providers in arriving at solutions, as per the specific requirements of projects n Opportunity to see live demonstrations of IEQ systems and better understand their specific features n CEOs n Ministry officials n Health Directors n Education Directors n Municipality Directors n Procurement directors and managers n Engineering Directors n Head of Infrastructure n Head of MEP Services n Asset Managers/Directors n Technical Directors

Ghaleb Abusaa CEO, The Three Factors Company (en3 Solutions)

Sarfaraz Dairkee* Founding Member Emirates Green Building Council (EGBC) *TBC

For event-related queries:

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iNDUsTRy Type n Regulators from across the Middle East n Government agencies from across the Middle East n Quasi-Government bodies from across the Middle East n Master Developers

Eman Al Madani Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Executive, Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry

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DuctSox

SkeleCore for Return Air

aying that it is the first fabric cylindrical duct for return air available in the market, and is therefore an important expansion for the HVAC fabric ducting industry, DuctSox has announced introducing SkeleCore for Return Air. A return air duct system is one that returns the air that has been dispersed throughout the full duct back, and once supplied and dispersed effectively to cool down the area, the air is returned through the orifices located along the full length of the fabric duct, DuctSox explained. DuctSox further claimed that SkeleCore is an internal framework system that provides cylindrical tensioning on the duct to ensure that it is round and taut at all times with or without any air pressure. This tension on the duct eliminates wrinkles on the fabric, sagging of the duct as well as disturbing fabric movement and a pop noise at the start-up, the manufacturer added. According to the manufacturer, a return air ducting is a

significant requirement for major indoor pool areas as well as food processing environments, where an efficient circulation is important. The company lists the following product features and advantages: n It is available in diameters from 200 mm (8”) to 1524 mm ( 60”) in increments of 50 mm (2”) n The design parameters include a 5.08m/s (1000 FPM) velocity, an inlet static pressure of -30 Pa (-0.125 ESP) as well as a maximum duct diameter of 152 cm (60 inches). n Because of its lightweight and efficient air delivery, as well as quicker and easier installation and maintenance, it is an alternative to traditional metal ducting. n The vertical hanging system eliminates need for horizontal suspension. n The product is installed with a one-year warranty.

GEA Refrigeration Technologies

HVF-Freezer

EA Refrigeration Technologies has announced that it introduced its HVF-Freezer (High Velocity Freezer) at the International Poultry Expo (IPE) in Atlanta, held from January 29 to 31, and claimed that the HVF is an innovative and improved freezer concept based upon existing impingement freezer technology. Impingement freezers apply to freezing of hamburgers and other flat products, as well as for crust freezing or set freezing of various food products, GEA explained, and added that new HVF freezer uses newly designed high velocity air jets to quickly reduce the outer layer temperature of food by breaking the insulating boundary layer, allowing the surface to be frozen very quickly. This effect, it said, allows the product to freeze faster than in

Climate Control Middle East March 2013

conventional freezer, thus minimising dehydration losses. The company lists other product features and benefits: n Higher quality food products as a result of less cellular damage n Improved capacity with more than 10% to 15% than existing impingement freezers n Higher yield, longer shelf life of food and faster freezing time “We’ve taken the impingement concept to a new level of quality and performance, while also incorporating GEA’s trademark hygienic features, including fully welded seams, sloped floor and more,” said Robert Laflamme, President of GEA Refrigeration Canada, speaking about the new product.

Qatar feature

DISTRICT COOLING

cool turns

Celebrates a decade in the district cooling industry

By Mary Coons, our special correspondent in Doha

Amidst strolling musical artistes and performers garbed in constructionworker fatigues, stomping and drumming against an illuminated background of chiller plant condenser pipes, Qatar Cool celebrated its 10th anniversary in an innovative 26

style within their Integrated District Cooling plant at The Pearl-Qatar in Doha on February 20. After a unique ice sculpture podium was chipped into shape to the accompaniment of upbeat music, Fayad Al Khatib, CEO, Qatar Cool, and Omar Alfarden, the Chairman, took to the ice podium to greet their guests. Al Khatib reminisced about Qatar Cool’s early days when he had to wear many hats. “The ingredient for any company’s success is the capability to innovate,” he told the audience of

Climate Control Middle East March 2013

more than 100 contractors, government and utility officials, consultants and invited guests. “We have all achieved the strategic vision that was put into place in 2003, when the chairman of United Development Company (UDC), [a publiclyowned Qatari development and investment company], and Tabreed, the leading provider of district cooling in the UAE, signed the establishment of Qatar District Cooling Company.” Alfarden, on his part, expressed his pride in Qatar Cool’s 10-year milestone,

noting the company was founded “according to a very clear vision, aiming at responding to a socioenvironmental need rather than solely a business opportunity.” As part of the programme, Rob Thornton, CEO of IDEA, congratulated Qatar Cool via a video message, on the milestone reached and its successful journey in such a short span of time. He cited receiving the prestigious System of the Year Award in 2012 as a great accomplishment for Qatar Cool.

Omar Alfarden addressing the guests

An entertainment sequence

Key dignitaries

March 2013

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feature

DISTRICT COOLING

One-on-one

with Al Khatib

ayad Al Khatib who joined Qatar Cool in 2007 spoke about the company’s goals and the challenges of the industry. Al Khatib credited the company’s four core values – care of the environment, excellence of service, commitment to staff and going the extra mile – as important components behind its success. He enumerated three challenges the company faced in the early years and continues to deal with: energy/ environment/economy – the triple bottom line triangle – where all three continuously clash and challenge themselves. He echoed Alfarden in acknowledging stakeholders and employees as the key factors in Qatar Cool’s success. “We operate as one team; the major element of our success is absolutely the people,” he said. He believed that an important ingredient for any company’s success was the ability to innovate and look within for improvement and efficiency in matching supply and demand. He highlighted the importance of having a balanced business model to sustain itself for the future, while ensuring that end-users and developers were satisfied. Speaking about why the company decided to adopt a flexible model, which took into account both the technical and business aspects, which has allowed it to be customer-focused and deal on a one-on-one-basis with end-users, Al Khatib explained: “We used to build/ own/operate the model, at first; we did not own or operate them. As we matured as a company with a more experienced staff, we gained more confidence in our business models, so we began building, operating and fitting. That business model has proven efficient and successful.” Al Khatib pointed out that Qatar Cool’s long-term growth goals ran parallel to Qatar’s successful 2022 World Cup bid. “We are looking at a very nice

Climate Control Middle East March 2013

opportunity for development in Qatar in the next 10 years,” he emphasised. There are a lot of support areas for the World Cup – constructing hospitals, cooled stadiums, a massive rail system, and all of these are opportunities where we’d like to expand our business.” However, he highlighted the point that though Qatar Cool’s first priority was to support Qatar’s growth, one of its long-term goals was to look for opportunities to strategically expand worldwide. “We believe we have the experience and many of the qualities constituting expertise, and that we can provide added value as a major contributor to providers and not just sell district energy,” he said. Speaking about district cooling’s environmental impact, Al Khatib noted: “I think district energy really provides a very good solution to this part of the world. Whatever we put on paper, we must validate. We cannot just accept what the industry says, whether it is technical, commercial or financial. One of the critical factors is being able to validate savings and energy.” Al Khatib cited raising awareness about energy conservation as an ongoing challenge. He revealed that Qatar Cool had recently proposed the creation of an energy board that would include members of regulatory and governmental authorities, as well as large energy users. “It could be us, our competitors, the steel mills, universities, the petrochemical plants and other large energy users, who come together on a regular basis and share experiences,” he explained. “I think

it’s important that we help each other, support the government, and support Qatar’s inevitable growth…. I think it’d be wonderful if we all sat down and shared experiences. I’m sure we can all benefit.” Speaking on the sidelines of the event, Ibrahim Al Sada, Manager of the newly-formed District Cooling Services Department of Kahramaa (Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation), explained that his main objectives were to work with cooling companies in order to learn from their experiences, promote district cooling and regulate the industry while protecting the end-users and allaying the fears of DC companies that government intervention might have a detrimental effect. Against this backdrop, Al Khatib lauded the initiative and shared his thoughts on the subject. “We [the district energy industry] have a great need for it, and we support Ibrahim and Kahramaa in their work,” he said. Reiterating that raising awareness was an ongoing challenge, he added: “Anyone who uses air conditioning, electricity or water can make a difference. It’s very important to educate children early on, and to reach people on all levels … about conserving energy and using it wisely…. We must be a more efficient society.” - Mary Coons

focus

INSULATION II

IN PURSUIT OF

QUALITY Several factors contribute to the betterment of Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ). Poor IEQ is almost every time blamed on HVACR systems, particularly on the insulation materials used. In the second and concluding part, we find out how insulation materials actually help improve the quality of indoor environment and why preventive maintenance and system cleaning still remain relevant. Jerome Sanchez reports.

n recent years, there has been an increased focus on the quality of indoor air. The heightened attention was due to the surfacing of cases of “sick buildings” reportedly attributed to construction materials, interior furnishings and volatile organic compounds, among others. According to a publication of the North American Insulation Manufacturers Association (NAIMA), entitled “An Essential Component of Indoor Environmental Quality: Fibreglass HVAC Insulations”, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) of the US, identifies inadequate ventilation as the major source of poor Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ). For this reason, the publication highlights that whenever IEQ problems arise,

the primary focus is often on the HVACR system.

Causes of poor IEQ

One of the primary components of an HVACR system that is usually the target of poor IEQ complaints is insulation, particularly fibreglass insulation. In defense of fibreglass insulation, the same NAIMA publication points out that air being distributed through the ducts may also contain contaminants that are completely disparate from insulation. “It is important to note that the air handling systems have many other components besides duct work, including heating units, air conditioners, vents, fans, fan coil units and others,” the report cites. It adds that faulty operation and maintenance of HVACR systems can also be a cause of poor IEQ. The report admits that formaldehyde gas is another

Climate Control Middle East March 2013

potential source of poor IEQ. “Fibreglass insulations are manufactured with a phenol formaldehyde resin,” it says, but clarifies that the resins used in the manufacture of fibreglass are cured and emit little formaldehyde (CH2O). This claim is supported by a study sponsored by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission that reveals that fibrous glass insulation products appear to be weak CH2O emitters with a minimal impact on indoor CH2O concentrations. Some industry players also point out that glass fibres from fibreglass insulation materials can erode from the airstream surface and can cause irritation and allergies to occupants. An article from the NAIMA Air Handling Committee, entitled “Glass Fibre Air Transmission Systems: The Facts about Airborne Fibres”, however, contradicts the claim, saying that studies conducted over a

period of 25 years, including UL 181 tests and a World Health Organisation report, show that fibreglass duct liner and fibreglass duct board exhibit insignificant signs of fibre erosion on surfaces in typical HVACR ducts. Building occupants themselves are reported to be possible causes of poor IEQ. The occupants may release cigarette smoke, perfume, human cells, viruses and bacteria into the air on a daily basis. If the occupied space is poorly designed or unmonitored, these contaminants can reportedly severely compromise a person’s health.

How insulation can help the cause

Thermal and acoustical occupant comfort is a salient component of IEQ. Insulation products like fibreglass insulation are claimed to be able to help maintain a consistent air temperature throughout the system; reduce condensation, and consequently, repress the growth of microbes and moulds; absorb noise from the system’s operation; and conserve energy. According to “An Essential Component of Indoor Environmental Quality: Fibreglass HVAC Insulations”, fibreglass insulation materials can help maintain consistent air temperature by reducing heat transfer across the duct system. This, says the publication, allows the building’s HVACR system to deliver conditioned air at designed temperatures. Moreover, by maintaining consistent air temperature, insulation materials can help increase occupant comfort and reduce

By maintaining consistent air temperature, insulation materials can help increase occupant comfort and reduce consumption of electricity consumption of electricity. Insulation materials like fibreglass can also reduce the chances of microbial growth and proliferation, as well as other moisturerelated building damage by eliminating preconditions for microbial growth, including condensation and moisture, the publication claims. Fibreglass insulation materials can help in the reduction of transmission of equipment and air flow generated noise through the duct system. It is can also contribute to lessening crosstalk from one room to another through the duct system, according to the abovementioned article. In addition to the aforementioned benefits of fibreglass insulation materials to the betterment of IEQ, the same report points out that “cleanability” and integrated anti-microbial protection in the material are additional

benefits of using this type of insulation.

Cleaning and preventive maintenance

According to industry players, the best way to maintain efficiency, quiet air delivery, occupant comfort and cost effectiveness of an HVAC system still lies in following a regular system operation and maintenance schedule. Maintenance procedures include inspection, detection and remediation of probable sources of airborne contaminants and moisture, affirms “An Essential Component of Indoor Environmental Quality: Fibreglass HVAC Insulations”. There may, of course, be times when cleaning may be needed. Currently, there are several cleaning methods available. But the three most common are reportedly contact vacuuming, air

washing and power brushing. Contact vacuuming involves the use of a portable vacuum with High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filtration. Explaining how the cleaning is done, the same report says that there is direct contact between the brush head and the interior of duct surfaces to remove dirt and debris. Air washing, on the other hand, is said to involve the introduction of compressed air into the duct through a hose terminated with a “skipper” nozzle. The dislodged dirt and debris reportedly become airborne, and are drawn downstream through the duct and out of the system by the vacuum collection equipment. Power brushing, the report explains, entails the use of pneumatically or electrically powered rotation bristle brushes to loosen dirt and debris which are drawn downstream into a vacuum collector. March 2013

Conclusion

Insulation materials play a vital role in achieving IEQ. Insulation material such as fibreglass helps in the maintenance of air temperature, reduction of condensation, repression of moulds and microbes and absorption of sound from equipment operation. The use of fibreglass insulation has been questioned by a few industry players due to its potential threat to the health of occupants. NAIMA, an association of insulation manufacturers, however, has conducted studies and the results show that fibreglass insulation is safe to manufacture, install and use when recommended work practices are followed. In addition, industry players still recommend regular cleaning and preventive maintenance of HVACR systems to ensure its efficiency, its costeffectiveness and to ensure comfort of occupants.  www.climatecontrolme.com

interview

E H T E R A "WE EMPOWER

E U BL Dubai’s in s t n la p g n istrict Cooli D w e n o w t n g & Heating o n li k r o o o C w t n ic u r g t e is b al Empower has a. In January, an ASHRAE D l from an ASHRAE technic are d approva e iv e c quartered e Business Bay d r a d e e h r io s a n b o u p D s the al it Design Manu rly, the mood is upbeat at he company’s CEO in r, t lea committee. C provider. Ahmed Bin Shafa trol Middle East… ng ate Con m li C f o District Cooli r a d n with B Sure n io t a s r e v n o c

How bullish are you about your business?

Our loan outstanding has dropped from AED 1.3 billion to 470 million. By the end of the year, we will bring the current loan outstanding down to AED 320 million. Meanwhile, though, we will look to borrow from AED 800 million to one billion to continue to extend our business, be it towards constructing plant rooms in Business Bay (Upper Business Bay and Lower Business Bay, 45,000 TR, each) or in Healthcare City. Also, we have a customer in the Jumeirah Beach Residence area, which is undergoing extension. Further, in Mirdiff, we will be converting a semi32

permanent plant room into a permanent plant room. In Business Bay, we will be constructing two plant rooms, one in Lower Business Bay (by the year 2013, 45,000 TR capacity) and one in Upper Business Bay (by 2014, also 45,000 TR capacity). Of the AED one billion in loans arranged this year, we will partially withdraw the money in 2013, and the rest in 2014.

Considering that reticulation is a massive cost and comes with considerable risk to district cooling operators, did you consider proposing to the Government or to the developer

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to pay for laying the piping in the case of the Upper Business Bay and the Lower Business Bay projects?

I’m glad you asked the question. It is better for district cooling providers to do the piping. We have 10 years of experience in the district cooling business and understand it. We have adopted the approach of building as per necessity. If we have to put piping at a later stage, we will cut the road and still do it cheaper, as opposed to putting everything ahead of time and then waiting for occupancy. We have to take the responsibility and the risk, because we understand the business well. Most other people put the network and the plants ahead

of time. In doing so, they did not look at it as business owners. They did not build as was required.

In the two new Business Bay projects, you will be incorporating facilities to receive treated sewage effluent (TSE). Is there enough TSE available, considering there is competing demand?

In using TSE, we will be working very closely with Dubai Municipality and studying the situation. There is a possibility of a 15% shortage in wastewater coming from the cluster of apartments, in which case we will be using potable water. So it is about using a mix of potable and TSE. If we face a shortage of TSE, we will inject potable water.

P I H C E of dc" You have announced you are aiming to earn a LEED Platinum rating in the Lower Business Bay district cooling plant. How do you plan to reconcile with the fact that the blow down water from the cooling towers may not be conducive to protecting the soil? LEED does place emphasis on protecting the soil, doesn’t it? We are investing money in a new technology to use TSE and to take case of the blow down. So the blow down will be of the same quality as the TSE that we feed into the system. We will shortly be announcing the technology.

How do you perceive the district cooling market in the region? There still

are considerable headwinds for the industry to gather any momentum, correct?

The District Cooling market in the UAE is valued at AED 15 billion. It will become AED 42 billion in the next five years. District cooling is the most efficient system. In our estimation, RACs have an efficiency of 2.3 kW/TR and DX units (splits) manage 1.92 kW/TR. Chillers have an efficiency of 1.7-1.8 kW/TR. In the case of district cooling, even our worst plant room is able to achieve an efficiency of 1 kW/TR. And our best is able to achieve 0.9 kW/TR. The people who were challenging us 10 years ago, when we started out, have changed their view about district cooling. Developers see an ROI with district cooling and are pushing for it. Three to four developers in Business Bay and the Tecom C area who went for bulk meters are today asking us to convert to sub metering.

How did Empower perform in 2012? The facts at a glance, as conveyed to us by Empower…  Profit: 190 million (17% increase from the year before)  Increase in…  Turnover: 5% (to 700 million)  Capacity: From 360,000 TR to 400,000 TR  Staff: 9%  The number of plants: From 37 to 42  Customers: From 17,000 to 20,000  Corporate customers: From 137 to 144  Number of buildings served with Empower district cooling: From 295 to 320  Empower has a total of AED 4.5 billion in assets

People see savings through district cooling in overall air conditioning use. If the cost for air conditioning a onebedroom apartment is AED 15,000 a year for power and maintenance, we can offer 2530% savings on that through district cooling. In district cooling, a benefit is that you pay for what you use. So it is an optimisation March 2013

for the apartment owner.

Do you plan to reduce the tariff of district cooling? We started at a competitive rate during the boom period. In the early days, it cost AED 200 per square foot to construct a plant. During the boom period, the cost shot up to AED 700 per square foot. www.climatecontrolme.com

interview EMPOWER

The rise impacted our IRR, but our rate was competitive even during the boom period. We decided to keep the rate the same, because we knew that if there is a boom there will be a dip. Today, we are out of the financial crisis, but we are at the same rate. We will not increase the rate, but as far as reducing it is concerned, we will need to study that. We cannot treat the old and new customers as the same.

One of the recent highlights for Empower is ASHRAE giving approval to the District Cooling Design Manual that you sponsored. You must be mighty proud.

If you want to be a leader, you have to contribute to causes beyond corporate interests. District cooling has not been done in a professional manner and, generally speaking, contractors have not been delivering efficient systems. So we stepped forward and drove the initiative to establish a District Cooling design manual. It took USD 250,000 to develop the manual, and I am proud to say it has become part of the curriculum in the mechanical engineering department of universities in the United States. This is a unique achievement. The Manual discusses everything from sizing of pumps to cooling tower specs. It shows the most optimised way of doing a plant room. We have been witness to the shifting of the District Cooling business from the West to the East. We have developed expertise in District Cooling. And today, to be able to share the knowledge 34

and contribute to the wider industry gives me great pride. Speaking for Empower, we have the experience of doing District Cooling. We have built 42 plant rooms. How many companies have built that many? If we took the experience from each one of them and clubbed them together, we have a unique model. The Manual covers District Cooling and District Heating, so it is international. If someone wants to build a District Cooling plant in Turkey, with its moderate weather, you have a standard design guideline; likewise, any company in a Paris suburb can build a District Heating plant using the Manual.

The Manual speaks about thermal energy storage. Does this mean you will lend your voice to the need for a preferential tariffs regimen in Dubai? As we all know, District Cooling providers in the region have been crying themselves hoarse for a better treatment from the electricity utility.

We are a part of DEWA and we are thinking of conducting a workshop and coming up with a solution. There are companies that are looking to maximise profit, but we at Empower will look at the issue from a national interest point of view. We have always done so. We have had TSE in even our older plant rooms, at a time when it was not mandatory to use TSE.

What’s the next step forward for Empower? You have announced you have over 400,000 TR of

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district cooling. Do you have plans of running district cooling plants elsewhere in the region? What about Qatar?

Yes, we are looking to share the knowledge we have gathered with the GCC. With Qatar, it could be a JV. At this point, I can’t disclose beyond that. We are thinking of how to go about doing it. Should it be JV or knowledge transfer of project experience? Yes, we will move, but when is the question. I suppose when we are on solid ground. I want to look at the benefit for my corporation and don’t want to see my company at risk. Apart from that, I am

looking at other aspects as the way forward. In one or two years, we hope to be the largest District Cooling provider in the world. We have driven the initiative to produce the District Cooling Manual. My next aim is to have an institute of District Cooling to train people in District Cooling. Further, we would like to launch an association for District Cooling in the UAE and are in talks with other District Cooling providers, like Tabreed. We will achieve it. IDEA (International District Energy Association) in the United States is 104 years old and has 1,000 members. We need to start one now. Why not? 

interview

crisis GREENHECK

in defiance of the There’s no denying that the economic downturn of recent years has affected not only the US HVACR companies, but also other business entities globally. Despite its negative impact, the crisis has incited in many companies the hunger for innovation and technology in order to serve the current market needs and, ultimately, survive. Jordan Baker, Regional Manager, Middle East, Greenheck, speaks to Jerome Sanchez about strategies his company has adopted.

he last several years have been tough for HVACR companies all over the world. A decrease in sales and activity and in the demand for residential and commercial services, owing to the decline in the number of new construction projects, have been the obvious indicators. The HVACR industry is partly influenced by the new construction market with revenue generated from equipment installations in new residential and non-residential projects.

Thriving through the crisis

To survive the lingering economic crisis, HVACR companies in the US have developed new business 36

strategies and increased their investments in research and development to bolster their product lines to meet the changing market needs. Jordan Baker, Regional Manager, Middle East, Greenheck, acknowledges the fact that the downturn has affected US companies and that Greenheck is taking steps to combat the crisis. “To overcome the economic downturn of the last four years, Greenheck’s management team has embraced an 'aggressive growth' strategy. The company continues to invest in new product development, manufacturing equipment and technology,” says Baker. In addition to boosting technology and innovation, Baker adds that Greenheck has focused on being the “easiest company to do business with”. He emphasises that the growth

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Since customers of retrofit projects have already experienced dealing with old HVACR equipment, companies have to make sure that the end-users see a significant change after the replacement or retrofit project is completed

strategy involves employees and business partners in a total team effort to drive growth and build for the future. When the financial crisis hit the market hard, installation of new heating and air conditioning equipment, which perhaps, represents a major expenditure for an average family or business, was reportedly delayed until it was absolutely necessary. While a few customers flatly dismissed the idea of new installation or replacement of their systems, others

found the means to have their existing heating and air conditioning systems replaced or retrofitted. With a considerable initial investment in the replacement and retrofit of the old equipment, many families and businesses are looking for the benefit of a significantly lower utility cost and better energy efficiency and performance in the new equipment. In line with this, Baker expresses his observation that retrofit projects are climbing rapidly, not only in the US but also especially in early booming GCC countries like Bahrain. He also stresses the fact that since customers of retrofit projects have already experienced dealing with old HVACR equipment, companies have to make sure that the end-users see a significant change after the replacement or retrofit project is completed. “Market channeling is an essential component to service these experienced customers," Baker says. "When the end-user drives refurbishment, it is important to provide solutions that drastically cut their operating costs … funds that would have been consumed by energy bills stay in their accounts and can be utilised for other ventures.” Against the backdrop of his company’s effort to introduce new and enhanced energy-efficient products to cater to the market’s present requirements, Baker speaks about the role of testing laboratories in addressing the key concerns of families and companies about their HVACR equipment. “The laboratories are used to develop new products or redesign existing products to address energy efficiency, indoor or outdoor air quality, noise, safety, and reliability concerns,”

explains Baker. He adds that the current testing capabilities of their laboratories include aerodynamic, acoustic, structural, environmental and thermodynamic testing. He also points out that the company’s on-site laboratories are testing to the latest versions of AMCA, ANSI, ASHRAE, UL, and other industry standards of performance. Apart from providing enhanced products to address present market needs, Baker believes that expanding beyond the traditional markets in order to build value in a wider range of projects and redesigning products to fit individual market segments also comprise the strategies currently employed by US companies like Greenheck. When asked about the market’s response to new technology and his company’s innovations, Baker says that the ability to invest in new and enhanced products has given the company the ability to react to market needs and deliver quality and energy efficient products. “Engineers specify and owners are requesting [the products] for the building projects,” he reveals. In his opinion, consultants and contractors who embrace new technologies and offer modern solutions to “archaic” consumption methods stand out from others. “Energy efficiency lowers annual operational costs, and indoor air quality increases productivity,” he elaborates.

Market presence in the GCC

in other parts of the world, including the GCC states. In this light, Baker observes that the construction market throughout the GCC region remains aggressive even during times of crisis. “Qatar and Saudi Arabia are rightfully shining stars with massive infrastructure projects,” he points out. However, he expresses concern over a dip in the number of projects in Dubai, because the decreasing trend starves business and results in a very cost-conscious and intensely competitive construction landscape. Speaking about Greenheck’s expanding presence in the Middle East, Baker gives credit to the company’s “long, strategic history of designing and manufacturing products that last while bringing value to the entire HVACR system”. He explains that to assist the long-term strategy, his company has been implementing methods to more effectively attend to market-specific products and customer service needs. “The same core values that drive Greenheck to lead the US ventilation market are rapidly increasing our presence throughout the Middle East,” he says.

The roadmap ahead

expected to continue until 2017. The projected positive performance of the industry is reported to be driven by improvement in the residential and non-residential new construction markets, as they rebound from recessionary lows. An additional benefit for the industry will reportedly be from an increasing number of retrofit and renovation works. The HVACR companies in the US have learnt to adapt to the lingering economic crisis by ramping up on the energy efficiency and environmental friendliness of their products. Reflecting on this, Baker says, “The US has encountered its fair share of economic downturns and continues to learn from each of them.” In an optimistic tone, Baker reveals that Greenheck’s market segments are speculated with an eight per cent growth on an average for the next five years. As for the region, he says that each of the GCC countries has different growth sectors with unique product requirements. Baker says: “We are constantly expanding our product offering as a single-source solution to a project’s ventilation system, servicing the industry growth segment.” 

Recent reports regarding the US HVACR industry projects predicted that the sector would return to growth in 2012. According to IBISWorld, the industry will see a rise in revenue of approximately eight per cent, and the growth is

Weakened demand in HVACR services in the US during the recession has led companies to look for business opportunities March 2013

www.climatecontrolme.com

interview

GLOBAL WORKPLACE INNNOVATION

rethinking

sustainability at work

Dr Marie Puybaraud, Director, Global Workplace Innovation, Johnson Controls, speaks to Jerome Sanchez about her team’s project, entitled Sustainable for All, which tackles sustainability from a socio-technical perspective. She reveals that employers, employees and customers increasingly want to be partners in environmental initiatives in a business organisation.

lobal Workplace Innovation (GWI) is a research programme of Johnson Controls Workplace Solution, the unit of Johnson Controls responsible for providing facilities management services. The programme was created in 2002 with the objective of understanding the evolution of work and the workplace and the roadmap ahead of workplace design and features. The aim of the project was to keep the customers ahead of the game. Dr Puybaraud elaborates on the objective: “We want to make sure that our customers are aware of the developments, and that they take them into account. And we help them to design new workplace strategies and deliver new facilities management services … we

really help them focus on new workplace models.” Dr Puybaraud says that since its inception, GWI has worked on several projects that aim to identify and study workplace trends and understand their impact on business performance. Commenting on a few of the projects that GWI is working on, including “Collaboration 2020” and “Digital Natives”, Dr Puybaraud explains that the function and role of the office is gradually moving towards supporting collaboration. “Offices are no longer places where you go in the morning, sit in front of your computer, and leave … now there is some level of collaboration and interaction happening in the office.” She also shares the information that the results of the projects suggest that technology – to collaborate, to exchange information and to manage building services – is going

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to be “extremely” present in the workplace. She explains: “I am not saying that it is already being done, but it’s perfectly feasible that one can already use one’s iPad to run a videoconference call, to take notes or to monitor the temperature in one’s room.… So, the function of the office and the role of technology are growing extremely fast.”

Thinking beyond the building

Dr Puybaraud observes that companies are under increasing pressure to reduce and report on their carbon emissions, working towards an objective of an 80% to 95% emission reduction by 2050. “Technologies for building efficiency are becoming more and more present,” she says, and adds that currently, sustainability is only addressed at the scale of the building with intelligent building management

Companies are under increasing pressure to reduce and report on their carbon emissions, working towards an objective of an 80% to 95% emission reduction by 2050

sustainability

March 2013

www.climatecontrolme.com

interview

GLOBAL WORKPLACE INNNOVATION

Results of the study at a glance

46%

of the respondents are always looking for ways to be more sustainable

83%

believe sustainability should be embedded in the business

53%

consider the environmental record of a company when applying for jobs

83%

of the employee respondents agree or strongly agree that they should take the lead

97%

agree that sustainability requires a long-term investment

58%

agree that employees should do their part and adopt sustainability practices in addition to work systems controlling lighting, heating and air conditioning. While these efforts on the part of the companies and facilities managers are welcome contribution towards the cause of sustainability, Dr Puybaraud points out that this approach overlooks the human level at which the services and spaces are actually being used and 40

With customers now demanding greater sustainability, and governments legislating for it, companies are looking for ways to develop a more sustainable culture experienced. She says that employees are looking to see their companies’ efforts towards sustainability become more evident in the working environment. “If I could summarise it, it’s more about ‘show me that you are sustainable, and as an employer, what are you doing to lower your CO2 consumption and make it obvious in your working environment’,” says Dr Puybaraud.

Sustainable for all GWI’s project, entitled Sustainable for All, in partnership with the Royal College of Art in London, tackles the concept of sustainability beyond the physical workplace. “The project puts the people at the centre and recognises the complexity of human behaviour,” explains Dr Puybaraud. With this

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approach, she adds, GWI aims to help employees understand the importance of environmental initiatives to their daily routines, and to, therefore, help embed sustainable thinking for the long term. “With customers now demanding greater sustainability, and governments legislating for it, companies are looking for ways to develop a more sustainable culture. But many struggle to define the right approach,” emphasises Dr Puybaraud. Speaking against the backdrop of the project, Dr Puybaraud explains that from the outset, it was clear that

different people had different understanding of what sustainability in the workplace should mean. “These views were based on people’s perceptions of the various costs and benefits of being sustainable to both company and employee,” she elucidates. From the study, the different sustainability cultures, based on relative costs to company and employees, are: the “housekeeper”, the

In full control Moutaz Bakri Abdalla, Projects Development Manager, Aftermarket Energy Solution, Middle East, shares information on the subject with regard to Johnson Controls’ Headquarters in Milwaukee, Glendale, Wisconsin. He says that the employees in that office have the capability of controlling their task, lighting and temperature within their space through a touch screen panel on their desks. Reportedly, the information on consumption per square foot is available on the Internet for all the employees to see. “This," Abdalla explains, "creates an internal, goodspirited competition that everybody wants to do better in … that makes people want to turn things off before they leave for the day, and so on.”

“pragmatist”, the “libertarian” and the “campaigner”. The “housekeeper”: The “housekeeper” culture represents high cost to employees and low cost to the company, explains Dr Puybaraud. The focus of “housekeepers” is changing behaviours and finding areas to save and make do. The changes that they incorporate have reportedly no actual cost, and in a “housekeeper” culture, employees are highly encouraged to carpool, centralised waste bins are marked for sorting, and reducing energy spend is done by adjusting current sources. The “pragmatist”: This culture, says Dr Puybaraud, represents low cost to employees and low cost to the company. The “pragmatist” believes that cost rules action, and that employees should not bear costs that become gains for the company. According to the study, a “pragmatist” culture has desk sharing policies and abilities to work from home to reduce

emissions. In addition, recycling old IT equipment is also practised in this culture by selling it for second-hand use. “Pragmatists” also think of switching to a renewable energy supplier. The “libertarian”: The “libertarian” culture represents low cost to employees and high cost to the company, Dr Puybaraud reveals. The “libertarian” believes that the cost is the company’s responsibility and that sustainable measures are important. But they should not affect the employees’ ways of working. In a “libertarian” culture, there exist subsidised public transportation, set and publicised waste reduction targets and investment on the part of the company in renewable energy products. The “campaigner”: Taking urgent action is the battle cry of the “campaigners”, says Dr Puybaraud. In a “campaigner” culture, cost is expected by both the company and the employee, and the company invests and the employees accept the changes that benefit sustainability. The culture represents high cost to the employees and high March 2013

cost to the company. The “campaigner” culture has free public transportation, zero waste policies and exclusive use of recyclable materials, and the belief that the company should do more and the employees should get engaged in sustainability efforts.

The relevance of the sustainability models

Dr Puybaraud explains that the four different sustainability models can be used to help companies review their policies, understand how they could work better and create a sustainability strategy that is suitable to their needs. “The models provide an understanding of the way in which sustainability should be communicated within a particular corporate culture,” she says. She explains that research shows how, through a user-centred approach, companies can be better equipped to deal with the challenges they face in relation to sustainability in the workplace. “Through the increased understanding of different cultures that exist," Dr Puybaraud says, "companies will be able to build on the interests, values and individual expertise of employees to create policies that are relevant, connected and, therefore, meaningful to people’s roles.”  www.climatecontrolme.com

report

Photo courtesy http://www.achrnews.com/AHR-Expo

AHR EXPO 2013

Climate Control Middle East March 2013

ALL UNDER

ONE ROOF

The AHR Expo, dubbed the “World’s largest marketplace”, was said to have attracted record-breaking number of participants and exhibitors. Industry players welcomed its success in the hope that enthusiasm on the show floor would translate into a positive outlook for the HVACR industry. We bring you our report.

he 2013 International AirConditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Expo (2013 AHR Expo), held from January 28 to 30 at the Dallas Convention Center, Texas, USA, reportedly attracted more than 51,000 attendees, 33,891 of whom were visitors, who witnessed more than 1,900 exhibitors showcase their latest products and technologies. In an official communiqué, the show’s organisers revealed that the reported figures set new all-time records for Southwest shows. “We were very pleased with

the attendance and the enthusiasm on the show floor … the aisles were packed for almost all three days of the show,” said Clay Stevens, President, International Exposition Company, the producer and manager of the 2013 AHR Expo. In addition to being an opportunity for companies to throw the spotlight on their latest products, software, building automation systems, controls and services, the 2013 AHR Expo also served as a venue for association meetings, educational seminars and networking. Dozens of associations and publications reportedly put up their respective booths at

the event, providing business services and network for professional colleagues. New Product and Technology Theatres were also set up during the event, where participants could attend brief presentations from over 70 exhibitors on their latest products and technologies. Presentations were said to be free of charge and were held throughout each day of the expo. The 2013 AHR Expo was also reported to have sponsored sessions on the trends and direction of smart green building automation. The organisers revealed in an official programme that the seminars covered various March 2013

topics, including market trends for integrated and intelligent building systems; community, convergence and collaboration from cloud data for BAS; and an overview on existing connection communities and the advantages of being part of various communities. The sessions were organised in association with www. automatedbuildings.com, added the programme from the event organisers. The organisers added that other free sessions were also held during the event, including those sponsored by ASHRAE, BACnet, LonMark, and other endorsing associations of the expo. www.climatecontrolme.com

report

AHR EXPO 2013

David Vaughan of Foametix discusses the quality of his spray foam product with a visitor during the show Photos courtesy http://www.achrnews.com/AHR-Expo

topics included small-scale hydronic cooling options and understanding many types of old steam heating systems for familiarisation and troubleshooting, the organisers said. With the reported statistics on the number of exhibitors and participants at the 2013 AHR Expo, the event is said to be the biggest in the HVACR industry. It is claimed that HVACR companies, new and established alike, choose the event to meet buyers, generate leads, build personal relationships with prospects and customers, and introduce their new products and technology. Many of them, though, hoped that the enthusiasm would not end at the show floor and that the record-breaking numbers was a precursor to a market surge. 

Photos courtesy http://www.achrnews.com/AHR-Expo

Paid seminars and programmes were also on offer during the event, including ASHRAE Learning Institute Continuing Education Courses, PM Live Symposium and certification reviews and exams. According to the programme, ASHRAE offered all-day and halfday courses to help HVACR professionals stay in touch with current HVACR trends and to earn continuing credits. Some of the topics covered included Air-to-air recovery fundamentals, energy modelling best practices and application, introduction to ultraviolet germicidal irradiation systems, understanding and designing dedicated outdoor air systems, and evaluating the performance of LEED-certified buildings. PM Live Symposium

Garrett Greiwe, Executive Vice President, Supreme Industries Inc., shows off one of the company’s newest innovations from their booth at the expo

Trane celebrates a century Photos courtesy http://www.achrnews.com/AHR-Expo

Introduces seven new products at the Expo

rane, a global provider of indoor comfort solutions, and a brand of Ingersoll Rand, celebrated its 100th year anniversary at the 2013 AHR Expo. In line with the celebration, the company showcased new products, systems and services and conducted onsite demonstrations, technology-based

Climate Control Middle East March 2013

presentations and special anniversary activities during the event. In an official communiqué, Trane reported that at the 2013 AHR Expo, it introduced seven new products that it claimed would benefit healthcare, education, hospitality, retail, commercial, industrial, and data centre

markets to create comfortable, efficient and productive environments. According to Trane, the products it introduced were Advantage VRF variable refrigerant systems, Intelligent Variable Air systems, IntelliPak I unitary rooftop systems, Series S CenTraVac chiller, Axiom variablespeed water-source heat pumps, Wireless Comm, and terminal devices. Speaking against the backdrop of the celebration, Dave Regnery, President, Trane North America, said: “For 100 years, Trane has defined the industry by providing heating and air conditioning solutions to help people live, work and play in comfortable environments. As we move into our second century, we are excited to play a leadership role in energy efficiency, as we drive the advancement of energy management services and energy conservation.”

country report SAUDI ARABIA

THE SUN RISES

KING The current trend of energy demands in Saudi Arabia is alarming. The continuous rise in the requirement for electrical power in the Kingdom is already taking its toll on its non-renewable resources, which has a direct negative repercussion on the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s future economic viability. At a time when it needs it most, the sun rises to the occasion and offers the Kingdom a sustainable solution to its present power crisis. Report by Jerome Sanchez

Climate Control Middle East March 2013

IN THE

GDOM T he Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is widely regarded by industry players to be one of the countries that have tenaciously weathered the economic downturn. Despite the crisis that crippled most of the world’s economies, the country has been continuously enjoying economic growth and expansion, and increased government investment in infrastructure projects. The development in the country’s

construction sector bodes well for the HVACR industry in the Kingdom, as many industry players regard the parallel between the two as a given. As Imad Kaba, Sales Director, Middle East and Africa Distributors, Trane, explains, “Saudi Arabia was surely in a better position to face the downturn during the economic crisis than anywhere in the region, thanks to its vast oil and financial reserves.” He points out that the government had billions of dollars of budget surplus that it used for investing

in many infrastructure projects, particularly in the housing, education, health, transportation, construction, municipality and water sectors. “These new projects will also generate more jobs, hence better for the economy,” says Kaba. He reveals that as per the information received by his company, several governmentbacked projects have been initiated, though a large number of these projects are currently on hold. He believes that the Government of Saudi Arabia needs to build more

March 2013

With the growth in population and improvement in the standards of living in the country, per capita consumption is increasing at an average growth rate of three per cent per annum from 2007 www.climatecontrolme.com

country report SAUDI ARABIA

There is a ‘star’ rating system currently in place, set up by Saudi Arabian Standards Organisation (SASO), where a higher number of stars indicates more efficient products

residential units over the next five years to meet the demands. “Saudi Arabia’s population has quadrupled over the last 40 years, creating a growing housing shortage,” he qualifies. Altaf Khan, Business Development Manager, Johnson Controls, Saudi Arabia, endorses this view, and elaborates: “Saudi Arabia was able to withstand the effects of the crisis due to huge government spending in infrastructure projects like roads, rails, metros, airport expansion and mosques, the Makkah Haram, in particular. The government also spent in new universities, hospitals, technical colleges and housing projects.” Mohamed Zackariah, Chief Consultant, Suhaimi

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Energy

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Design – Protecooling, says that in his opinion, the most important reason why Saudi Arabia continued to thrive despite the economic crisis was that the developments in the country were based in a reasonable and realistic approach towards the market. “The reality component in the assessment of the market needs for developments was much higher than in other areas,” he explains, and adds that the heightened focus on development in essential sectors, like education, healthcare, industry and housing, “protected” Saudi Arabia from the effects of the economic downturn.

HVACR industry in Saudi Arabia

Tawfiq M Attari, Global Sales and Technical Director, DuctSox, provides a more HVACR industry-centric evaluation of the situation when he points out that the continuing dependency on efficient air distribution

remains to be the main support for the HVACR market in Saudi Arabia: “Though some companies have faced a harsh downturn due to the economic crisis, the HVACR industry has, to some extent, been protected, and did better than most other industries,” he says. When asked about how the construction boom in the Kingdom affects the HVACR industry, Kaba, Khan and Attari are all of the opinion that the continuous increase in infrastructure projects is a welcome driver for growth of the sector. “The infrastructure projects, like the Makkah Haram expansion, the Harmain railways, universities and hospitals improve the HVAC equipment business,” says Khan. He thinks that the new mortgage law in Saudi Arabia can also boost the demand for HVACR equipment in the residential sector. “Both of the industries are very closely linked with

country report SAUDI ARABIA

each other,” explains Attari. “Once the property and infrastructure sector grows, so does the demand for cooling.” The HVACR industry in Saudi Arabia is estimated by the industry players to be around USD 2 billion. They are also unanimous in predicting a seven to 10% growth for the sector in the next five years. “With the Saudi Arabian Government’s continued efforts to diversify its economy, the outlook of the construction industry and, therefore, the HVACR industry, seems to be very positive,” affirms Kaba. “The outlook of the HVACR industry in Saudi Arabia, based on the current trend of growth is very promising, considering the large developments slated for the

upcoming years…. A few million TR of cooling capacity will be added within the next decade,” Zackariah confirms. Attari endorses the prediction of continuous growth for the sector in the Kingdom and adds that due to the country’s climate, he expects that there will still be a growing demand and dependency on air conditioning products, which will ensure the upward trend for the HVACR sector in the region. Khan, on the other hand, observes that though the outlook for the HVACR industry is generally positive, the mega construction projects have started shrinking and that government and private projects have increasingly been energy conscious, as

Climate Control Middle East March 2013

Given the current trajectory of Saudi Arabia’s energy demands, a Citigroup report in 2012 concluded that the country could cease to be an oil exporter by 2030 they are now going for more energy-efficient equipment, like variable frequency drives for HVAC equipment. Kaba seconds this observation, as he shares the view that there is a growing interest in energy efficiency and in the improvement of Indoor Air Quality in the Kingdom. “To achieve more energy efficiency and better Indoor Air Quality, there is also a trend towards more environmentally sustainable solutions, like Green Buildings,” he says. “This is partly due to the government’s concern over the rapidly increasing demand for [electricity] which translates to a reduction in the quantity of oil to sell on the world market.” Khan, too, speaks about the growing concern over the increasing demand for electricity in Saudi Arabia: “Semi-government and private projects are cautious about energy usage for HVAC equipment. So, they are going for variable frequency drive equipment and big capacity plants are preferring water cooled chillers – either sea water or sewage water – which we have technology to cover the extreme condition requirements in Saudi Arabia.” In addition, he also

shares his insights about the announcement of the Saudi Metrology Department regarding the banning of HCFC refrigerants, like R22 and R123, effective January 1, 2015. “Due to the ban of HCFC refrigerants, semigovernment and private projects are interested in HCFC-free equipment,” he says. “There is now a ban on HCFC refrigerants; so, products will move towards HCFC-free refrigerants like R134A, R410A and others.” He points out that current need for more energy-efficient equipment can drive the growth of the replacement and retrofit sector and that bodes well for the segment. Kaba supports this view. In his opinion, replacement of equipment is taking precedence over a simple refrigerant retrofit. “We noticed that many of the existing buildings with HVAC equipment over 20 years old prefer to opt for replacement of equipment rather than refrigerant retrofit,” he reveals. Though Attari considers the retrofit market to be “booming” at present, as many retail centres are currently under construction, he believes that it cannot be

considered as a sustainable market, as it fluctuates every three or four years.

The power crisis in the Kingdom

Industry players believe that with the continuous growth and expansion of the economy of the Kingdom, energy security is fast becoming a concern that calls for urgent and heightened attention. In his presentation during The Climate Control Conference (C3) in November 2012 in Riyadh, Eng Nasser Al-Qahtani, Vice Governor of the Electricity and Cogeneration Regulatory Authority (ECRA) in Saudi Arabia, gave valuable information regarding the country’s current energy demands. He pointed out that with the growth in population and improvement in the standards of living in the country, per capita consumption is increasing at an average growth rate of three per cent per annum from 2007. Speaking to Climate Control Middle East, H.E. Dr Abdullah M Al Shehri, Governor, ECRA, gives additional insights into the continuously increasing per capita consumption in Saudi Arabia: “The increase in consumption is due to four factors. These factors are mainly population growth, growing per capita consumption, economic development in the country and low prices of fuel and electricity.” In 20 years, the Kingdom’s peak electricity demand is projected to be

120 GW. The growth in demand is said to be mainly driven by the increase in the country’s GDP and the rise in investments from both government and private sectors. Al-Qahtani highlighted in his presentation that inefficiency was also a factor contributing to the spike in power demand. Al Shehri shares his thoughts and explains what, in his opinion, were the drivers to inefficiency: “Inefficiency is driven by fast economic development, lack of equipment standards that promote efficiency, lack of regulations to mandate efficiency measures, and prices that do not reflect the real cost,” he says. In the light of the increasing concern over Saudi Arabia’s energy security, the country’s government has introduced several measures that are expected to impact the growth in energy demands. Al Shehri shares the following policies: • Mandating insulation for buildings • Introducing high-efficiency standards for electrical equipment • Establishing a high-level centre (Saudi Energy Efficiency Centre – SEEC) for developing policies and implementing programmes for energy efficiency in buildings, transportation, and industry • Establishing strong electrical grid interconnection internally and to other countries such as those in the GCC and Egypt • Enhancing the efficiency of the electricity supply system by using highefficiency units and encouraging cogeneration • Embarking upon an ambitious programme for developing renewable and

nuclear power In addition to the abovementioned measures, privatisation is also seen by the Saudi government as a key policy to increase competition in the market, and, consequently, enhance energy efficiency. In line with this, ECRA has approved the Electricity Industry Restructuring Plan (EIRP), which moves towards a competitive wholesale market. Al Shehri explains more about the objectives of the EIRP: • Enhance competition in the supply side and demand side: This is expected to introduce smart practices to enhance efficiency, reduce cost and provide better quality services • Encourage private sector

March 2013

participation in building and operating various electricity activities: This will reduce the need for government support • Offer attractive investment opportunities for the private sector • Focus on government subsidy to the targeted groups: This will reduce the subsidy and make it more effective Furthermore, integration with other countries and regions is also considered by the Saudi Government as an integral component of its energy policies. Al Shehri enumerates its myriad advantages: • Improvement of electric system reliability • Opportunity for

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country report SAUDI ARABIA

electric energy trading on long-term and short-term bases • Improvement of system efficiency by exchanging power capacity during peak and off-peak periods • Creation of stronger systems that can cater to intermittent renewable energy systems • Enhancement of the interconnected systems to build larger power plants and benefit from economy of scale On the ground, industry players also share their insights on how the government of Saudi Arabia is addressing the current energy crisis. Kaba points out that the government has instructed all air conditioner manufacturing companies to incorporate higher Energy Efficient Ratio (EER) in the equipment they manufacture. “There is a ‘star’ rating system currently in place, set up by Saudi Arabian Standards Organisation (SASO), where a higher number of stars indicates more efficient products,” says Kaba. He adds that new regulations also restrict the maximum power usage per square metre of space. He points out that there currently exists a policy where the utility company exerts direct control over chiller plants in large government facilities during peak hours. “By reducing demand in this way, the utility company is able to reduce the risk of overloading the system. Trane is currently working on a number of these projects in the Kingdom and elsewhere in the Gulf,” he says. “The power crisis is a major issue,” agrees Zackariah. He reveals that many discussions have started in the country in order to meet 52

the growing energy demand. And to ensure energy security, government authorities may be heading in the direction of differential tariffs or some regulations mandating certain technologies like district cooling. “The power crisis is probably the single powerful factor that could shake the entire industry to clean up its act,” he observes. Khan points out that in addition to the EER star rating system, the Saudi Government is also putting a lot of effort into creating awareness among the end-users to choose and use energy-efficient equipment. He adds that the government is increasing its efforts to find alternative sources of energy, like solar energy.

New demands, new sources

As was pointed out by the industry players and representatives from the Saudi Arabian Government, the country is currently witnessing increasing growth with high rates of demand for electricity due to the growing population and the subsidised supply of water and electricity. According to The Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, reported by Clint Steyn and Marc Norman in a document from Chadbourne & Parke, released in November 2012, the increasing demand for electricity and water results in an equally increasing requirement for the non-renewable hydrocarbon resources to be used in generating power and desalinating water, which, it adds, is projected to continually rise. The Minister, therefore, considers the use of alternative sustainable and reliable resources for generating power and producing desalinated

Climate Control Middle East March 2013

The three procurement rounds are expected to lead to the procurement of approximately 5,000 MW of solar facilities water as a means of reducing dependency on hydrocarbon resources. The Minister, furthermore, believes that the use of alternative resources can serve as a guarantee for continuous production of water and generation of power in the future. The Minister also highlights the economic relevance of saving hydrocarbon resources, saying that the conservation of the same can ensure that they will continue to be a source of income for the country for a longer period of time. A Chatham House report in 2011, cited by Steyn and Norman in the same document, endorses the view that the current patterns

of energy demand in the Kingdom are not only wasting valuable resources and causing excessive pollution but also rendering the country vulnerable to economic and social crises. It observes: “Saudi Arabia’s place in the world market is threatened by unrestrained domestic fuel consumption…. Its domestic energy consumption could limit its exports of oil within a decade.” Given the current trajectory of Saudi Arabia’s energy demands, a Citigroup report in 2012 concluded that the country could cease to be an oil exporter by 2030. Considering that over 80% of the Kingdom’s government spending is dependent on oil, a shift in Saudi Arabia’s energy policy is, therefore, inevitable, it predicts. To respond to the pressing need to find alternative sources of energy, Steyn and Norman report that the Kingdom is to launch a renewable energy programme that could see the procurement of 54,000 MW of renewable energy capacity over the next 20 years. At a trade conference, the report continues, the Saudi

Government announced plans to issue a draft request for proposals for an introductory procurement round of up to 600 MW of utility-scale solar projects in the second quarter of 2013. The report explains that the introductory round is reported to be succeeded by two full-scale rounds. The three procurement rounds are expected to lead to the procurement of approximately 5,000 MW of solar facilities. The capacity, adds the report, is expected to split equally between photovoltaic and solar thermal projects. The renewable energy programme to be deployed by the Saudi Government is placed under the stewardship of the King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy (K.A. CARE), whose renewable programme’s main objective is reportedly to limit domestic oil consumption in order to boost lucrative oil exports. Steyn and Norman add that K.A. CARE’s overall target is to generate a third of its electricity from renewable energy by 2030, which translates into around 54,000 MW of renewable facilities. Though multiple sources

of renewable energy is envisaged, most of the target is expected to be reached through solar projects, with 16,000 MW in photovoltaic projects and 25,000 MW in solar thermal projects. As of February 21, 2013, a communiqué from the Emirates Solar Industry Association (ESIA) reported that K.A. CARE has announced the launch of its Renewable Energy Competitive Procurement Portal and released a White Paper outlining how the procurement process will proceed. This announcement, said the news release, marks the launch of a registration process for interested companies to submit feedback and obtain important information in connection with the Renewable Energy Program. It is envisaged to pave the way towards the launch of the introductory procurement round, which will consist of five to seven projects with a combined capacity of up to 800 MW.

definitely a feat for any economy. Saudi Arabia has managed to continue its growth story despite the downturn that plagued a majority of the world’s economies. The rapid and continuous growth of the economy and the population of the Kingdom have resulted in a spike in its energy demand, which requires urgent attention and solution. It has been reported that approximately 70% of all energy consumed within the built-environment is attributed to air conditioning. With the projected continuous growth of the construction industry and, consequently, the HVACR industry, industry players were unanimous in pointing out that the current drive of research and development in the industry is

towards energy efficiency and cost savings. The Saudi Government has introduced various energy policies with the aim of addressing the current power crisis. At present, Saudi Arabia has embarked upon an “ambitious” programme to tap alternative sources of energy, with particular interest in solar energy. The potential opportunities for solar power in Saudi Arabia is said to be great, and the Kingdom as a significant solar power market appears promising. Though still facing challenges like the observed general lack of regulations and concerns for the environment, the projects envisaged by Saudi Arabia is widely considered to have the potential to change the nature of the global solar industry. 

Conclusion

Weathering the economic crisis of recent years is March 2013

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perspective ENERGY AND SUSTAINABILITY

the

SH PE OF THINGS TO COME Saeed Alabbar, Director at AESG, an energy and sustainability consultancy in the Middle East, shares his insights into what he believes will be the top sustainability trends for the construction industry in the region in 2013.

he Middle East has often been criticised for its excessive consumption of resources as was confirmed by a 2012 Living Planet Report1, which named Qatar, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates as the top three countries having the largest per capita ecological footprints in the world. The situation is ripe for change, and developers across the region are now giving a serious thought to the impact of sustainability and green construction concepts on their profits and cost savings targets. After a steady growth through 2012, the Middle East construction market looks set to once again regain the momentum of the pre-recession era. Countries across the Middle East, particularly the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE, have announced

plans for major development undertakings. Experts predict USD 4.3 trillion worth of construction projects coming up across the MENA region over the next decade, representing a growth of 20% through 2020. Now taking centre stage in discussions within the industry is the issue of sustainable construction. As far as new projects are concerned, there is still a lot of work that needs to be done to translate good sustainable designs into sustainable buildings. For a number of projects in the region, lack of quality control in construction or poor commissioning have resulted in great intentions on paper not being transformed into reality. Whilst an increasing number of facility and building owners are looking to manage their energy and water consumption more effectively, this only

Climate Control Middle East March 2013

As far as new projects are concerned, there is still a lot of work that needs to be done to translate good sustainable designs into sustainable buildings accounts for a fraction of the existing building stock in the region.

Sustainability â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the mantra

While sustainability has been a buzz word in the industry for a number of years, we are now definitely witnessing a genuine drive for new development projects in pursuing increasingly higher

levels of sustainability. This is driven partly by regulation, and also by the fact that developers realising that sustainability offers a genuine opportunity to increase the value of their assets and also ensure that their assets are future-proofed. Commercial, as well as private buildings, will begin to incorporate green design elements in their construction in order to limit the amount of damage they do to the environment as well as to be as energy-efficient as possible.

Continued growth in public sector projects

Throughout the region, there is a commitment from governments to invest in social and commercial infrastructure. In order to increase the financial efficiency of these projects, both during construction and operation, government agencies are increasingly turning to sustainability and

energy efficiency as a means of reducing the lifecycle costs of these buildings. The results of these efforts have led to reductions in government spending on utility bills and infrastructure, which ultimately translate to freeing up revenue for more “constructive” purposes. As massive infrastructure projects are due to get underway during 2013, developers will be keen to look at innovative means to reduce the energy impact of these construction projects, both during construction and operational phases.

Commissioning – the new buzzword

In the Middle East, traditionally, commissioning of buildings has not been carried out effectively, which has resulted in many

buildings performing poorly during operation and, therefore, requiring frequent maintenance. However, judging by the feedback right through 2012, we are likely to see a growing trend of a number of developers choosing to utilise commissioning agents on projects to ensure a more effective transition between design, construction and operation stages of projects. Commissioning agents will be increasingly called upon to identify potential savings in capital costs for clients by better optimising designs and streamlining the testing and commissioning processes, such that building owners receive a better functioning building at the start of operation.

Time FOR energy retrofit projects Due to recent hike in utility

tariffs, the economic downturn and a greater focus on energy and sustainability issues, facility owners and operators are paying greater attention to their utility bills. Conducting detailed energy audits of facilities has shown that buildings can save approximately 20% of their energy bill through low- to no-cost measures alone, that all pay back within 12 to 18 months with an Internal Rate of Return (IRR) upwards of 40%. As far as important decisions go, during 2013, building owners are likely to realise the need for investing in low-cost measures to reduce their energy consumption. While these trends only scratch the surface of green building initiatives, they are indicative of the positive direction in which the industry is heading. The

year 2013 looks poised to be a year for massive growth of the green building market, and the onus is now upon facility owners, managers, architects and design teams to “think green”, lest they should find themselves in the red.  REFERENCES http://awsassets.panda.org/ downloads/lpr_2012_summary_ booklet_final_120505__2_.pdf

March 2013

The writer is Founding Managing Director AESG. He may be contacted at s.alabbar@aesg-me.com

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Spotlight This is the fourth in a multi-part, in-depth series on air filtration

PoCKETS OF

RESISTANCE There appears to be a preconceived notion that the greater the surface area covered, the more efficient the filter performance, which leads to the introduction of extra pockets. Dr Iyad Al-Attar systematically dispels this notion and emphasises the need for a filtration strategy for achieving better Indoor Air Quality (IAQ).

i In order for companies to succeed, it is imperative that their mission and vision are well established and goals are set forth to capitalise on the company’s core competencies. Since complex decisions are inevitable, strategic decisions and necessary methods of action for implementation provide a long-term direction to companies. Therefore, the quest for an efficient use of the available resources to ultimately achieve the desired goal is a much-sought-after component of success.

The key word here is “strategy”, which comes from the ancient Greek word, “strategos” meaning military general [1]. In my opinion, perhaps, the most striking definition of strategy is the one stated by Michael Porter: “Competitive strategy is about being different. It means deliberately choosing a different set of activities to deliver a unique mix of values” [2]. Superimposing this definition on filtration, the natural question would be: What can we do differently in air filtration to deliver a unique Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)? A corollary to this would be: Are we considering the relevant parameters to make appropriate decisions? And most importantly, are we equipped with the right

Climate Control Middle East March 2013

tactics to carry out successful filtration strategies?

Establishing relevant parameters

When acquiring a filter, price usually dominates the purchasing tendencies to provide filter solutions to our HVAC applications. Typically, and unfortunately,

price seems to steer decisions of selection criterion, far removed from the intended technical ones. In fact, filter performance in the surrounding climatic conditions is not granted the substantial attention it deserves, and human occupants are left to face the consequences.

Figure 1: Top view of a schematic of single-pocket filter

Figure 2: Sample of pocket filter where air does not access its entire surface area Further, parameters such as filter design, surface area, and textbook installation and maintenance measures constitute the foundations of the selection platform. Furthermore, the effect of these parameters might not be very straightforward and, therefore, to avoid inappropriate filter selection, the willingness of managers or other decision makers to consider such parameters is critically important.

The allure of extending surface area

The first selling advantage is filter surface area. Some sales executives tend to start their selling presentation with how their filter can accommodate the largest surface area and, consequently, how other factors will come into play, such as lower face velocity, and its contribution in enhancing the efficiency via extending the particle residence time. But is this always true? Could the addition of uncontrolled surface area become a competitive disadvantage? Historically, when the concept of pocket filters came about, the focus was

Figure 3: Depth and design comparison between pocket and minipleat filter

Parameters such as filter design, surface area and textbook installation and maintenance measures constitute the foundations of the selection platform to manufacture a filter with a surface area greater than its frontal area, and a single pocket filter was then introduced, as shown in Figure 1. The number of pockets, then, kept on increasing. Simply stated, the assumption was: The greater the surface area, the better

the filter performance. Here, I would like to pause and analyse this statement. Extending the surface area is not the desired goal while improving the IAQ of a given space. In fact, what is at stake here is providing a surface area that would help in enhancing the efficiency while lowering the pressure drop. In other words, it is not a matter of competition about extra “pockets” or “pleat”. The goal is to introduce additional surface area that actually participates in the filtration process.

It’s not only what you put in it, but also what you leave out For the sake of illustration – and argument – let’s consider a 592 x 592 mm filter with a single pocket, as shown in Figure 1. Now, let’s consider ways to extend the surface area of such a filter. One way to do it would be to increase the number of pockets. While some would like to extend the depth, others would vote for

March 2013

doing both. My next question would be: Where would you stop? Would six, eight, 10 or 12 pockets be sufficient? In fact, not because 10 or 12 pockets can actually fit there, it would automatically signify that it would have a positive impact on the filter performance. Once again, the question arises: Is the additional surface area added by virtue of these extra pockets contributing to efficiency enhancement and pressure drop reduction? Before we jump from out of our seats to answer this question, we need to consider whether or not the air is accessing the entire surface area. Figure 2 shows a sample of multi-pocket filter with underutilised filter media. Figure 3 compares a pocket filter with 900 mm depth with a minipleat filter design. When such a filter with a deeper pocket is used, the airhandling unit has to provide greater space to accommodate the filter depth. Further,

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Spotlight

It is not a matter of competition about extra “pockets” or “pleat”. The goal is to introduce additional surface area that participates in the filtration process the deeper the pocket, the greater the vibration of the filter media that may be sufficient to re-entrain previously captured particles into the air stream, resulting in lower efficiency. Once again, the question remains: Is increasing the surface area by increasing the depth of the pocket and/ or the number of pockets the answer to efficiency enhancement? Let’s consider a 10-pocket filter with dimension 592 x 592 x 900 mm, as shown in Figure 3. The total surface area is around 10.6 m2. When compared with the lowest surface area of a minipleat filter, as shown in Figure 3, it has a surface of 20m2 – that is double the surface area of the pocket filter and third of its depth. To match the 20m2 surface area of the minipleat in a pocket filter design, while keeping the number of pockets constant, the pocket depth has to be 1700 mm – a depth which is neither practical from a manufacturing perspective

Figure 4: Sewed pocket and its effect in obstructing the air flow nor useful from a filtration standpoint. Quite simply, the engineering aspect of adding effective surface area is not only about what to put into it, but also about what to leave out. Another parameter to be considered is pocket design. For example, pocket expansion has to be controlled during operation, on one hand, to be accessible by air, and on the other, to avoid over-expansion, which may result in pockets touching the neighbouring ones causing permeability reduction. Different ideas are introduced to do so. Some designers suggest a sewed pocket, as shown in Figure 4, and others provide restrainers in a different manner to better expose the filter media to air with its suspended dust, as shown in Figure 5.

The quest for a filtration strategy Clearly, the need to have filtration strategies emerges due to the dynamic nature of filtration demands. Careful

Climate Control Middle East March 2013

Figure 5: Greater pocket expansion provides better utilisation of the pocket surface area

consideration of filter design and performance are influential parameters in making strategic decisions in filter selection. Ultimately, the strategy needs to help in achieving the best possible efficiency at the lowest pressure drop, given the available resources. However, any strategy, no matter how brilliant, requires the right tactics to implement the means for achievement, which necessitates the prerequisite condition that we confront the truth by asking the following questions: • Are we making efficient use of the available filtration resources? • Are these resources sufficient to advance the filtration technologies and, consequently, the products? • Are we implementing successful filtration strategies to provide the best possible IAQ to humankind? And, before and above all this, we need to ask ourselves

the question: Is there a filtration strategy to begin with? 

References: [1] Roberts, John. 2005. “Dictionary of the Classical World”, Oxford. [2] Gerry, Johnson, Richard Whittington, Kevan Scholes. 2011. “Exploring Strategy”. Ninth Ed. Prentice Hall. NOTE: Unless otherwise mentioned, all data and images are copyright of the author.

Dr Iyad Al-Attar is an Air Filtration Consultant. He can be contacted at: iyad@iyadalattar.com

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