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November 2017
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Evening technical seminar on split AC technology January 10, 2018 | Dubai, UAE
OV ERV IEW: An interesting global narrative is emerging in the realm of split units, with inverter- based technology reportedly driving up energy ef ciency to hitherto unseen heights, relatively speaking. Splits have for long enjoyed a majority share of the air conditioning market in the GCC region. Features like affordability, and ease of installation and maintenance have helped the technology dominate the regional landscape. With the incorporation of inverter technology, proponents are gung-ho about the prospects of splits, as being able to sustain the dominance. But is it all that easy, or are there challenges that need addressing? Split Decision, a neutral, third-party evening seminar, is an interesting opportunity for greater clarity and understanding of the splits scene in the region, as it brings together multiple players and perspectives that consultants, developers and master-developers are eager to learn about.
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Country REPORTS: Denmark, Germany
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Regional News
Licence to Chill
Etihad ESCO signs retrofit agreement with Dubai Airports
The essential benefits of metering Dan Mizesko, US Chiller Services
ASHRAE standards in Arabic
Visit us stand no. z6-a50 zabeel hall 6 Headline HVACR Media Partner
Are inverters helping split systems garner a greater share of the air conditioning market? Or do T3 conditions pose a challenge? interviews
‘We need to reduce energy use but cannot sacrifice IAQ’ Bjarne Olesen of ASHRAE
‘The last mile’ Dr Nicolette Louissaint of Healthcare Ready
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vol. 12 no. 11 ď ˇ NOVEMBER 2017
Split 18 decision cover story pa g e
what is the extent of impact of inverter technology?
70 Market Feature Pumping forward What are the market drivers that are propelling the pump industry?
Post-Event Report (part 1)
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The road ahead... A detailed look into the proceedings of The Consultant Contractor Conference 2017
November 2017
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find inside vol. 12 no. 11 NOVEMBER 2017
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Q&A
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Hospitably speaking…
10 ‘We need to reduce energy use but cannot sacrifice IAQ’ Bjarne Olesen, President of ASHRAE, shares his thoughts on a host of opportunities and challenges that surround building performance in the Middle East.
‘Delayed payment norms have been driving down projects’ Ajith Abraham of Leminar Air Conditioning, talks about the peripherals of the HVAC insulation market.
46 ‘Interventions should focus on minimising the UHI effect’
Dilip Sinha of Honeywell, talks on how integrated solutions can boost energy efficiency in the hospitality sector.
Matthias Roth of the National University of Singapore, speaks on the international move towards climate-sensitive design, and the importance of addressing urban heat island (UHI) effect in the GCC region.
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Germany
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How are German HVACR manufacturers dealing with the external complexities impacting the industry?
‘The Last Mile’
66 ‘FM firms ought to link up with technology suppliers’ Abdulhadi Ali Alalyak, Board Member of Middle East Facility Management Association, speaks on the role of MEPspecialised FM companies in lowering energy-consumption.
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An up close and personal look at the Scandinavian country’s concerted approach to renewable energy.
Dr Nicolette Louissaint, President of Healthcare Ready, speaks on the role her organisation plays in supporting the healthcare supply chain in areas that are affected by disasters.
60 LICENCE TO CHILL
Not all systems are created equal (Part 1)
REGULARS 08
EDITOR'S NOTE
The Gouda Principle
November 2017
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Regional News Global News Comings & Goings
Dan Mizesko of US Chiller Services discusses the importance of specifying and installing metering for greater efficiency and proper O&M.
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EDITOR’S NOTE
The Gouda principle
T B Surendar Editor @BSurendar_HVACR
COUNTRY REPORTS: DENMARK, GERMANY
November 2017
Regional News
Licence to Chill
Etihad ESCO signs retrofit agreement with Dubai Airports
The essential benefits of metering Dan Mizesko, US Chiller Services
ASHRAE standards in Arabic
Visit us stand no. z6-a50 zabeel hall 6 HEADLINE HVACR MEDIA PARTNER
Are inverters helping split systems garner a greater share of the air conditioning market? Or do T3 conditions pose a challenge? interviews
‘We need to reduce energy use but cannot sacrifice IAQ’ Bjarne Olesen of ASHRAE
‘The last mile’ Dr Nicolette Louissaint of Healthcare Ready
Get the next issue of Climate Control Middle East early! 26 - 29 NOVEMBER 2017 DUBAI WORLD TRADE CENTRE
‘Interventions should focus on minimising the UHI effect’ Matthias Roth of the National University of Singapore
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echnical seminars and workshops aimed at addressing the Low Delta T Syndrome, hydraulic balancing or the proper brazing of pipes, as part of the installation process of VRF systems, are of unquestionable importance, but so are courses related to the drafting of contracts and the financing of buildingretrofit projects. In September, the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) and Eurovent announced a series of training programmes and workshops, as part of an initiative to enhance the level of technical expertise in the GCC region. ASHRAE made the announcement during the launch of a global training centre in Dubai, the first of its kind outside the United States. The launch ceremony provided an opportunity to interact with ASHRAE President, Bjarne Olesen, and on behalf of the HVACR industry in the region, I used it to suggest that the Society could also consider including courses that would help MEP consultants and contractors navigate their way through legal channels in the drafting of contracts. Equally, I pointed out to the possibility of conducting courses on how to persuade banks to release funds for retrofit projects, or to convince end-users to undertake them, in the first place. He took the suggestions well and said he would discuss with his colleagues, which was very heartening to hear. The genesis of the suggestion on the need for finance-related training for retrofit projects came from Sam Gouda, to whom Climate Control Middle East magazine spoke in early 2016. Gouda is President and Lead Expert of US-based Creara International. Speaking from experience, he said banks often don’t have a clear understanding of energy efficiency, with many not sure how to perform due diligence for an energy-efficiency project. In that context, Gouda said it was upon the engineering community to help bridge the knowledge gap, even going to the extent of training banks on how to read energy audits and develop an understanding of the risks involved. In short, Gouda recommended that engineers must highlight the business angle of energy efficiency, as opposed to merely sharing technologyrelated information, to encourage investment in retrofit projects. For that, of course, they would first need to align themselves to think on finance in a structured manner, and that is where training workshops by ASHRAE and Eurovent could help. Likewise, Gouda recommended that engineers ought to more profoundly connect with end-users. Taking the example of the healthcare sector, he said hospital managers were obsessed with controlling the infection rate, while saving energy – and rightly so. If engineers, instead of merely talking in terms of kilowatt hours, could show to them that a retrofit initiative would eventually reduce energy use – and, thus, save money – and also bring down the infection rate, the managers would warm to the idea of an intervention.
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We need to reduce energy use but cannot sacrifice IAQ ASHRAE President Bjarne Olesen was in the UAE in September to inaugurate the Society’s Global Training Centre for Building Excellence, in Dubai. B Surendar of Climate Control Middle East caught up with Olesen for an interview. Excerpts‌
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was looking with a lot of interest at the different subjects the centre will be covering. Here in Dubai, which has a stock of over 120,000 existing buildings, the government is giving a strong push to retrofit projects. For the movement to gather pace, though, and to achieve a certain critical mass, there needs to be a bridge to finance the projects. Experts on the subject say that engineers are very good at tweaking the design and the equipment for greater energy efficiency and better indoor air quality. However, project teams fall short when it comes to convincing bankers to release funds,
November 2017
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Bjarne Olesen, ASHRAE
in the absence of a tangible collateral. So, I am curious to know if ASHRAE would consider offering courses that offer engineers practical and specialised knowledge on understanding the funding mechanism, to be able to persuade bankers to loosen the purse strings? Bjarne Olesen: So, what you’re talking about is not so much courses on technology to do retrofitting but more about how do you do finance? Well, we don’t have a course at the moment on that. We are discussing more of this; we call them ‘soft-skill courses’, but it’s not something that has materialised into courses. It’s a discussion we have that is an interest not only here but also in the United States, for courses that are not hard-core engineering but still important for the engineering trade. So, that might be a possibility that we would establish such courses. That also means we need to work with other groups, because now we need to have people who understand economy and others involved in creating such a course, but that’s definitely possible.
For indoor air quality and ventilation,getting the demand down is making sure that your indoor sources have as low emissions as possible
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And, I just want to say about retrofit – because I think this is a very important thing in my country, Denmark, but also in the US, the building stock is renewed by about three per cent. If you look at a country like India, I think 70% of the buildings that will exist in 10 years are not built yet. So, that’s a completely different market; there maybe you can focus more on new buildings, because you know soon there will be [changes], but we in Denmark have a big problem. We can have control over a very new building. We can have a well-designed building that has low energy use and great indoor comfort, but how do we get the owner to buy into retrofitting an existing building, even if it is an economical approach? What is the incentive? This is a big discussion we have in all of Europe. If we want to meet our energy targets, we need to look at existing [buildings]. But there are some incentives. By renovating a building you can create a better indoor environment, which will increase the productivity of people. You may have fewer sick days. Even improving the indoor environment in our homes can influence the productivity at the workplace. If you have a bad night’s sleep, because you don’t have much ventilation in your bedroom, then you won’t work so efficiently the next day. And we have numbers now that tell a little about how important productivity is. Just one number that highlights productivity is how much you pay people to work in the office. The cost of energy for cooling and ventilation is only one per cent of the salary. So, you see, if you lose out on productivity, that’s a lot. We need to reduce energy use, but we cannot sacrifice the indoor environment. So, can you go out and sell a renovation, saying we will lower energy use, but normally still, energy is too cheap? If we also create a better indoor environment, it would lead to fewer number of sick days and increase productivity. That way, the investment will pay itself off in a couple of years.
Speaking from a Middle East point of view, there are a lot of buildings being developed, where the owner would eventually look to sell the property. If for personal use, you would make sure you have the best possible devices for indoor environmental quality (IEQ), energy efficiency and water efficiency. If you know you're going to shift the ownership, the motivation to populate the building with attributes is reportedly
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Bjarne Olesen, ASHRAE
missing. How would you address the situation? How is it in Denmark, for instance? Well, there is a big difference if the client is building for himself or herself or for selling to someone to earn money. Now, what in some way has changed a little is that we have these building certifications, like LEED and BREAAM. People nowadays, while buying a building or renting an office space, are looking to see if it is LEED-certified. I think that’s one thing that has helped, so those that invest in a building know they can get a higher price if they were to sell or to get a higher rent. But LEED is not very good for the indoor environment – there is a trend now where some of the LEED people are adopting the WELL building standard. They want to do the same again by having some kind of certification for the indoor environment; I think that’s needed. I know they do it, because they can earn money on it like the LEED programme, but I think it will start the focus on the indoor environment, and I have always said that an energy certificate doesn’t mean anything if you don’t have an indoor environment certificate, at the same time, and if we can promote more to also get an indoor environment quality certificate then I think it will have the required effect. If you don’t get a good certificate, well maybe you cannot sell the building or you cannot rent it out, but we are not there yet; but I think it is coming.
One of the issues we’ve been discussing in the magazine for many years is how to balance the need for greater energy efficiency with good IEQ. Any talk asking for allowing more fresh air changes in the room is more often than not shot down using the argument that to do so would affect energy efficiency and raise the level of indirect emissions. In that context, do you see clean renewable energy as addressing the issue, because it will take the talk of at least indirect emissions out of the equation? That is, of course, if we have more efficient energy-storage devices and if the renewable energy captured and stored is of a certain “critical mass” to power even large HVACR equipment. We seem to be
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Air cleaning is definitely a technology, but there are also some problems, because some air cleaners are not providing what they promised and we don't have very good testing standards for air cleaners
heading in the direction of more efficient energy storage with Tesla’s project in Hawaii. Well, I still think you can introduce fresh air without having to invent or get new clean energy. Of course, it helps, because normally when we evaluate the energy use of a building and we want to look at if it’s a zero-energy building we normally look at the kind of the primary energy, be it from the sun or from hydropower. It’s like you say, clean energy, and then maybe it’s not so important how much we are using, because we have clean energy. I still think even if you have enough of this energy, you need to start by making sure that the demand is as low as possible. For indoor air quality and ventilation, getting the demand down is making sure that your indoor sources have as low emissions as possible. There are many building products today that have very high emissions of VOCs, and that really increases the need for ventilation. Well, as occupants, we pollute the air to a great extent, but of course, we have to be in the building.
November 2017
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Bjarne Olesen, ASHRAE
That’s why we have the building, in the first place. But there’s a lot of other stuff, where we can do much better selecting the good material. So, no matter what I think how cheap the energy is, you should try to limit the demand, because you may say well, ‘I can have a lot of ventilation, because it doesn’t cost me anything.’ Yes, but the more air you put in, the more you increase the risk of more noise and of draught. So, it’s still an advantage to not use too much air. Now then, if you ventilate and we say the outside air quality is acceptable for ventilation, then good. In Denmark, for instance, we have pretty good outdoor air quality. The way we do it with ventilation is we have heat recovery. It’s required in our building code that the efficiency of heat recovery has to be 80%. So, there’s only 20% energy loss for the ventilation, and that helps a lot. A heat recovery heat exchanger is an advantage, be it when it’s very cold outside, in which case you need heating and ventilation, or when it’s warm outside, and you need cooling. Now the problem arises when the outside air is not of a quality where you really want it to increase ventilation. It can be during a certain time in the day because of traffic and emission. If you look at big cities, like Beijing, you have particles from the traffic and industry. It can be during a certain time of the year, as in Singapore, where they get all the particles from the fire they’re burning in Indonesia. You can put really good filters to take away the particles, but that costs more in terms of energy use. I see that air-cleaning technology is already there in the market, but I don’t think we will
ever get to a point where air cleaning can 100% substitute outside air; still, it could do so for part of a day. So, air cleaning is definitely a technology, but there are also some problems, because some air cleaners are not providing what they promised and we don’t have very good testing standards for air cleaners. So, we have seen in my research group that some air cleaners can make it worse, because some of them use some kind of chemical reaction inside the air cleaner, but they don’t know always what’s in the air, for example. As people, we give off a large number of chemicals. What if they interact with the air cleaner and give off some new substances, which may be harmful to the body? Having said that, an air cleaner is definitely a technology you can use to improve indoor air quality through not using too much energy, because you don’t have to heat up or cool down so much outside air. But we need to have a better certification testing of air cleaners.
I have one more question related to the global training centre. Just like we need more financial education for engineers, we perhaps also need education on the legal aspects to prevent or resolve contract-related disputes involving MEP consultancy and contracting companies. Is that something you would consider introducing as a course?
I think that’s a really good point. I will bring it back to our educational department, and that would be something. We cannot provide it now but I think it’s a very good idea to include.
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I think that’s a very good point, and also the other point of what we call as soft skills. I know some of our societies, like SMACNA, do these types of courses to help their members.
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OVER STORY
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November 2017
Are inverters helping split systems garner a greater share of the air conditioning market? Or, are there still questions to be answered relating to their performance in high-ambient – especially T3 – conditions, which demand that the inverter operates on a higher load, as opposed to a partial-load profile? What are manufacturers doing to overcome the challenge, if it is, indeed, the case? Hannah Jo Uy has the story‌
November 2017
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OVER STORY
Michel Farah
Changho Lee
Giorgio Elia
Dawood Bin Ozair
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November 2017
Split decision
W
ith global trends strongly pointing to a concerted move towards more energyefficient products, owing to greater awareness of the harrowing impact older, unregulated products have on the environment, split systems are on an upward trajectory. And in this, they have an ally in inverters. “Higher standards of living, combined with population increase and higher temperatures, are factors increasing the use of splits worldwide, says Michel Farah, Director of Corporate Environmental and Social Responsibility, Daikin Middle East and Africa. Adds Changho Lee, General Manager, RAC Sales Division at LG Electronics Gulf: “In the HVAC sector, the market share for split units is around 30-35% and is projected to steadily grow by 3-5% every year. Furthermore, due to the energy regulations in all GCC [region] countries, the demand for low-quality air conditioners is rapidly declining every year, as customers opt for high-quality branded air conditioners that benefit customers and manufacturers.” Lee’s words are echoed by Giorgio Elia, Vice President, UTC Climate, Controls & Security – Middle East, who says: “There’s been great acceptance of new innovative products and technologies in various geographies around the globe. A similar trend is visible in the GCC [region], where governments are leading initiatives related to energy efficiency regulations that direct manufacturers to use innovative solutions in new product introductions.” As a result, Elia says, the introduction of new products, such as the inverter units and the VRF, offer advantages that include “a small footprint, high durability, long piping, reduced number of condensing units, electrical safety features, optimum power consumption and tolerance for high ambient climate conditions”. Dawood Bin Ozair, CEO, Blue Star International, says the evidence of the popularity of splits is in the figures. Speaking specifically about non-ducted splits, he says the market size is estimated to be half a million units, with the market growing at an average of 10-12%. As for ducted splits, he says the market size is around 200,000-250,000 units. Like Elia,
painting a sanguine picture for splits, he says he, too, has witnessed changes emerging in recent requirements, which are beginning to favour energy-efficient, inverter-based technologies that are compliant with safety standards and which bear the ‘G’ mark.
The way forward: Global move towards inverterisation Farah says the requirement to go inverter is affecting all cooling solutions across the board. Developers, who are seeking low-carbon footprint and high-energyperformance buildings, he adds, are embracing inverter-based systems, be they in splits, VRF multi-split systems or, more recently, in chillers. Adds Elia: “There has been a strong increase in awareness for the usage and benefits of inverter systems within the last few years in the GCC region. The continuously evolving local and regional HVACR regulations have further influenced the growing demand for the systems. The high efficiency and adaptability of the product makes it an excellent choice for a wide range of applications and a popular choice in the region.”
Splits used to be inefficient, because standards didn’t require them to be efficient, but since the UAE has set particular standards, split units today, even those that are not inverter-type, are already twice more efficient than those five years ago
November 2017
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OVER STORY
Deepak Krishnan
Tariq Al Ghussein
Split decision
Tariq Al Ghussein, CEO, Taqeef, believes that the biggest market is still the split unit, to date. This, he says, is owing to the fact that it’s cheaper and to the advantages it offers with regard to installation. “Splits used to be inefficient,” he says, “because standards didn’t require them to be efficient, but since the UAE has set particular standards, split units today, even those that are not inverter-type, are already twice more efficient than those five years ago. I think inverter splits are going to be even more efficient. Initially, the cost was prohibitive, but it is going down. I think that in the future, all split units will be inverterbased.” Al Ghussein adds that an issue to consider is the high-ambient temperatures in the region, which might require the product to undergo extra “tweaking”. That aside, he says that “in Europe, in China it’s all inverter – people don’t use fixed-speed compressors”.
Farah echoes this, when he says that with the increase in the level of efficiency of splits and the introduction of inverter technology, “the case is strong for the economic buyer looking to reduce his running electricity bill”. He adds that when compared to window units, the efficiency premium could reach 50%, which will have a veritable impact towards reducing the cost of energy used to produce the required cooling. Speaking on the progress of inverter systems, when compared to traditional splits, Farah says: “The ratio of inverters versus non-inverters varies by region, with Japan,
Europe, Oceania and China leading with higher than 50% share of the market. In the Middle East and Africa, this ratio is increasing rapidly in favour of inverter splits at a rate of 7-10%, currently.” Lee, however, suggests lower projections in the GCC region, especially when compared to a more enthusiastic acceptance of inverterbased technology among other countries. “Currently, the market share for inverterbased air conditioners in the GCC region is very low,” he says. “It is less than one per cent, as it is not easy to design inverter air conditioners for the region’s extreme weather conditions. However, in other countries, like the US and countries in Europe, the market share for inverter air conditioners is at 100% already because of its high-energy efficiency and faster cooling.” Bin Ozair, while acknowledging the strong progress of splits, also takes a conservative view with regard to its dominance in the region. “In a span of 10 years, maybe,” he says. “Eventually, yes, the cost-effective and energy-efficient [nature of the split systems]
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will always prevail, but this will not be immediate; old units will not be replaced right away.” Deepak Krishnan, Manager, Air conditioner & Major Appliances, Appliance Product Department, Panasonic Marketing Middle East & Africa, also shares a rather conservative view. “Being a high-ambient region, challenges exist,” Krishnan says. “The penetration of inverter is still very low, but we are under the assumption that over the period of the next 2-3 years, the market will shift much more to the inverter.” Krishnan sheds further light on the issue, saying that inverter technology is ideal for conditions where the partial load is high and in countries where the ambient temperature stays between 35 and 37 degrees C. In such cases, he says, inverter makes a lot of sense, as it would offer a lot of savings. “In the Middle East, the ambient temperatures are high throughout for a long period of time, and the inverter is always operating on a higher load. In that sense, does it really save money? It’s a good question to be answered. If you look at it from the SEER point of view, yes, there might be some savings, but still, in this region, the acceptability of inverter might take some time. Penetration is yet to gain ground in the GCC region.” Lee says that owing to this, LG has directed its resources and manpower to develop inverter-based products suitable for high-ambient conditions in the region. “The Gulf is currently witnessing an upsurge in the demand for air conditioners during the summer season, as temperatures shoot up to around 50 degrees C, resulting in air conditioners consuming approximately 70% of the total power consumed.” He says that in light of this, inverter technology can have a huge impact on energy consumption, if a way can be found to raise their efficiency in high-ambient conditions. Of course, that would pose the question: ‘What are the cost implications of product development to raise the efficiency?’ While manufacturers try to work their way to a solution for inverters to be able to function efficiently in high-ambient – especially T3 – conditions, the consensus is that it falls upon consultants to better understand the technology, as it evolves, and present it to their clients as a viable solution. Farah says that in local markets, the consultant plays an important role in choosing the right system for the
right project to satisfy the owner’s requirement. Krishnan adds to that by pointing to what consultants can do in terms of possibly bridging the gap with regard to higher capital cost that comes with more efficient systems. “If the consultant requires a certain amount of energy efficiency then the contractor or developer would go for that,” he says, “but if there is no such demand in the project, people go for the normal lowcost splits.” A swing factor arguably in favour of inverter-based splits over other systems promising similar energy efficiency is ease of installation. This view is apparently supported by a large number of contractors and technicians, who have the experience of installing traditional splits.
While installation remains the same, contractors still require indepth training and knowledge of the inverterter components to effectively commission and service the equipment
Lee emphasises the importance of installation, when he says that it remains LG’s aim to make sure its products are designed for easier and more efficient installation, regardless of the surroundings and the number of people involved in the installation process. “By reducing the manpower and the time required for installation,” he says, “it is now possible to install more air conditioners at more homes in a shorter period of time.”
November 2017
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OVER STORY
Split decision
Elia throws in a word of caution, though, when he says that it is important to train relevant stakeholders on the new system, despite their familiarity with traditional splits. “While installation remains the same,” he says, “contractors still require in-depth training and knowledge of the inverter components to effectively commission and service the equipment.” In view of that, Elia suggests that dealers and contractors ought to opt for the training programmes available in the market. Farah seconds this, stressing that manufacturers should promote knowledgeexchange in the industry. “Manufacturers are also playing an important role in training installers and technicians to keep up with the technology advances,” he says. “Having said that, we believe the market requires more training on refrigeranthandling practices, including recovery, to avoid release into the atmosphere.”
Inverter-based splits and VRF technology There is growing talk that splits are now at par with VRF systems, in terms of energy efficiency, largely owing to the incorporation of inverter technology. Elia addresses the issue by saying that both systems offer advantages that can greatly benefit different segments. “Even though inverter splits and variable refrigerant flow (VRF) systems are based on the same technological principle, whereby they both use inverter compressors and fan motors, they cater to two completely different segments with diverse customer and project needs,” he says. Inverter-based split systems, Elia adds, are primarily used for small residential applications that can accommodate a small indoor unit and an outdoor unit, while VRF systems are used for light-commercial applications, such as mid- and high-rise buildings, both commercial and residential, and can connect up to 64 indoor units to one outdoor unit. Commenting on the benefits of VRF units, he points out to the comparatively smaller footprint on project premises, while allowing for the connectivity of “comfort-centric, sophisticated controls to monitor energy efficiency”. He also points out to how VRF units can support long refrigerant line applications, such as within high-rise buildings. “Both inverter splits and VRF systems have the advantage of regulating the compressor speed in response to cooling demand, thus ensuring efficient and economical operation,” Elia says.
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November 2017
For the end-users it is lower bills, for the powergeneration company, it is lower peak hour demand and for the environment it is lower greenhouse gas emissions
“Conventional fixed-speed units operate at 100%, delivering a fixed volume of cooling, which means the compressor has to stop and start to maintain the desired room temperature. An inverter air conditioning system varies the speed of the compressor, delivering precise cooling or heating while using a fraction of the power. This makes it more efficient.” The benefits, Elia says, makes inverter hi-walls up to 30% more efficient compared to similar capacity fixed-speed systems. Additionally, he says, payback is fast emphasising that the additional investment done on an inverter hi-wall unit versus a fixed-speed is recovered within a year from energy savings. (Elia notes that the payback calculation he cited is based on a comparison of 1.5 TR Carrier hi-wall system – fixed-speed versus inverter.) “Both the hi-wall inverter and VRF products deliver energy efficiency and environmental benefits – utilising non-HCFC refrigerants and surpassing the ASHRAE 90.1 minimum energy efficiency requirements,” Elia says. “They also meet and surpass most of the HVAC energy-efficiency regulations of GCC [region] countries. Even though VRF and inverter splits cannot be directly compared, there is an overlap of applications, where both inverter splits and VRF systems can be used.” Getting into the VRF versus splits debate, Bin Ozair says: “While the biggest market for splits still is Saudi, in the UAE, the market is well-classified. Splits are used in the construction segment labour camps and in low- and medium-range housing projects. We don’t think the VRF will impact the market share of split air conditioners. VRF might affect the market of ducted and small chillers, though.” Bin Ozair says the demand for splits is also being driven by government initiatives featuring low-cost housing projects, budget housing programmes and buildingretrofit initiatives. Krishnan provides another facet to the argument when commenting on current building practices. “If you have too many splits, the roof can get crowded with many outdoor units,” he says, before adding that the current trend in construction involves roofs with swimming pools and play areas. “The space to install the number of outdoor [units] is becoming less and less,” he stresses. “Here, the trend is changing, and people are going towards VRF or multi-split environments.” In line with this, Krishnan is of the opinion that in countries with there are no geographic constraints, such as Oman and Saudi Arabia, splits will continue
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OVER STORY
Split decision
to dominate the market. And in markets in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, where real estate development is more vertically inclined “splits will have their own limitations”. Krishnan adds that Panasonic currently has a strong market share in Oman at 35%. “That's basically where our split segment is strong,” he says. The UAE is more of a replacement market rather than new constructions coming up.”
Positive trajectory in the GCC further compounded by overall user experience With leading manufacturers showcasing a steady move towards, and greater investment in, R&D of inverter-based splits, the upward trajectory of the technology is reinforced by its positive reception among end-users and growing support from government. As the public becomes increasingly more aware of the cost-effective and energyefficient advantages of the product, demand is creating a buoyant mood among manufacturers. “The inverter splits technology adapts its power consumption to maintain the required cooling set point within 0.5 degrees,” Farah says. “This brings a higher level of comfort for a lower running cost. The user experience of inverter air conditioners is the main factor that is helping increase the awareness of its benefits and the motivation to repeat this experience in other projects. For the endusers it is lower bills, for the power-generation company, it is lower peak hour demand and for the environment it is lower greenhouse gas emissions. It is simply the way forward.” Lee says that following the announcement of LG’s move towards global inverterisation, earlier this year, the company has received positive reception upon the release of its new inverter products. This, Lee says, is owing to the fact that the product was “designed and developed based on customer feedback and, more importantly, to reduce environmental impact”. Farah shares milestones at Daikin’s end, saying the company won certification from the Abu Dhabi Quality & Conformity Council for its R-32 inverter split system in 2016. The awarding of the certificate, he says, is a shot in the arm for efforts aimed at safeguarding the environment, given the low-GWP nature of the refrigerant. Making the point that with R-32, inverter-based splits can tick the box for being an ally in efforts aimed at mitigating climate change, Farah says the global sales of inverter splits using R-32 has reached 10 million units since it was first launched
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November 2017
The interest of endusers and developers for these products are not only a result of their concern for the environment. It is also encouraged by the ability to reduce one's energy consumption, though work needs to be done on the T3 front, in the GCC region
in 2015, with major market shifts from R-410A to R-32 in markets such as Australia, Indonesia, Thailand and India. “More than 15 global brands have launched air conditioning systems using R-32, worldwide,” he says, “and we believe that more manufacturers will follow the trend. With one-third the global warming potential of R-410A, R-32 is helping to address the need to mitigate global climate change and to help meet both the HFC phasedown schedule and the HCFC phase-out schedule.”
Calculable paybacks: Weighing the numbers Of course, the interest of end-users and developers for these products are not only a result of their concern for the environment. It is also encouraged by the ability to reduce one’s energy consumption, though work needs to be done on the T3 front, in the GCC region. “The whole region needs energy efficiency,” Bin Ozair stresses. “The reason is that power is getting more and more expensive, people need energy-efficient [products] at competitive prices.” Adds Elia: “Countries in the Middle East have been steadily improving efficiency standards in response to enhanced technology trends and to help reduce the burden of power tariffs. This shift has led to an increase in demand for higher-efficiency air conditioning solutions from regulators as well as end users and contractors. The trend is prevalent across the region and has had an impact on every product category within the HVAC industry.”
Al Ghussein sums it up simply when he says, “Efficiency saves money.” He adds that currently, government subsidies on electricity tariffs may be cushioning the blow of an increase in electricity costs, which may deter people from the higher capital cost of new, yet more energyefficient systems. Despite this, he believes, as the numbers continue to go higher, people are only going to be more aware and recognise the importance of reducing electricity consumption. Also touching on the potentially costprohibitive nature of new technology, Farah says: “In all cases, the higher price paid at purchase is compensated quickly by the lower energy bill. The payback time depends on the electrical rate and the number of running hours. Depending on the kWhr rate, it could be as quick as one year, using Dubai rates for units running more than eight hours per day.” He adds that the refrigerant used in inverters is similar to non-inverters, without an additional burden on price.
Natural order Though the rate at which they are doing so is subject to debate, inverter-based split systems seem to be on their way towards edging out traditional splits. And with the possibility of innovations in the anvil to overcome the T3 conundrum, the mood is buoyant. Further factors that are seen as boosting an increase in uptake of inverter-based splits include a proactive mindset among GCC region countries to lower environmental impact and a desire among consumers to lower their electricity consumption owing to constantly increasing power tariffs. Overall, it is evident that lessefficient systems will soon fall prey to the natural order.
HAVE YOUR SAY! We welcome your views on the article. Write to editor@cpi-industry.com
November 2017
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The Consultant Contractor Conference
Stakeholders blighted by payment delays and the experience of being at the receiving end of lopsided contracts expressed their feelings at The Consultant Contractor Conference 2017, in September in Dubai. In the first of a two-part report, Benwen Lopez presents the discussions that unfolded at the event.
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P
icture an architecturally beautiful building, with plush landscaping. Can the aesthetic aspects tell the whole story within it, though? If a building-performance specialist were to tour the facility, the chances are that his informed eye might see a different picture, if MEP design and installation exercises have been partially or fractionally compromised. His training and engineering instincts might allow him to perceive the occupant experience as being different from the intended goal of an enlightened developer. At a time when there is much talk of enhancing the performance of buildings, against the backdrop of government efforts to reduce carbon emissions and to improve indoor environmental quality, an area that needs as much attention as the approval of equipment that promotes energy efficiency, water efficiency, safety or air quality is the systematic aggregation of well-qualified expertise in the country to carry out the multiple tasks and functions that go into erecting a habitable structure.
A springboard for action The premiere edition of The Consultant Contractor Conference, which ran from September 18 to 19, 2017, in Dubai, offered a springboard for the construction community to antiquate those conventional practices that lead to poorly performing buildings and to embrace a holistic approach and excellent practices towards sustainable development goals. As Saeed Al Abaar, Director at AESG, pointed out, “The industry is involved in a lot of rapid design, construction and commissioning, and there is a lot of simple things done wrong.� He affirmed that the current issues faced by the industry need to be microscopically investigated and introspected to find solutions and improve the situation, while exploring the opportunities for building performance.
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Carlos Amaya
Saeed Al Abaar
George Berbari
It is a familiar mantra that quality is the cornerstone of building performance, and Al Abaar asserted that it is not just the quality of products but also the quality in people. He also agreed with Carlos Amaya, Senior Specialist, Conformity Scheme Services – Product Conformity at Abu Dhabi Quality & Conformity Council (ADQCC), who highlighted the role of his organisation in setting industry benchmarks of quality for products and people.
A need for a trickledown effect While Amaya’s words are music to the ears, the need is for the government’s wellintentioned actions to trickle down to the construction sites, for instances abound of small-time or new and often incompetent contractors trying to bite more than they can chew. Through under-quoting for projects, they bag contracts and but soon discover they are not able to deliver. As George Berbari, CEO, DC PRO Engineering, said, sometimes, contractors take on projects that are beyond their technical expertise and, then, struggle with the finances. Berbari also said there is a void in the quality of engineering, owing to the lack of specialised MEP consultants and contractors. In other words, the market is populated with general contractors trying their hand at specialised MEP works without the necessary expertise in their ranks. Bearing this in mind, Khaled Derhalli, Operations Director, Efeco (Arabtec), called for specialised MEP consultants and contractors in the market to truly contribute to the success of UAE Vision 2021. For Berbari, it is difficult to identify the “right” MEP consultant or contractor, owing to the rampant practice among developers of going for low-cost MEP expertise, or to architects offering in-house MEP services. He affirmed that there is no framework to control MEP certification or drive up quality consultants.
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In some cases, construction contracts can be a shortcut to a bypass surgery, if not handled properly. Contracts in this region are professionally unprofessional
Khaled Derhalli
In reality, the fancy term, ‘low-cost services’ is what is driving down the market and spiking up the competition, the participants at the conference agreed. As a result, Berbari said, several contractors have gone bankrupt – a case of maxed-out financial constraints. One of the primary drawbacks that caused the downfall, he said, is the lack of knowledge among new or small contracting firms on the pricing of the various-sized projects. Voicing a similar opinion on the lack of expertise, Sameer Daoud, Chief Development Officer and Managing Director (Saudi Arabia), Drake & Scull, said that capabilities are the keys to success, and small contractors need to know and understand their limitations, especially when it comes to taking on projects that may be beyond their reach, technically and financially speaking. At the same time, he pointed out to the reality of big contractors trying to expand marginal services into areas that are outside their domain of business. This particular practice, he said, leads to disruptions and financial calamities, owing to their inability to resolve the issue at hand on time. “We are in a challenging and competitive market, but there are a lot of opportunities and enough work for all,” Daoud said. “But the key is to focus on the core business and make sure that we have the right technical expertise in addition to financial stability to deliver.” Agreeing with Berbari and Daoud, Jeán van Loggerenberg, Director, CKR Consulting Engineers said there is a serious lack of specialised MEP contractors and that there are only two or three contractors at the moment in the country who can take on major projects worth millions. He also said the success of a project hinges on the consultant’s and contractor’s ability to understand the objectives of the client. Doing so, he asserted, would help them deliver the project on schedule. Martin McFadden, Technical Director MEP Engineering at KEO International Consultants, also emphasised
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Sameer Daoud
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on the need for contractors and consultants to understand the developer’s objectives and requirements. Typically, the developer is looking to address critical issues associated with budget controls and optimisation, he said. At the same time, he is looking at getting the job done swiftly with excellent design quality. Against a strong need for MEP specialists to fully understand the developer’s perspective, McFadden pointed out to a growing trend of hiring offshore MEP consultants sitting in different parts of the world. This approach, he said, causes problems, owing to lack of constant communication and, more critically, a lack of understanding of the construction principles of the GCC region. However, developers choose the option, because it is cost-effective. Daoud said the correct approach is for the developer to appoint the right [specialised] consultant at the right price, apart from the practice of peer reviews. It is equally important that the developer is involved at the time of drafting the contract.
Drawing up the plans It is a known fact that the foundation of a building project is the contract that is drawn. Keeping in mind that every stakeholder’s interest must be protected, it is important to ensure a fair contract. However, the reality is that the MEP contractor is always facing the music in many projects. Berbari said the problem owes its origin to the fact that many developers do not set any key performance indicators (KPIs) except for the area ratio and the cost ratio.
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Martin McFadden
Sagar Kulkarni
Elaborating on Berbari’s thought process, Sagar Kulkarni, Managing Director, Consistent Engineering Consultants, said that most contracts are of verification and compliance type in the region. One person covers the design and the other covers supervision, resulting in no intent to transfer between deep-design and the contractor supervision team, he said. Kulkarni said the problem can be solved if the contracting process transitions from verification and compliance to performance-based contracting, where such KPIs as consumption per square feet per year and energy-used index can be implemented. Such a practice would give flexibility to the designer in selecting the materials without affecting its quality. Riad Nashif, Executive Vice President, AECOM, drew attention to the often unreasonable time frame that consultants and contractors are pressurised to work under, as another issue relating to the drafting of contracts. He said clients and developers need to specify their goals from the beginning and make the intent evident, along with the budget and objectives of the project. Nashif said that a semicontemplative approach is required during the conceptual stage. Even if it takes an additional couple of months than needed, it is beneficial in the long run and, ultimately, drives up the building performance, he added. Nashif also suggested a performancebased design as a viable option for smart MEP systems, if they are directly contracted. However, he said, the level of skills of the contractors and consultants leave a lot to be desired.
November 2017
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Riad Nashif
Chandra Shekar Reddy
From a contractor’s perspective, Chandra Shekar Reddy, CEO, Elemec Electromechanical Contracting, said the situation is bitter when it comes to contracts. From his experience, he said other stakeholders do not give the MEP contractor the due respect. He said this could change if there is a team-based approach among stakeholders, where knowledge is shared and solutions are collectively reached. Reddy said it is imperative to usher in best practices, given the rapid market changes, especially driving up to the EXPO 2020. A firmly entrenched set of best practices, he said, is the only way for the specialised MEP community to cope with the situation. Explaining how transparency and trust factors can be translated into the contract, Reddy suggested a team approach method with all stakeholders present as a possible solution. The document must not be tampered with, he added, which would eventually strengthen the bond and boost the level of confidence among the stakeholders. Offering a solution to the typical problems faced by the contractor, Christopher Seymour, Director, Mott MacDonald, cited a case-in point of the UK Government getting involved in driving change among the construction community. He suggested the adoption of the NEC Engineering and Construction Contract to drive transparency and alignment of purpose in the region. The NEC, he said, leverages the considerable experience concerning design, installability and contractibility. It, thus, involves all the stakeholders in the project right at the early stage. The UK Government, he said, used the NEC to demonstrate that working together dictates the positive outcome of a project.
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Christopher Seymour
Prabhakar Naik
‘There is no honey without money’
Another widespread problem related to payments is when architects step in and take over the project. This invites changes in the design and causes the consultant to lose at least 50% of the contract value, owing to the contract administration charges
While the proper drafting of the contract remains a prickly issue in the region, so does timely payments for works executed. There are numerous instances of contracting companies floundering, owing to delayed payments and, in worst-case scenarios, unrealised payments. Prabhakar Naik, Managing Director, VASTU & Engg Consultancy DMCC, said that without positive cash flow, nobody can sustain, especially the contractor. This problem, he said, could be resolved if all stakeholders strictly work around a timeframe, including remaining committed to their roles, especially a project manager, who must control the cost, review the accounts every month and provide continuous feedback to the client. Otherwise, he chillingly added, "there is no honey without money". A contributing factor to the overrun of costs in a project, Naik said, is the unreasonable instruction of variations, causing a bottleneck for the cash flow. Therefore, he suggested, it all begins with sound design principles; and the expertise of a consultant plays a vital role in the entire process. Offering a differing view, Derhalli suggested that variations occur when the clients change their mind, and such an action can create more trouble for the contractor if the variation is not recognised.
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K Anbalagan
Nathan Cartwright
In some cases, construction contracts can be a shortcut to a bypass surgery, if not handled properly. As K Anbalagan, Managing Partner, Proleed Engineering Consultants, put it, “Contracts in this region are professionally unprofessional.” He said the problem emanated from a selective professional approach by the offending stakeholders, as per their convenience. He suggested that even as a consultant, he misses out on receiving payments owing to specific clauses mentioned in contracts, which subject the amount to be retained after the handover of the design. Another widespread problem related to payments, Anbalagan pointed out, is when architects step in and take over the project. This invites changes in the design and causes the consultant to lose at least 50% of the contract value, owing to the contract administration charges. For Nathan Cartwright, Partner, Godwin Austen Johnson, cash flow problems can be resolved if one conducts extensive discussions with peers and the supply chain to thoroughly understand the payment process and also what would be the best price. The worse clause, he said is when one signs up for deliverables that cannot be delivered within the time frame. Harmony needs to be maintained through open channels of communication, especially when changes are taking place, he said. Everyone needs to be aware what the changes are, records need to be maintained and the most straightforward method is to conduct regular meetings, which would benefit everyone in the long run, he added. Echoing Reddy’s comment that MEP contractors are not given the due respect, Derhalli said that they must be given due recognition, as they are not the enemy of the developer or the general contractor. The MEP contractor is a vital aspect of the building, he said, so he should not be treated as an enemy. But this change can occur only if there is a change in mind-set and culture, he added. Scott Coombes, Director, AESG, believes that smaller businesses, in particular, need a stronger legal protection, which would be more cost-
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Scott Coombes
Sadath Hussain
Abhay Miglani
effective, as the bigger players already have cash reserves and easily take things to court. He pointed out that strong clarity should be maintained while using the FIDIC contract, with the payment terms and conditions mentioned clearly. He advised that small consultancies or contractors must not be treated as a bank and exploited for several months, without receiving payments. Such practices, he warned, would result in the disappearance of small businesses in a span of 12 months.
Supporting the community It is strongly evident that the construction community needs the support of other sectors, especially manufacturers, suppliers and other specialised consultants. Speaking from a manufacturer’s perspective, Abhay Miglani, Business Development Manager, Armacell, said that manufacturers should offer innovative products that could help the contractor and end-user to enhance the performance of buildings. Offering another approach, Sadath Hussain, Senior Sales Engineer, TIM TTC Gulf Consulting, suggested that customer orientation about the available technologies is paramount. He also pointed out that contractors and consultants may not have complete technical knowledge about a particular product. In that context, he said, technical exposure is critical for them, so that they can adopt the technology in their projects to enhance the efficiency of the building.
Summing up While several conclusions were drawn from the conference, a key solution that emerged was that industry stakeholders need to regularly and accurately communicate with one another to augment building performance in a constantly changing market. Simply put, they need to do business with the “I got your back” attitude.
HAVE YOUR SAY! We welcome your views on the article. Write to editor@cpi-industry.com
November 2017
39
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‘Delayed payment norms have been driving down projects’ Ajith Abraham, Territory Manager – Building Service Products at Leminar Air Conditioning, talks to Benwen Lopez of Climate Control Middle East about the peripherals of the HVAC insulation market. Excerpts from the interview…
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H
ow critical is insulation from reliability, energy efficiency, acoustical comfort and fire safety perspectives? 
 Thermal comfort in any space is determined by a number of factors, such as air temperature, relative humidity and air movement that is in correlation with the behaviour of the occupant’s metabolic activity and even clothing. The right kind of insulation that follows the building codes, along with the appropriate wall thickness calculations and installation, will ensure that the ambient temperature is maintained leading to energy efficiency, excellent acoustics properties and adherence to fire safety.
Moreover, at times, inexperienced contractors mushrooming up to take mega projects, creates a credibility issue for the distributor
In this region, tackling moisture and the resultant mould build-up are key challenges. How can insulation play a role in tackling this critical issue? When cool air passes through warm areas in the facility, owing to wrong insulation levels, it can cause condensation in the ductwork and air-handling units, which can lead to problems of moisture and mould build-up.
November 2017
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Ajith Abraham, Leminar
Retaining a healthy margin becomes a challenge, as there is always a premium that needs to be paid for quality products that meet engineering standards
management systems?
Selecting the appropriate thickness, based on the conditioned and unconditioned spaces, along with the right installation methodologies can control and, to a great extent, tackle the moisture and mould build-up.
As an ISO-certified organisation, we are equipped with an in-house team of auditors and safety officers. We ensure that the products that we distribute comply with the building codes. The stringent ISO quality management system ensures that we distribute products that meet quality standards along with the local body regulatory norms.
Typically, what type of insulation is sold in the region, considering the rather unique ambient conditions of high temperatures and high humidity. Fibreglass and closed-cell elastomeric insulation are the two types of insulation extensively used in the region, as well as in global-level HVAC applications. These two types of insulation have proven ability to meet the standards of the industry and building safety codes. They can also sustain high-ambient temperatures, based on the nature and mode of installation, irrespective of high humidity and extreme weather conditions. Apart from the humidity and highambient temperatures, the growth of mould is a problem in the region, and these particular insulations can also prevent mould from building-up.
Could you please tell us how you comply with safety regulations, local authority approvals and ISO quality
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What testing protocols do you adopt to ensure quality? What kind of testing facilities do you have at the manufacturing base?
Ajith Abraham
The products that we represent are ISO certified along with UL and FM approvals. As an organisation, we ensure that the products that we receive are randomly audited at the factories, to ensure that the market standards are met. In addition to these practices, our products are tested as per the UAE Civil Defence regulations, municipal building codes, regional compliances and Dubai Central Laboratory.
As an insulation supplier, what challenges do you face in the current market circumstances? A primary challenge in the current market is the delayed payment norms that have been driving down projects, along with inconsistent project timelines. Moreover, at times, inexperienced
contractors mushrooming up to take mega projects, creates a credibility issue for the distributor. Furthermore, a misappropriated usage of the term, ‘value engineering’, which empowers the contractors or clients to use substandard products, has driven down the cost of projects resulting in a compromise in quality.
This is a price-sensitive market. Do you find it a challenge to deliver on quality, without compromising on your profit margins? Every market is price-sensitive, based on its culture and market standards. When the standards are benchmarked to use quality products along with correct engineering practices, quality will be driven forward. Unfortunately, retaining a healthy margin becomes a challenge, as there
is always a premium that needs to be paid for quality products that meet engineering standards.
Do you see a ramp-up in demand, in view of the EXPO 2020? There will be a ramp up due to the EXPO 2020. But I believe it will be spread across a timeline, and due to the openness of the market, there will be a lot of new products that will enter the region. The critical aspect of the demand cycle should be that clients ensure that they partner with distributors that have an excellent track record of quality products and aftersale services.
HAVE YOUR SAY! We welcome your views on the article. Write to editor@cpi-industry.com
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Interventions should foC on minimising
UHI EFF
Matthias Roth, Associate Professor and Deputy Head, Department of Geography, National University of Singapore, speaks exclusively with Hannah Jo Uy of Climate Control Middle East on his work as a principal investigator in the Urban Climate Lab, the international move towards climate-sensitive design, and on how recognition of the importance of urban heat island (UHI) effect in the GCC region can serve as a catalyst in the efforts to improve outdoor thermal comfort and, as a result, reduce the use of energy and emission of greenhouse gases. Excerpts‌
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us the
C
ould you please elaborate on the nature of your work at the Urban Climate Lab? In our lab, we try to understand how the presence of a city affects the climate and weather, primarily at the local scale. When natural surfaces are replaced by threedimensional structures, primarily made of concrete, it is easy to imagine that such changes will affect how much energy is received from the sun, the surface and air temperature, the storage of heat energy in the urban fabric or wind flow. For our research, we primarily use experimental methods, meaning we are leaving the air-conditioned comfort of our offices and measure the urban climate properties outdoors. To do so, we install arrays of sensors in specifically determined locations across the city to be able to answer a particular research question. Given the complexity of the urban atmosphere and logistical issues with deploying instruments in the real city environment, we also engage in numerical modelling and use our measurements to improve and evaluate urban climate models.
Developers, architects and city planners should have a basic understanding of the science behind the UHI, based on which mitigation and adaptation efforts can be formulated and implemented
Matthias Roth
Singapore has been making great strides in terms of research through initiatives such as Cooling Singapore. Do you see the same progress elsewhere in the world? Can the model of Singapore be replicated and recreated in other countries? Singapore has, indeed, made some progress recently, and at present, there is strong support for research in the wider area of “liveable”, “sustainable”, or “eco” city. There are many other cities, however, which have also seriously considered climate-sensitive design and planning to improve the quality of their atmospheric environments. Examples are Stuttgart in Germany; Chicago, New York City and Phoenix in the United States; Melbourne in Australia and Hong Kong. What has helped Singapore to achieve success in a relatively short period is a concerted effort by a strong government to invest in environmental research targeting specific questions of environmental quality and liveability, as the population keeps growing and the building density increases. These questions are particularly pressing in Singapore, given its nature as a citystate with no hinterland and natural resources.
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Matthias Roth, National University of Singapore
Could you please comment on how greater appreciation and recognition of Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect among manufacturers, developers, architects and the general public can help improve quality of life and meet the long-term energy-consumption and environmental goals of countries, particularly those in the GCC region? The urban heat island (UHI) is the most ubiquitous characteristic of the urban climate. The UHI is manifested as higher temperatures in the city compared to the undeveloped rural surroundings. Cites in already warm or hot regions are affected the most. Here, the UHI will increase the ambient outdoor temperature and decrease outdoor thermal comfort to a possibly intolerable level. Add to this the effects of anthropogenic global warming, and temperatures in some cities in the GCC region may possibly even exceed a threshold for human adaptability, as recent research has shown. This issue should, therefore, be given high priority, particularly in the GCC region, where population growth is greatest and vulnerability to excess heat highest. Developers, architects and city planners should, therefore, have a basic understanding of the science behind the UHI, based on which mitigation and adaptation efforts can be formulated and implemented. Interventions should focus on minimising the UHI effect to enable the population a functional outdoor lifestyle. Such mitigation efforts need to consider the local background climate, because they will be different for a city located in a hot and dry desert climate compared to one in a wet tropical climate. Reducing ambient temperature in warm and hot places also has the added benefit of reducing usage of air conditioning and, hence, energy. This will help reduce emissions of greenhouse gases responsible for global anthropogenic warming, when the energy is produced by burning fossil fuels.
In light of the rapid expansion of many cities across the GCC region and its growing population, how should relevant stakeholders incorporate climatological concerns into their design in a more conscious manner? Where does the responsibility lie and
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how can government regulators, developers and academics work together to truly make sustainable cities?
Considering that approximately 75% of the greenhouse gases (GHG) believed to cause anthropogenic warming is emitted by activities associated with running a city, the energy-saving potential is obvious
First, I don’t think cities will ever be truly sustainable, at least not in an ecological or environmental sense. We should, therefore, be careful in using this term too liberally; at best, we can work towards developing a “more sustainable" city. Much responsibility in this respect lies with city or national governments, developers and, ultimately, banks, as well. Rules or incentives need to be created to enshrine climate-sensitive design principles not only in the individual building but also in city-wide planning process. Banks should favour lending money or offer preferential conditions to developers who follow these principles. One way forward might be through highlighting the co-benefits of applying climate-sensitive design; for example, at the individual building level a dwelling with “green” features will likely have lower life-time running costs in terms of energy use, and if located in an area of the city that has a more liveable outdoor environment, will also likely maintain a higher resale value.
In one of your talks you mentioned that climatological concerns must be given stronger emphasis to avoid high levels of heat stress, which reduces human comfort, and space cooling needs, to prevent increase in energy usage. In your experience, has more effort been made towards this? While respective efforts are underway, I don’t think there is enough data available to show that they have made a difference; it is too early for a conclusive statement.
Aside from the human aspect, taking into account climatological concerns can also help reduce a country’s energy consumption and, by extension, reduce operating cost and help countries meet their respective environmental targets, do you think this will encourage more people to get involved in promoting awareness of urban climate and society’s impact on it? The climate change or anthropogenic global warming dimension is obviously an important one and can help raise people’s awareness for action. Considering that approximately 75% of the
greenhouse gases (GHG) believed to cause anthropogenic warming is emitted by activities associated with running a city, the energy-saving potential is obvious, as is the potential for effective GHG mitigation at the individual city level.
Could you share your thoughts on whether one cooling solution over the other can help trigger or mitigate UHI? Some have made a case for the use of green roofs, increased vegetation and the retrofitting of buildings with more energyefficient utility infrastructures, such as District Cooling systems. Do you believe the same? There are, indeed, differences in the effectiveness of individual mitigation methods, which depend on the local climate and scale of the anticipated effect. One of the most popular interventions –
the “green” roof, for example – reduces energy use in the top floor of an individual building; however, it will have a small effect on ambient outdoor temperature and, hence, the UHI. Maintaining urban parks or trees along streets to provide shade on the pavement, on the other hand, directly affects ambient temperature at street level, where people move and live. Use of “green” features in hot and dry climates may also be limited by the availability of water, in which case a reflective roof may be a more sensible mitigation option. In the end, a combination of interventions at different scales is needed to effectively lower ambient temperature in cities.
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Dilip Sinha, General Manager, Middle East, Turkey and Africa, Honeywell, talks with Hannah Jo Uy of Climate Control Middle East on how integrated solutions can help the hospitality sector reduce energy consumption and enhance customer experience through smart control of cooling systems‌
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ould you comment on Honeywell’s perspective on how innovative technological solutions, whether pertaining to control systems of HVAC solutions or building design and development, can help advance sustainability goals of the hospitality sector? One of the key and unique aspects of Honeywell is that we are not only able to provide standalone solutions, we can also provide complete and integrated solutions, so you can manage the infrastructure even with bigger projects, bigger buildings and bigger facilities. So the advantage of providing the standalone and complete integrated solution is [customers] are able to monitor what’s going on in the building from the safety and security point of view. Secondly, with our products, such as the end-vision software tool, clients can monitor what kind of energy is consumed at various points in the building or facility. That way you are able to not only monitor but also take steps [to better manage operations] in a way that you are able to save energy. Looking at BMS, which is one part of the integrated system, one way it can help is through monitoring of humidity and temperature and control of the air flow. These are all the touch points where the energy is consumed. If you have fewer people, you don’t need a lot of air or cooling; it should be able to accordingly adjust. In short, it reduces your energy consumption, when it is not required and you can get significant amount of energy savings. For hotels, both the productivity and operational cost are important. They determine the profitability of a hotel property. Through Honeywell, we have guest room controls. Not only does it offer exceptional guest experience from the time they check-in to the time they check-out, it also provides high level of efficiency in energy-management services. As an example, there are always two or three things happening. One, the light can be on all the time, even when the guest is not there, or your air conditioning can be on, or it can be completely off, as well. If it is off, this is also not a good thing, because when the guest checks in and when he enters the room, it will take quite a while for the room to [adjust and] have a good environment,
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Dilip Sinha, Honeywell
especially with summer temperatures here reaching between 46 and 48 degrees C. To have a better customer experience and manage efficiency, [the system] is able to control the temperature to suit the guest’s convenience. The second important [feature] on the dashboard is that you are able to look at the complete occupancy of every room. You can manage your centralised control system, where you are getting information on energy consumption, be it lighting, water pumps, air conditioning or compressors, and control them. Once you are able to control them, you are actually controlling the use of additional energy that is not [otherwise] required. You are optimising its use, and that’s what leads to greater savings in energy cost, and your carbon footprint is reduced. So, all these system are good for [better] Return of Investment (RoI), productivity and sustainability. At the same time, it is also important to [ensure] guest comfort and experience and [this is one way] one property can differentiate itself from others.
Do you see a move among the hospitality sector to implement such measures to promote more sustainable practices? Is this an effort to align itself with the environmental targets of the UAE? Or do you believe the movement is owing to the cost that is associated with high energy consumption? About 5-10 years ago, people had already started thinking and doing something about it. However, I think today it is becoming a very important subject, both from the customer’s point of view and the operator/owner’s point of view. More and more, we are seeing luxurious and bigger hotels. Because of the high cost that comes with the building of these facilities, a lot of attention is being paid to guest experience, energy saving and sustainability. I feel that today they are more well-versed and aware of these technologies and that the technology is being adopted more and more today as we are moving forward.
Such technologies do exist that help streamline operations and practices in a more energy-efficient manner. In your opinion, are relevant stakeholders truly aware of
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these tools or should more educational campaigns be made to increase awareness on their potential?
Dilip Sinha
There is a positive move forward. Obviously, there is no perfect world. We have to keep educating the designers, installers and operators about the technology that is available. Technology is also getting updated. For example, when we talk of guest room controls for hotels, we talked about luxury hotels, where it’s being adopted even more. [In such cases] even the aesthetic part becomes very important. For any other commercial building, I would say it depends on the type and usage of the building. Energy savings and sustainability are key parts of any design. The design aspect of the building automation or integrated solutions, from the safety, security as well as the energy points of view, is important.
While such measures are recognised as having an impact, can you comment on how proper maintenance and operation of such systems must also be implemented to ensure they are properly working, as designed and expected?
If they want you to be smart, you have to be smart from the design criteria, because you are not just talking about the BMS, you are talking about a number of other touchpoints
To provide a medical example, when one goes for heart surgery, post-care is equally important as a good and successful operation. I think that here, we are talking about two things. One is operation and maintenance efficiency and how you are able to manage [the systems]. Equally important is the type of building automation system or BMS you have installed. Have you installed systems that have a propriety technology? Some systems do not have scalability. What we have seen is that either something has gone wrong in the design [stage] or you install a system which, once you try to change it, the cost is significant. Additionally, if you want to expand the building and you bring third-party equipment, this existing system cannot communicate, because the protocol is different. So, you have to have systems that are first, scalable and expandable when the new systems come. Secondly, they should be able to communicate. Thirdly, they should have the right software tools that will provide you with the information to make it easier to maintain and operate the system.
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Dilip Sinha, Honeywell
Secondly, the project manager and consultant should make sure that what they have designed is really reflected at the time of execution and that there is no mismatch in the different systems that have been installed. They should all be able to communicate and talk, and have good dashboards and monitoring capabilities.
[What is also important is the] right choice of the company and right choice of the technology. All the big companies are making good products and solutions, but how many of it is open? The communication part is very important, because monitoring systems can see the occupancy and energy usage in different rooms [in addition to providing] guest experience. It’s important to select and install the right systems at the design time. That will make it much easier.
HAVE YOUR SAY!
Should designers and consultants be more forthcoming with integrating smart systems prior to the design or earlier in the design stage?
We welcome your views on the article. Write to editor@cpi-industry.com
For any smart building or town, I think this is something that should be a part of the design philosophy from the beginning, then it makes life much easier. Then again, it also depends on the budget and cost and on what developers or the owner of those properties want. If they want you to be smart, you have to be smart from the design criteria, because you are not just talking about the BMS, you are talking about a number of other touchpoints and sensitive sensors and equipment all around. They all have to be IOT-enabled. They should be able to talk and communicate with major systems, and all this should be incorporated at the design stage.
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Dr Nicolette Louissaint, President of Healthcare Ready, spoke exclusively to Hannah Jo Uy of Climate Control Middle East about the organisation’s mission of strengthening healthcare supply chains in areas affected by disasters, educating stakeholders on the importance of thermal stability of medical supplies in crisis situations and about navigating cold stores amidst power constraints and infrastructure damage. Excerpts from the interview, conducted in the context of the savaging Puerto Rico was subjected to in September by Hurricane Maria‌
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B
eing the midpoint between the public and the private sector in emergency medical response, what are the main issues of concern when you facilitate operations that require meticulous attention to every part of the supply chain?
In times of crisis, it’s important to ensure critical information is flowing to the right people. For us, what’s interesting about such a position is understanding the responsibility we hold, that it’s not a stop-gap operation, [it’s about making] information move from one person to another or one organisation or another, to make headway in the response. One of the things we have to continue to understand is our ability to move information and distil and share what the problem is to save lives and impact healthcare. We need to not just move things but also to move things to the right parts [of the supply chain] to affect change. The government is important, and so is the private sector for us to do this well.
How important a role do refrigeration and cold storage play in public healthcare, especially with regard to the pivotal work the organisation does in such critical moments? Refrigeration, cold storage and maintaining a secure cold chain are very important. One of the things we worked on in the last year is making sure patients [are more aware] by providing [them with the right information on] how to keep drugs safe, regardless of disasters. Tracking and moving products typical under the cold chain. Oncology drugs, chronic care conditions, diabetes medicines, and vaccines – we have to think about how we move those. And not just moving them into the port but taking it to the last mile. We have a lot of partners, and we have a logistics partner – they do move products well and securely. [It’s] critical to have them, because they know how to navigate [the temperatures] in Puerto Rico, so that vaccines go to patients. One of the other parts we also think of is patient education – on how to make them understand thermal stability. Of course, we wouldn’t use the term, thermal stability, but we make them understand how to protect insulin, how to keep it stable, [and talk about] refrigerators and CDC guidelines.
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For me, across the board, we have a long way to go on how we do science education at every level, from how we educate policy-makers to how we get patients to think about thermal stability in practical ways
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Dr Nicolette Louissaint, Healthcare Ready
EDITOR'S NOTE: This interview with Dr Nicolette Louissaint was conducted in September 2017, in the wake of Hurricane Maria.
the equipment [through] generator power and moving products, to make sure we can deliver it to the people on the ground who need it.
[It goes] hand in hand with response, immediately everything from thinking about how to move products but also how to help patients understand what to do with products. I’m a scientist by training. I still approach things as a scientist. For me, across the board, we have a long way to go on how we do science education at every level, from how we educate policy-makers to how we get patients to think about thermal stability in practical ways. As scientists, we have a responsibility to do more in science education; we cannot bury core messages in technical language. There is willingness [among the people to learn]; it is just covered in extremely technical language that adds a barrier; it becomes a lot harder to engage and to get people to jump on its use.
What are your expectations from manufacturers of cold store- or transport refrigeration-related equipment with regard to the unique and specific needs of people in your field? Are these needs being met? Fortunately, I think we are in an era where a lot of work is being done to track the security of products. We actually took an effort about a year and a half ago, where we looked at supply chain in three different countries, including the United States. We looked at interventions that improved supply chain in disasters, whether in disease outbreaks or natural disasters. The cool thing is that the technology being used is able to maintain and track the security of products. We are in an era where we have simple technology that could be included in a shipment [to monitor] light sensitivity, temperature, exposure and all that, and tell you automatically whether [the product] is good or not, safe or not. But as you were touching on, with regard to the handling or equipment, it depends on the crisis. When we see massive loss of power and [we rely on] generator power only, we see equipment that has to be maintained and use other technology to track the integrity of the product, which is very different from other ‘last mile’ cases, where it’s about practitioners and about the handling. It can be both. [It’s about] using simple technology to track the integrity that has made it easier to use equipment, and training people in crisis situations to deliver medicine safely. [It’s also about training] practitioners on how to get medicine, how to maintain the integrity of
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Can you tell us a little bit more about your work in Puerto Rico following Hurricane Maria? How is the organisation working to ensure the integrity of the incoming medical supplies amidst power outages and while battling the highambient temperatures in the country?
Dr Nicolette Louissaint
In some ways, the challenge is more logistical than anything else. We have gotten medicine in the normal supply chain as well the disaster relief supply chain. We are working with our partner to make sure that the medicine is not only getting to the port but also to the last mile, from moving to the port to the trucks to the clinics and dialysis centres. We are engaging with the right folks. That’s going to take more time. [It’s a lot about getting] better visibility. Communication is fragmented [due to] severe damage to infrastructure. [We need to] employ a lot of creative methods. As you can appreciate, we want to make sure we are not [just] getting medicine, but the right medicine. To get visibility to work with partners to get deliveries of medicine that responds to the need. It’s great to have insulin but [we need] the right amount, not excess; and then, there is not enough antibiotics. It’s really about identifying the need and working clearly on to the island. Power is still a massive issue; it will be for a while. I think about 95% [of the island] is without power, five per cent power restoration is not much. That means 95% [of the people] is working without power, including critical healthcare, which has to navigate on response and health systems. [There are estimations that it will take] 4-6 months for power restoration. What that means for us is [asking] how we navigate this cold store environment, [which is] constrained in the absence of electrical power. For cold stores, generator power is being used to try to keep healthcare plugged in and powered. We are making sure and doing our best [for] healthcare facilities to keep those generators running.
HAVE YOUR SAY! We welcome your views on the article. Write to editor@cpi-industry.com
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LICENCE TO
Not all systems are created equal
Part 1
It is, hence, essential to embrace a wellthought-out approach to specifying and installing meters for greater efficiency and proper O&M
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etering and sub-metering of energy and resource use is a critical component of any proper and professional comprehensive O&M programme. Metering for O&M and energy efficiency refers to the measurement of quantities of energy delivered. These would include kilowatt-hours of electricity, tonne-hours of chilled water, pounds of steam and gallons of water. Metering may also involve identifying times of use for the various energy sources, the instantaneous demand for energy as well as identifying energy use for a collection of buildings, individual buildings, rooms or specific equipment, such as a chilled water plants, chillers, pumps and towers. I have been lucky enough to have worked in this industry for over 40 years and have been able to observe the best practices from around the world, including the United States, Central and South America, Mexico, the Caribbean, Europe and the MENA region. An important aspect of my observation is that although most facilities are enthusiastic about the desire to track and save energy and to benchmark and improve the operation, they sell themselves short by collecting
data that are not as accurate as they should or could be. A key reason for this is that many do not employ the best-ofthe-best metering technology to collect the data.
WHAT TO METER Meters can be installed to measure data for several objectives: • For performance evaluation and benchmarking of a building or chilled water plant. Measured data are used to establish baseline energy use, monitor changes in consumption and to share information with managers and staff. • For billing purposes. These meters should meet the profile of ‘utility revenue grade’ accuracy, though, and be installed with metering accuracy instrument transformers. • For measurement and verification of a building or building systems. Measured data are used to identify inefficient operations and validate proper operation of systems during commissioning and on an ongoing basis. • To initiate demand side management programmes. Measured data are used to trigger demand-limiting logic, such as setting thermostat setpoints up a few degrees and limiting the fan static pressure in VAV systems.
I have seen far too many buildings, chilled water and District Cooling plants that will track chiller kW consumption by extracting the data from the microprocessorbased chiller system. This is totally unacceptable
Energy metering has a variety of applications for facility managers, plant managers and energy managers. Metering provides the information that, when analysed, allows the building operations staff to make informed decisions on how to best operate mechanical and electrical systems and equipment. The decisions will ultimately affect energy costs, equipment costs and overall building performance. The necessity to control costs, diagnose equipment malfunction, allocate usage and set efficiency goals are all increasingly important reasons for energy and water metering; however it should be as accurate as possible, otherwise the real benefits of metering will not be realised. With the escalating volatility of energy and water rates, these needs are becoming even more important. It is, however, important to keep in mind that meters are not an energy efficiency or energy conservation technology. Meters and their supporting systems are devices that provide building owners, managers and operators data that could be used to: • Reduce energy/utility use • Improve overall building operations • Improve equipment operations. How the metered data are used is critical to a successful metering programme. Depending on the type of data collected, the following can be achieved… ▶ Verification of utility bills ▶ Comparison of utility rates ▶ Proper allocation of costs or billing of reimbursable tenants ▶ Demand response or load shedding, when purchasing electricity under time-based rates ▶ Measurement and verification of energy project performance ▶ Benchmarking building energy use ▶ Identifying operational efficiency improvement opportunities and retrofit project opportunities ▶ Usage reporting and tracking in support of establishing and monitoring utility budgets and costs, and in developing annual energy reports Ultimately, the business case for metering energy or utility use is based on the anticipated benefits to the site. Most of the metered data uses, listed above, will result in energy cost savings
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LICENCE TO
that can be used to justify the cost to purchase, install and operate the metering system. The degree of cost savings realised depends on the unit cost of the energy or utility being saved and on the effectiveness with which the site analyses the data and acts upon its findings and recommendations. But other potential benefits should also be considered as part of the metering business case. Examples can include: • Supporting efforts to attain Energy Star and/or LEED-EB (Leadership in Energy and • Environmental Design – Existing Buildings) certifications • Prolonging equipment life, thus reducing capital investment requirements, and improving its reliability by verifying the efficient operation of equipment With the benefits in mind, let’s take a close look at the metering equipment options available…
Power Meters The most basic kW/power meters provide energy- and demand-related information. More sophisticated meters provide information on power quality, capture events, log and store data, display data through a local screen and communicate with or control other devices or systems. Meters can be grouped into several categories based on their capabilities, with revenue grade meters, advanced energy meters and sub-meters being three among them. Power meters are also rated in terms of accuracy. Metering accuracy should be a minimum of one per cent, where used for billing purposes. Meters with accuracy classifications better than one per cent are readily available at reasonable cost. ANSI Standard C12.10, Code for Electricity Metering lists metering accuracy requirements and applications. Revenue grade meters are readily available and are cost competitive. Revenue grade and metering accuracy class instrument transformers should be specified for any chiller and chilled water plant meter programme. The
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total accuracy of any meter installation depends on the accuracy of the meter and also the accuracy of the instrument transformers.
Instrument Transformers All electric power meters, except Class 100 and 200, require inputs from CTs, PTs or both. Metering accuracy transformers with the proper burden ratings should be used for all installations. Instrument transformers complying with requirements and ratings stipulated in ANSI Standard C57.13 should always be specified. Relaying class instrument transformers are not suitable for use in metering circuits, where billing and revenue accuracy is required. Split-core CTs should never be installed, where revenue grade accuracy readings are desired. A common problem with power meters after installation is data measurement errors or gaps in data, due to insufficient current flow to the meter. This may be the result of the installation of CTs with a primary ratio that is too large for the actual load. This problem is avoided by specifying CTs that have primary ratios based on expected demand and a rating factor of RF2.0 (200% of the primary rating).
I would strongly recommend for any building, chilled water or District Cooling plant that only utility grade/revenue grade meters be utilised. I have seen far too many buildings, chilled water and District Cooling plants that will track chiller kW consumption by extracting the data from the microprocessor-based chiller system. This is totally unacceptable and will provide data that is not as accurate as it should be. The microprocessor-based system is not a revenue grade power meter. I have seen chiller-based data being off by as much as +/-5%, when verification testing is performed. Metering individual chillers, chilled water plants or total building chilled water energy usage requires the measurement of three variables: Entering Water Temperature (TE, ºF), Leaving Water Temperature (TL, ºF) and Flow Rate (GPM) From these, energy usage can be calculated. However, flow measurement
can be quite inaccurate, depending on the type of meter, calibration and how it is installed. In addition, temperature measurement accuracy also varies by sensor type and calibration. In any chilled water application, sensor accuracy relative to each other is very significant. For instance, if one sensor reads 1ºF high while the other is 1ºF low, the energy calculation can be 20% off. I have seen sites, where it is off by more than this. Again, the chiller-based temperature sensors should never be used for the metering of chillers energy – they are not as accurate as required for this function. (To be continued)
CPI Industry accepts no liability for the views or opinions expressed in this column, or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided here.
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Systems Components Services Facility Services November 2017
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‘FM firms ought to link up with technology suppliers’ Abdulhadi Ali Alalyak, Board Member, Middle East Facility Management Association (MEFMA), in this interview with Hannah Jo Uy of Climate Control Middle East, speaks on the important role MEP-specialised FM companies can play in improving energy consumption and in reducing long-term cost. Excerpts…
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M has a huge role to play in raising energy efficiency and reducing power consumption. It can help building owners achieve profitability or, at the very least, to reduce additional losses. In that context, does the lack of MEP-specialised FM services mean that FM companies are missing out on a huge business opportunity?
Facilities management is well placed to offer comprehensive energymanagement solutions. To promote more partnerships between FM managers and building owners, we are looking at establishing a working mechanism, coupled with a regulatory framework combining compulsion and incentives, to ensure that landlords can capture the benefits of their investments. We also encourage FM firms to link up with technology suppliers and finance providers to create a more compelling proposition for the landlords. Additionally, we are working towards promoting independent auditing of performance targets and baselines.
FM can contribute to reducing the needs for major repairs and alterations that will otherwise occur at the operational phase
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Facilities Management
Buildings account for the consumption of more energy than any other sector, utilising a whopping 70% power. Many regional governments are acting to address this, to be successful in their sustainability goals. The Dubai Government, for instance, has already outlined an ambitious strategy to secure a sustainable approach to energy and water usage. Its Dubai Integrated Energy Strategy is, in fact, aiming for a 30% reduction in energy demand per capita by 2030. The Middle East’s FM industry is in an ideal position to take on a central role in the emerging energy-management market in the GCC [region] and capture a share of the prize. Providing specialised FM services, aligned with energy-conservation efforts, is the way to go so as not to lose sight of growth opportunities.
There are a number of FM companies that don’t have the required expertise to handle HVACR equipment, such as with regard to the proper maintenance of cooling towers and pumps as well as dealing with Electrical Low Voltage (ELV) equipment. What is MEFMA doing to address this huge gap within the industry? The rapidly changing landscape of the FM industry is a clear reflection of how it has evolved over the years – not only has it shown key growth but has also witnessed the emergence of newer technologies and innovations that have been designed to address the key goals of FM. In line with this, MEFMA believes in the need for continuing education and training to help in the further growth of the industry. We regularly organise and hold key training courses, seminars and workshops to ensure that FM personnel and professionals are at pace with the latest equipment, services and products that are being introduced in the market today.
How many FM companies, according to MEFMA, have qualified MEP maintenance personnel in their ranks? Continuous learning and training is the key. At MEFMA, we offer certified FM training courses with practical qualifications that can be implemented in the daily tasks of our students. Our courses cover a wide range of FM aspects and fundamentals, in line with the needs and requirements of the regional FM market.
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In terms of building-retrofit projects, are the relevant stakeholders being trained to address concerns with regard to energy efficiency?
Abdulhadi Ali Alalyak
FM is at the core of the retrofit process and plays a pivotal role in ensuring longterm sustainability of buildings. Training ensures that standards are strictly observed concerning post-retrofit maintenance, and preventive care implemented in any facility. We always highlight the importance of training to create a fully integrated FM industry adequately equipped for the ‘retrofit revolution,’ as well as the need to upskill, evolve and adapt to new retrofit processes through continuous learning. Moreover, given that energy auditors are essential in a building-retrofit process, we believe that FM companies can benefit more by hiring certified energy auditors directly on their team as opposed to outsourcing the auditing task.
Can you comment on the specialised FM services for the healthcare industry, especially in terms of maintaining air quality and acoustical comfort? Do we have specialised MEP firms that can handle it? Yes, FM companies must be specialised or can work with contractors in ensuring air and water quality in hospitals, based on approved government standards and in liaison with the Health, Safety, Quality, and Environment (HSQE) Department and the Infection Control Officer. In the region, there are adequately trained staff specialising in hospital cleaning and protocols, and they are mentally prepared to handle hospital emergency situations. In an ordinary facility, the primary objective is to maintain the area’s visual appeal and cleanliness. A healthcare facility involves a more detailed and thorough process. Not only does the property need to be free from unpleasant odours and be visually appealing, it also needs to be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected to prevent growth of germs and pathogens and properly managed to avoid cross-contamination among patients, staff and visitors. We need to prevent infections caused by unhygienic surroundings. As such, waste management and segregation has to be precise, and frequent and minimised movement of dust around the hospital must be ensured, among others.
Could you comment on the important role FM companies play in meeting a building’s sustainability targets? Efficient HVAC systems, running properly and at peak, constitute the first step in managing energy use in a building. Facilities with proper HVAC maintenance will use at least 15-20% less energy as opposed to the deteriorating ones. FM professionals are at the forefront of ensuring that building owners meet their sustainability targets. They are crucial to ensuring that we have more sustainable facilities, through a number of stages in the lifecycle of a building. A sustainable building results in reduction in absenteeism, increased workforce
productivity, improved learning abilities and a reduction in inpatient stay times. These benefits are provided through the integration of FM and design knowledge into the facility.
There is much talk that FM companies should be part of the design and even the pre-design stage of projects. Do you agree with this? Are you able to recollect instances of FM companies that were involved with architects and consultants from the inception of a project?
for maintenance during the operational phase of the facilities. As what has been suggested, FM can contribute to reducing the needs for major repairs and alterations that will otherwise occur at the operational phase. FM firms can utilise the Building Information Modelling (BIM), which provides a visual model and a database throughout the building lifecycle, for space planning and energy analysis purposes, among others. In Dubai, authorities have identified facilities that are mandated to implement BIM. These are above 40-storey buildings; buildings with area larger than 300,000 square feet, and specialised buildings, such as hospitals and universities.
Yes, involving FM companies as early as the design phase will reduce the efforts
HAVE YOUR SAY! We welcome your views on the article. Write to editor@cpi-industry.com
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ARKET FEATURE
Pumping forward With the water demand graph spiralling up, industry insiders believe market drivers, such as energy efficiency, retrofit opportunities and disruptive technologies now propel the pump market. Benwen Lopez reports‌
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umps are considered to be at the heart of various water applications in the industrial, governmental and residential sectors. Although an important device, in most cases, the real value of pumps and the efficiency they can deliver are often overlooked. Gone are the days where it was merely a ‘plug and play’ pump application; with the advancement of disruptive technologies, the pump market has entered a new dimension.
Market drivers Balagopal Nair, Marketing & Business Development Manager, Faisal Jassim, says that owing to aggressive development in the region, the growth in the pump market continues to spike up. Government stimulus programmes constitute another driver. They encourage end-users to invest in retrofitting their existing pumps with energyefficient solutions, which would subsequently augment innovation and technology development in pumps. Concurring with Nair’s views, Hidenori Matsubara, General Manager, Eco Solutions Division at Panasonic Marketing Middle East & Africa, says, “The water pumps market in the UAE is witnessing notable growth, primarily because of rapid urbanisation and various infrastructure initiatives.” Adding that disruptive innovation is playing a significant role as a market driver, Peter Robinson, Area Marketing Manager ,Grundfos, stresses that the value of the pump is influenced by the technical knowledge of the market. “As people understand pumps better, they become better at measuring the true value of pumps,” he says. “And innovations like the ‘intelligent’ pump, fitted with digital sensors and with an ability to communicate to connected systems, have become a new
trend in the market. “These smart innovations play a key role in the energy-efficiency graph, because it [the intelligent pump] efficiently pumps and transports the water to the entire building, and most importantly, it plays an active role in pre-emptive maintenance, which ensures the lifecycle of the pumps.” Explaining the scope for the pump market, Nair emphasises that sectors such as HVAC, District Cooling, irrigation, sewage, industrial and residential offer ample opportunities for the pump market to grow in the Middle East. “The anticipated surge in demand in the GCC region, along with a stagnant pump market in other regions, has enticed more international pump manufacturing companies to set up regional factories in the Middle East.” He also believes that with proper analysis and engineering, renewable energy-powered pumps could dictate the future of the industry in the GCC region. Matsubara says that as part of the drive towards innovation, Panasonic has conducted surveys to understand the scope of the pumps, considering its future in the region. “The company expects to achieve 20% growth in this segment by 2018 and is investing into the development of products that are top of the class in terms of innovation, efficiency and durability.” Other market influencers are government initiatives, such as the Dubai Integrated Energy Strategy 2030 (DIES 2030), which Nair says, has placed the demand for efficient and sustainable pumping solutions high on the cards. Driving towards achieving the energy-efficiency target by 2030, Robinson says, can only be achieved through innovations regarding size, power, energy consumption and installation. Explaining how his company is driving towards the target, he says: “We have always been a global leader concerning efficiency through materials, hydraulics, motor technology and controls. However, the real value of the efficiency is now much more appreciated by the regional market due to the sustainability vision and the increasing energy costs.”
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ARKET FEATURE
Balagopal Nair
Hidenori Matsubara
Peter Robinson
Pumps
Other players, like Kevin Laidler, Sales Director, Middle East & Africa, Armstrong Fluid Technology, also believe that programmes like DIES 2030 are motivating manufacturers to ideate and develop efficient solutions. “Our strategy for pumping will offer owners up to 70% energy savings if our pumping technology is implemented,” Laidler says.
Contractors push to procure the cheapest components under the shortest period. The purchase price of a pump is around five per cent of its life cycle cost, whereas energy consumption makes around 80-85%
Kevin Laidler
Tomasz Kaletka
Andy Wilson
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For new market entrants, like Tomasz Kaletka, Director of Cooperation & Development, The “ZAMEP” Industrial Mechanical Company, a Poland-based firm, it is events like the EXPO 2020, which attract companies like his to the UAE. After establishing itself in Turkey and Iran, the company, he says, is exploring opportunities in the GCC region. “As a new player, it is an exciting challenge for us to sell pumps in the UAE,” he says. “While other countries are convinced about the high quality of our products, we are looking to partner with local companies to sell our pumps.” “The UAE,” he says, “offers a huge market opportunity for the pump segment, and events like the EXPO 2020 provide a dynamic platform for new players.”
Sharing a similar view, Nair elaborates that the actual ramp-up towards EXPO 2020-related activity might only accelerate during the third quarter of 2018, mainly in construction projects, and that is when the cashing in can begin. Robinson, while equally enthused about EXPO 2020, is concerned about what after. “While it can only be expected that there will be an increase in activity in the construction sector in the run-up to EXPO 2020, the challenge will be how this will impact the sector after the event, to not cause a construction slump.”
Building-retrofit as a game-changer The UAE has also created retrofit opportunities for the pump vertical, allowing companies to offer servicing or upgrades to existing equipment. Nair says that the potential for the retrofit market is commendable, especially for new enhanced pumping systems and solutions, with improved energy efficiency and sustainability characteristics for the retrofit of existing buildings. “The retrofitted equipment will have less maintenance cost and, hence, longer service life, reduced energy consumption and increased system availability,” he says.
Explaining how his company is playing a role in the retrofit market, Nair says: “We have been contributing to energy saving as an initiative by providing cost-effective and energy-efficient pumping solutions. The use of variable-speed pumps and controls, modification of pump hydraulics, adjustments in mechanical parts and, at times, even the use of optimised materials are the areas we consider for retrofit solutions.” Robinson also believes that the retrofit market is a game changer. He says that energy-based retrofits constitute the new big thing and, in most cases, the savings compensate the cost of retrofitting in just a few years. This, he says, has led to a positive response from the market. He also points out that retrofit approaches offer immense savings to the customer in the long run. Retrofitting pumps is not enough, however, says Andy Wilson, Business Development Manager at Hidrostal, who observes that in the GCC region,
some pumping stations have design flaws, which reduce the reliability and efficiency of the pump. He says: “While retrofitting a pump is fine, I have observed that some old pumping stations have not been hydraulic designed to optimise the potential benefits of the pumps. Therefore, we also need to inspect and see if the entire pumping station design needs to be changed to get the maximum optimisation from the pump system.” Citing reasons why pumping stations have flawed designs, Wilson says that contractors cause the problem, when they are trying to drive on the price and cut corners. And when such corners have been cut in the past, he says, the price is paid in the long run.
Market challenges Pricing has always been a dictating factor in the pump market. As Robinson says: “Contractors push to procure the cheapest components under the
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ARKET FEATURE
shortest period. The purchase price of a pump is around five per cent of its life cycle cost, whereas energy consumption makes around 80-85%. “Even one per cent extra initial investment into a pumping system can reduce the energy consumption drastically. Therefore, the procurement process should ideally be looking at the total lifecycle cost of a unit.” Other players like Laidler believe that while his company offers innovative solutions, which conserves energy, the market is currently focused on lowcost, cheap installation, and the issue of energy efficiency is on the backburner. Voicing a similar view, Nair says that the pump market is, indeed, driven by price and that Asian manufacturers predominantly offer a stiff competition, which is most likely to impact sales, especially in residential sectors and medium-size projects. “This scenario would be a challenge for most of the established global players offering centrifugal pumps in this market,” he says, “And the long-term growth will be determined by competitive pricing strategies and preparedness for innovative energy solutions.” Explaining how the challenge can be countered, he adds that pump manufacturers and suppliers must offer complete solutions, which would add a competitive edge in the commercial pumps market, as opposed to merely focusing on selling their products. Working with clients to offer customised solutions, he says, is a key element to the competitive edge. The other challenging factor that plagues the pump industry, Nair says, is the reverse engineering in the aftermarket sector and the availability of counterfeit brands, which will question the reliability and trust in the pump industry, if not properly addressed. Another market challenge is the oversizing and over-specifying of pumps, says Wilson, who believes that the issue increases the energy burden. “Some clients are made to believe that if you have a big pump, it will be enough, but sometimes having a big pump is the problem, because it does not run to the expectations,” he says. “And then, they try to solve the problem by retrofitting the variable-speed drives, which may solve the problem up to an extent, but it would be better to change the flow
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characteristics of the pump to match the system.” Kaletka points out that apart from oversizing and over-specifying, there is the challenge posed by wrong installations, owing to flawed drawings. He believes that some contractors sometimes wrongly carry out the installation of the pumps and cause further problems, as a result. To counter the issue, he says, his company closely works with the contractors and clients to educate them about proper installation practices.
Back to the drawing board Stakeholders like Wilson and Kaletka believe that to develop a pump to meet energy-efficiency requirements, it all has to start from the design stage and extend to proper selection of raw materials and, further, to properly maintaining high-quality manufacturing standards. Such practices, they say, ensure the longevity of the pumps. They also believe it is critical to reduce the carbon footprint during the manufacturing process. From a supplier’s perspective, it is all about evaluations and inspections, says Nair, who emphasises that his company conducts supplier evaluation for the raw materials used, inspection of incoming material against the purchase order for quantity and quality and in-process material inspection during the production, followed by the final inspection.
Summing up While the market offers ample opportunities for the pump industry, it cannot be limited to merely manufacturing and supplying the products. As Nair says, it should include “customised solutions with a competitive edge”, which need to be offered to navigate through turbulent financial climates. All stakeholders also believe that disruptive innovation will play a key role in driving the energyefficiency meter.
HAVE YOUR SAY! We welcome your views on the article. Write to editor@cpi-industry.com
samuel allan armstrong, 1920 We aim to elevate the industry to a high plane, and to sell not merely so much cast iron but an engineering service.
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COUNTRY
R E P O RT S
INSIDE: Never again The oil crisis of the 1970s set an entire nation on the path of energy self-sufficiency. Today, it is showing the world how a structured policy-based approach, backed by concerted action in harnessing renewable energy, can pay rich dividends
Mastering the maze How are German manufacturers traversing the maze of external forces impacting the HVACR industry without compromising on their desire for maintaining global manufacturing excellence of home-grown brands?
November 2017
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COUNTRY REPORT
Never again!
The oil crisis of the 1970s forged a resolve for action and set an entire nation on the path of energy self-sufficiency. Today, it is showing the world how a structured policy-based approach, backed by concerted action in harnessing renewable energy, can pay rich dividends By B Surendar | Editor
â–ś Aerial view of Copenhagen, Denmark
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[On the cover: Morten Kabell, Mayor, The Technical and Environmental Administration, Copenhagen, cycles to work.]
F
or Danes singed by the oil crisis of 1973-74, the memories are still strong. The mind’s eye can see. Iver Høj Nielsen still feels it, as he sits in the State of Green office in the Vesterbrogade area of Copenhagen one late afternoon in early October, describing the scenes that played out, 34 years ago. Of people covering long distances of a wintry landscape in ski boots, because they were not allowed to drive around in cars. “The oil crisis was the Danish point of departure,” he says with quiet dignity. Nielsen is Head of Press, State of Green, a public-private partnership initiative, founded by the Danish Government, the Danish Energy Association and the Danish Wind Industry Association, among other bodies. For the young among the windswept pedestrians and cyclists in the bustling street outside the office, the oil crisis is not something they can perhaps relate to. There is nothing to recollect, no residual angst. Office is almost over for the day, and they are out to enjoy the good life Copenhagen has to offer, though it is gloomy and 10 degrees C. Elsewhere, outside the city, cars zip by on multi-lane highways. As Morten Kabell, Mayor, The Technical and Environmental Administration, Copenhagen, wistfully says, “Danes love their cars.”
And yet, he knows that at the core, Danes – old and young – care for the environment, are particular about renewable energy and are conscious about the need for curbing energy use. The ethos of green cuts across demographic profiles and other pluralistic aspects across the length and breadth of the country of over five million people. It is a way of life. It was not always like this – it took the crisis to shake things up. The government met, and so did the people – and together, they decided the situation had to end. The crisis forged a strong national resolve… NEVER AGAIN. The country established a national plan to look for other sources of energy. It was already pumping oil and gas from the North Sea, but over the years, it realised that it would run out of fossil fuels and that it would have to find something else. So it used the revenue from oil and gas to finance the green transition from fossil fuels to wind, solar and biomass. “We have taken small steps since the 1970s, not big steps,” Nielsen says. And it was about going in the same direction.” In 2012, the country arrived at an Energy Agreement that it would be free of fossil fuels by 2050 and would 100% rely on renewable energy. Since then, it has zealously been listening to its inner voice and working towards that goal, embracing new trends and technologies along the way. Today, the talk firmly is of digitalisation.
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Iver Høj Nielsen
Morten Kabell
Lars Schrøder
Kim Fausing
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All this has been possible, though, mainly because people bought into the idea. “In the 1970s, they started complying with the government’s demands, and there were incentives to invest in better homes and insulation,” Nielsen says. “And people could see when the windmills started coming around in their landscapes. It was fascinating to see that these windmills could do something good.” The momentum has not abated. The level of taxation is high in Denmark, but the Danes, largely speaking, have taken it on the chin, saying they have a responsibility towards the community. “Water is expensive,” Nielsen says. “Energy is expensive. Wind power is cheap, but we put taxes on top, and so consumers appreciate the need to save water and energy, and they can also save money.” Copenhagen, Nielsen says, wants to be carbon neutral by 2025, and people are proud of that, and they don’t complain about paying the taxes. Broadly speaking, a strong culture of regulation courses through Denmark. It is hard on people, but they think it is okay. Lars Schrøder, CEO of water and wastewater treatment company, Aarhus Vand, describes regulation as a necessity. “In Denmark, we have a lot of regulation,” he says. “If you have water loss more than 10%, you have to pay taxes. In 1987, water loss was 10-15%. Now, it is 5-7%. We have told people how to make installations, and water consumption is falling every year.” People are able to see the change, and in such an environment, the carrots are welcome, and the sticks bearable. There is also pride in being frontrunners in the world, Nielsen says. People view regulation as okay, because there is an underlying faith in the government – in the politicians and the bureaucrats. “The public administration is strong in Denmark,” Nielsen says. “We are on top of the Transparency International Index. And that is an important factor.” This is backed by maturity among the politicians, largely speaking. For instance, politicians cut across party lines to put the country’s energy policy in place. And 95% of the government supported the Energy Agreement in 2012. The result of the political cooperation is that five years on, the country has already achieved 27% of the targeted 100% transition to renewable energy. The City of Copenhagen offers itself as a microcosm of political bonhomie, when it comes to energy-related issues.
▶ Copenhagen waterfront, Denmark
COUNTRY REPORT
▶ Train station of Helsingor, Denmark
Kabell is Left Wing, but as Mayor, he has to work with Far Right viewpoints. “The Copenhagen system of government is quite unique compared to other parts of the world,” he says. “We have a system of collective leadership, and we don’t have one seat of power. We have seven mayors covering a portfolio each. You have full control over your portfolio but not over others. We also cover six different political parties, and mayor posts are determined by the size of political parties, so that creates room for compromise and learning.” Kabell and his colleagues agreed on making Copenhagen carbon neutral by 2025 and are working towards that, because they all believe in the essentialness of curbing energy use. This kind of political maturity can be seen in Sønderborg, about 200 kilometres southwest of Copenhagen, where incumbents sitting across party lines agreed on ‘ProjectZero’, an initiative to make the city carbon neutral by 2029, and are actively working towards the goal (see page 84, titled ProjectZero: Good for the climate, good for business).
The Danish electricity system today is approximately 40% wind power. Overall, we are 75% renewable energy in the electricity sector. By 2020, wind power must constitute 50% of the electricity consumption
Copenhagen and Sønderborg are ambitious and want to get across the carbon neutral line before the end of the 2020s, as opposed to the national target of 2050. It is this kind of aggressive green agenda and a strong federal conviction and framework that have acted as drivers for industry in the country. The strong political will, Nielsen feels, has helped companies like Danfoss grow and progress. “The government has challenged Denmark to find better solutions,” Nielsen says. “And companies like Danfoss have benefitted from the policy of energy savings. Our private sector is world class, because they have innovated. The research departments in companies have been challenged, and we have been to EU standards and now are five years ahead for building standards. It has given Danish companies a commercial advantage over other competitors.” Danfoss has its headquarters in the town of Nordborg, on the island of Als, in southern Denmark. It is a sprawling facility and, in a nod to Denmark’s renewable energy drive, houses an inverter technology-integrated solar PV field, which produces 2.1 MW of electricity that powers 400 homes in Nordborg. Kim Fausing, its President & CEO, speaks of responsibility and of a bigger cause in being able to provide energy-efficient systems to cut down on consumption but without compromising on comfort. He also speaks of the task ahead of making green energy efficient. “Very often, we are producing energy when we don’t need it,” he says, “so the challenge is in combining current infrastructure with renewable energy.” Fausing speaks of pride in being able to provide variable-speed drives to steer the motors to perform efficiently, so that on the hottest day of the year, they can contribute to cooling the house at the required temperature and, at the same time, take care of the fact that the system is over-dimensioned for 95% of the year. He speaks with equal passion about how Danfoss is working to strengthen the cold chain in farms, so they can produce from far away and ensure they keep food losses to a minimum. Fausing is also leading an initiative for digitalising Danfoss and has his sights set firmly on Lean Heat – an IoT-based solution for collecting heating – and on Big Data, so as to be able to couple a climate system with some intelligence. “The strength is in combining it with the future,” he says. The challenge is in making sure to change our DNA to be successful in the
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Per Overgaard Pedersen
We use only the energy we produce, which makes us energy neutral. We supply energy to others, which makes us a netenergy-producing company
Carsten Vittrup
digital transformation and to do things differently. When it comes to Big Data and to Lean Heat, you have to open up and partner, because you have no chance to develop on your own. We have smart engineers at Danfoss, and now we have to make them work with digital talents, who are in their 20s and 30s.” Not too far away from the headquarters building is Danfoss’ production facility for making its thermostatic expansion valves, which the company proudly says, ensure that food is properly cooled and that there is indoor comfort in homes and offices. It is a bustling facility, cohabited by humans and robots. It completed 50 years of service in 2016 and, coincidentally, rolled out its 50 millionth valve. The production process reflects Danfoss’ obsession with curbing energy use. “Owing to the nature of its activity, the facility has to recycle air more often than other places,” says Jan Petersen, Head of Visitor Relations CF-C, Danfoss. “We are using excess heat from the factory, and that has saved us 40% energy.” The same zeal to saving energy is seen in the nearby town of Høruphav, in Sønderborg Municipality, where Danfoss cold chain technology is helping a supermarket capture waste heat, sending a message out that it is possible for the world to avoid wasting one-third of all food it produces, owing to poor cold
▶ A robot at work at Danfoss' thermostatic expansion valve production facility
chain management, inclusive of the energyuse profile. Petersen says: “It is about how we capture the heat in the supermarket without sending it to the atmosphere. The supermarket is using the waste heat to heat up the entire supermarket. It produces 70% more heat than it can consume, so it is supplying to the grid to heat homes in Høruphav. Earlier, the supermarket was having separate cooling and heating systems.” In Viborg, which is the second largest municipality in Denmark, Apple would be doing what the supermarket in Høruphav is. Once operational, Petersen says, the US technology major’s data centre would be providing waste heat to 50,000 people in the city, where the demographic profile is 2.2 persons to a household; in other words, Apple would be providing heat to nearly 23,000 households. Apple is coming to Denmark in a big way, as are Facebook and Google, attracted by the prospect of almost uninterrupted power supply, and this is what Denmark’s renewable energy policy has done for the country in giving it a monetary boost. As Nielsen puts it: “Seven per cent of Danish exports across all sectors are related to green energy.” A key link in the renewable energy initiative is a reliable transmission network, to be able to integrate large shares of wind power, say. This is where Energinet comes in. Energinet, based in Fredericia, a little over an hour away from Sønderborg, is owned by the Danish state. It owns and operates the overall electricity and Natural Gas transmission in Denmark. Its task is to integrate renewable energy and ensure security of supply in Denmark. “We have lot of experience in integrating wind power,” says Carsten Vittrup, Energy Strategy Advisor, Energinet. “The Danish electricity system today is approximately 40% wind power. Overall, we are 75% renewable energy in the electricity sector. By 2020, wind power must constitute 50% of the electricity consumption.” Denmark has come a long way in renewable energy use. In 1985, the country produced nearly zero mega-watts of power from offshore and onshore wind power and solar PV projects. In 2017, it is producing over 6,000 MW from all three, with solar PV coming on board in 2011. The Energinet ethos is to aim for two types of efficiency. The first is efficiency in conversion systems from solar, wind, wave, bio-waste, coal, Natural Gas and oil to power. The second is efficiency at the end-user (Continued on page 85)
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COUNTRY REPORT
ProjectZero: Good for the climate, good for business How a city is looking to meet its environmental responsibilities and enjoy collateral benefits
S
ønderborg, the 17th largest city in Denmark at 500 square kilometres, is home to 75,000 people and has a District Heating network and a Natural Gas pipeline. Its mayor, Erik Lauritzen, says he wants to increase the population by creating jobs and by making the city a great place to live and work through ensuring clean air and water. This translates to a need for eliminating emissions. Enter ProjectZero! In 2007, the city emitted 772,000 tonnes of carbon into the atmosphere. “We let that much carbon go into the atmosphere – 7-8 tonnes of carbon per citizen,” says Peter Rathje, Managing Director, ProjectZero, a sustainable development initiative to wean the city away from fossil fuels. For making the green transition, the city is investing Danish Kroner (DKK) 1 billion. The city’s approach to ProjectZero is holistic and includes Public-Private Partnership (PPP), technology, solutions, business, participation and a new way of thinking. The PPP element involves such entities as Danfoss Foundation, DONG Energy, NORDEA Foundation, SE Energy, Sønderborg Municipality and Sønderborg Utility. ProjectZero’s broad goals are to harness energy from renewable sources; to use fossil fuels, if necessary, as efficiently and as cleanly as possible and to lower energy consumption in existing buildings. Starting from 2007 to date, the project has achieved 35% carbon reduction and, in the process, over-achieved its 2015 milestone of 25%, Rathje says. Enthused by that, it is targeting a 50% reduction by 2020, he adds. It has also created 800-plus green jobs in construction, industry, Green District Heating – by using solar heat, wind, geothermal and heat pumps – and energy consulting, he claims. There is much money to be made through energy consulting and also through the selling of technologies that were evolved in meeting the needs of ProjectZero. Lauritzen says: “ProjectZero is not only good for the climate but also for business, because companies that develop solutions can export those in the future. There is also tourist potential. Business tourists from around the world travel to Sønderborg to learn about our vision. Some of the very big cities in China are coming here to see what we are doing.” For the record, Sønderborg has an ongoing Sister City Agreement with the city of Baoding, in China. While the international participation and the monetary benefits are a blessing, an equally heartwarming narrative has to do with the people of the city. Rathje says the cooperation from the people has been a heartening feature. While the city set in motion a system where all new houses, schools and municipal buildings started going zero on fossil fuel consumption, the far greater challenge is in tackling the existing buildings, many of which are over 200 years old, making it difficult to rebuild them to a state where they can become more energy efficient. “The energy consumption of existing buildings was high,” Rathje says. “We created the ZEROfamily programme in 2009, involving 115 participating families. The impact was 25% energy savings and 45% water savings. We created the ZEROhome programme in 2010, engaging 18,600 homeowners. The programme involved visiting 1,600 homes, of which 65% have initiated retrofit with an average spend of Euros 21,000. The programme has brought energy savings up to 45% per household.”
▶ Waterfront at the port of Sonderborg, Denmark
Erik Lauritzen
▶ Night view on the Harbour, Sonderborg, Denmark
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level, and that is where the use of LED lamps and waste heat comes in, as is being demonstrated in Nordborg, Høruphav and the city of Sønderborg. As the country makes further progress with wind power and solar, the efficiency in conversion systems is expected to increase. As Vittrup points out, if the conversion efficiency of putting coal in a power plant is only about 40%, in the case of wind and solar, it is 100%. The combination of the two efficiencies is a key reason for Denmark’s success so far in its mission of achieving energy security. Another important reason is the country’s strategic location, making it a geographic sweet spot for large energy transit routes from Norway and Sweden to Spain. This allows for a balanced allocation of renewable energy to all countries along the route. The strategic transit route, the combination of the two efficiencies and its relatively small size as a country allow Denmark to supply energy to its people almost without interruption. Considering a 10-year average, Denmark experiences 25 minutes of outage per consumer per year. To put things in perspective, Vittrup says, in Ireland, it is 330 minutes and in Sweden, it is 250. If reliability in power supply is a reality, so is the favourable cost. “The more renewable energy flexibility we can get in, the cheaper it is to get power,” Vittrup says. Little wonder then that Apple, Facebook and Google are interested. In Aarhus, a city of 350,000 people, other international clients are beckoning, with Aarhus Vand the cynosure of attention. The 100% city-owned company is the first wastewater treatment plant in the world that can have total energy neutrality. It delivers 15 million cubic metres of drinking water a year and transports and treats 32 million cubic metres of wastewater a year. Wastewater treatment plants are large consumers of energy. As Mads Warming, Global Director, Water & Wastewater, Danfoss points out, they typically account for 35% of overall power use in a city. Powering them with renewable energy, he says, and complementing the initiative by using energy-efficiency devices to run the pumps can
▶ Copenhagen, Denmark
(Continued from page 82)
We supply to shopping malls in summertime. For now, it is server customers. It is a very good business case to sell cold water in winter, because the cost of cooling is zero
take them on the road to energy neutrality. “The key elements that have driven Aarhus towards becoming the first energy-neutral catchment area in the world are CHP and more drives in the moving parts,” Warming says. “You can do energy neutrality with digitalisation. And VSDs are the glue making it possible.” At Aarhus Vand, the “you can do energy neutrality” is a reality. Its CEO, Schrøder, the one who spoke about regulation leading to low water leakage rates in Denmark, says with understated pride: “We use only the energy we produce, which makes us energy neutral. We supply energy to others, which makes us a net-energy-producing company.” His colleague, Per Overgaard Pedersen puts the achievements in perspective by quoting numbers, including the 4.8 MW of power it generates from biogas every year and the 2.5 GWh it sold in 2016, owing to the surplus it realised. “The biggest incentive for us is that we are earning money on power,” he said. The District Heating provider [in Aarhus] is paying money on every kW of energy we supply. We are producing green energy.” Naturally enough, international customers have come knocking, including from India. Aarhus is working with the western Indian state of Gujarat and with the municipality in Udaipur city, in the northwestern Indian state of Rajasthan. Though Aarhus Vand is a non-profit body, it is trying to change that by sharing knowledge and earning money in the process. It is also providing training in Zambia to optimise the operation of wastewater treatment plants. “In Udaipur, they did not have any power at all, and here we produce power, so there is a possibility,” Schrøder says. “Our system is rather easy to implement. It is not very costly to do so. We are sharing knowledge on how to plan the infrastructure.” In the city of Aarhus, besides supplying energy to the District Heating facility, Aarhus Vand is looking to supply biogas to the giant, rumbling ferries that carry passengers and cars from the Port of Aarhus across the Baltic Sea, thus cutting short by approximately an hour the driving time from the city to, say, Copenhagen and to its Mayor of Technical and Environmental Affairs. Kabell’s term in office will get over in December, and he is busy with his re-election campaign, but he has not lost sight of the task at hand. With 2025 as the target year for achieving carbon neutrality, his colleagues and he have arrived at the one-third mark, which would take them to 92% of the target. “We have eight years’ time to find the last eight per cent,” Kabell say
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Henrik Lorentsen Bøgeskov
Among other initiatives, Copenhagen has aggressively pushed District Heating as one of the solutions to achieve its 2025 target. Backed by political consensus, it started expanding its District Heating networks and telling property owners that they cannot have inefficient individual air conditioning systems. “Having the District Heating system means the individual owner does not have to carry individual heating,” Kabell says. “And the health benefits of having District Heating are much better than running individual systems. From a political point of view, the Health Affairs Department and the Social Affairs Department have seen the benefits of District Heating and have cooperated with us. There have been fewer particle emissions, because earlier, people were carrying petroleum up their individual flats for their oil burners.” District Heating has found wide acceptance in Denmark. Petersen estimates that 64% of all houses in Denmark is heated using District Heating. In Copenhagen, District Energy has posted strong numbers. The Municipalityowned Hofor Fjernkoling plant in the city has over 60 delivery agreements and has a contracted chilled water supply of over 60 MW to customers within a densely populated three-kilometre radius. The potential is there for over 200 MW of supply in the city. Henrik Lorentsen Bøgeskov is Director at Hofor. He says the plant and its reticulation network of 17 kilomtres of supply piping and 17 kilometres of return piping have combined to reduce carbon emissions by 70%. Explaining the process, he says, the plant directly pumps sea water, when the temperature of the water is 6 degrees C or less. If more than 6 degrees C, the plant uses electrical ammonia-driven compressors and relies on waste heat to power the systems.
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▶ Noerhede Hjortmose wind farm, Denmark
COUNTRY REPORT
The sea water intake is 4,000 cubic metres an hour and is made possible by using filters – rough, medium and fine – to prevent seaweeds and other sea-borne objects from entering the equipment and by using titanium heat exchanger to counter the corrosive nature of the water. The Hofor model works, Bøgeskov says, because the plant has planned for diversty, and supplies chilled water to meet comfort cooling, process cooling and server cooling needs. Bøgeskov says Hofor has a lot of customers that need 24x7x365 cooling for servers, museums and other temperatureand moisture-sensitive installations. ”We supply to museums to remove the humidity to protect a Picasso, if we want to borrow one,” Bøgeskov says. ”We supply to shopping malls in summertime. For now, it is server customers. It is a very good business case to sell cold water in winter, because the cost of cooling is zero. Overall, we fit into the customer’s needs and have a product for their behaviour.” Like other systems across the country, the Hofor plant fits into the macro picture of Denmark and where the country sees itself as going to not only achieve 100% carbon neutrality but also benefit from it in monetary terms. As Nielsen puts it, Denmark is a small country, and that makes it more manageable than others. But then, being small alone is not a passport to success – it needs rigour and discipline, two qualities Denmark has willingly embraced. The oil crisis presented some harsh realities, but instead of cowing down, the country rose as one to overcome adversity. And over a period of time, it turned the adverse circumstances to its advantage. That way, the oil crisis was a blessing in disguise, because it forced the country to become intensely competitive, which opened up opportunities to export technologies. “We see huge investments coming up in Dubai, and what you need is to compete in that market,” Nielsen says. “We have the solutions to compete in that, and there should be a chance that we can double our exports. “The oil crisis taught us self-sufficiency. We can show that it actually works in real life. And the policy we are pushing since the 1970s is working, and we can move the country.”
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COUNTRY REPORT
Germany
Mastering the
MAZE
How are German manufacturers traversing the maze of external forces impacting the HVACR industry without compromising on their desire for maintaining global manufacturing excellence of home-grown brands? By Hannah Jo Uy | Features Writer
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uropean countries are widely regarded as being proactive in their efforts at coping with regulations set by the European Union (EU). Germany reportedly is no different, with the country setting its own targets in an earnest move to act in accordance with the region’s sustainability ethos. In light of this, how is Deutschland making headway following the ambitious goals it has set for itself? And how do homegrown manufacturers cope with increasingly stringent energy regulations and external factors related to pricing competition, among others, without compromising on their desire for maintaining global manufacturing excellence of home-grown brands?
Short- and long-term visions “A lot of regulations and targets come from the EU directly,” says Daniel de Graaf, Scientific Assistant at the German Environment Agency (Section III 1.4 Substance-related Product Issues). “This holds true for refrigerants, as we have the F-gas regulation – everything put down there directly is also valid for German manufactures and end-users of air conditioning and other equipment, where F-gases are involved.” Koen Bogers, Senior Executive Vice President, Building Technologies, Siemens Middle East, touches on how Germany’s green efforts are affecting the overall strategies of manufacturers. “Climate protection and energy transition are set political goals,” he says. “As a result, a number of political programmes were developed, such as the National Action Plan on Energy Efficiency (NAPE), the Energy Efficiency Strategy for Buildings and the German Climate Action Plan 2050, parts of which have already become laws and regulations. The basic principles are to expand the availability of renewable energies while markedly boosting energy efficiency at the same time, based on the motto ‘Efficiency first’.” Adding to this, Maciej Danielak, Export Sales Director, Kampmann, says: “The HVAC industry has been severely affected by the Energiewende (energy revolution) and the Ecodesign Directive. Especially
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Daniel de Graaf
Koen Bogers
Maciej Danielak
Robert Compton
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following the ever-tightening energy requirements for heating/cooling and ventilation systems. One of the most obvious effects of the Energiewende is a significant reduction of HFC products.” Robert Compton, Economic promotion Energy Efficiency & Smart Cities, Germany Trade and Invest, says that energy efficiency and sector coupling in heat and transport have also moved into focus in recent years. In Germany, he says, final energy consumption in buildings has fallen 11% since 2008 – in part due to renewable heating requirements and the broad range of government support on offer. “So yes, policy has influenced energy consumption here,” he says, “[but] there’s still a lot more to do.” For its part, the German Environment Agency (UBA), de Graaf says, has no direct collaborations with companies, though it is in contact with associations and a number of manufacturers. Overall, de Graaf believes that the situation is “ambivalent” and relevant stakeholders are not responding “appropriately” in all perspectives. “When it comes to prohibition of certain equipment, it is crystal clear what manufacturers need to do and what they need to comply with,” he says. “For example, you are not allowed to put refrigeration in the market with a refrigerant that has a GWP of more than 2,500 from 2020 on. How are they going to replace R-404a, which has a GWP of more than 2,500 – 3,922, to be precise?” There are already alternatives in the market, de Graaf says, in terms of refrigerant and refrigeration equipment, emphasising that appropriate action can be taken in response to the prohibition. “There is also [the issue of] how to reduce the amount of HFC,” he adds. “The HFC phase-down, which is put forth in the F-gas regulation (Regulation (EU) No. 517/2014), does not prohibit, apart from refrigerants with a GWP of 2,500 or more, particular refrigerants. It is the general decline of the bulk of refrigerants. It’s going down quite fast – by 2030, only 21% of the reference amount is left to put on the market, a cut of almost 80%. You don’t see reaction that is appropriate. This regulation means that the average GWP, which is 2,100 in Europe, must go down to an average GWP of 450.” This means, de Graaf says, refrigerants that are still currently being allowed, such as R-410A, which has a GWP of 2,088, can no longer be the solution in many applications. “There must come something else today,” he says. “Now – not in 10 years.” “We see some alternatives,” he remarks, “but some of these alternatives are not
really appropriate, like R-32, which still has a high GWP, to really react appropriately to the shortages that we will encounter in the next years. There are still R-410A appliances being sold. There’s only moderate movement in the right direction, and halogen-free natural refrigerants with negligible GWP are still rather the exception than the rule in air conditioning.”
Bogers also observes a need for the industry to evolve and adapt to demands: “Suppliers are driven to offer new, smarter and cheaper solutions, as political regulations and medium-term trends demand,” he says. “They have to renounce their ‘old ways’ and realign their market presence and offerings.”
Main hurdles facing the industry An issue may be the cost-prohibitive nature of new technology that is more compliant with emerging regulations. De Graaf, however, disagrees. “I think it’s less about the cost,” he says. “We observe that equipment with natural refrigerants – they are 10-20% more expensive, but this is only the initial investment – also show better energy efficiency of use. So, if you take a 10-year period, you have savings in energy efficiency. We have our eye on that; it’s not the cost factor.” Additionally, de Graaf says, once these appliances are sold in larger quantities, the difference in price will go down to nearly zero. What he does consider to be a legitimate challenge, though, is the existing mindset and encouraging people to move out of their comfort zone. “When you go to the alternatives, be they unsaturated HFOs or natural refrigerants, you have to deal with flammability and toxicity,” de Graaf says. “A lot of manufacturers – the craftsman that have to install [them] – are reluctant to deal with something they haven’t dealt with.” Essentially, de Graaf says, it is an issue of training and education. This lack of knowledge, he stresses, is much more of a hurdle than the cost. On the topic of CFCs and HFCs, both more or less have the same flammability profiles and do not pose much of a concern, he says. However, with regard to refrigerants, such as propane, ammonia and HFOs, he adds, there arises a need to deal with something new. Most, he says, are not keen on learning new things about refrigerants, especially if they have been in the sector for a while. For its part, UBA, de Graaf says, aims to inform the general public as well as the refrigeration and air conditioning sector with what is happening. “We have already started giving and making reports, doing research and making publications, so people and companies are more aware of what is coming. That’s the most important thing we can do. In the end, it is up to the end-user and up to the company as to what they offer as alternatives to HFC refrigerants.”
The primary driver is legislation, but also as a social rethinking in favour of climate protection, as long as it makes economic sense
The effect of Europe’s HFC phasedown on Germany UBA recognises hurdles that manufacturers have to deal with. de Graaf says the 10-20% increase in the prices of refrigerants, which started back in 2014 following the announcement of the new F-gas regulation, is one of them. “We had several of these price hikes,” he says. “Up till now, there was information from a big German wholesaler, who recently announced further price increases, although he already had price increases a few months ago.” This has further driven the demand for water-based systems, Danielak says, which were already very popular in Europe. “Now, they are becoming even more important,” he says, with the burgeoning prices of refrigerants. “In addition, the investment costs of HFC components are not competitive anymore for water-based units.” De Graaf says that ammonia is also becoming the refrigerant of choice among cold stores and is becoming more common in the process cooling of large-
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capacity projects. “The people working with ammonia are really convinced,” he says. “It’s a really good choice and an energyefficient refrigerant. In air conditioning, we see some projects that are implemented with ammonia, but [it’s] rather a rare thing at the moment; it’s still mostly HFCs. When it comes to shopping malls and buildings, they also have ammonia. When it comes to chillers – small- or medium-range – it’s predominantly HFC, but R-290 (propane) is a viable alternative here. Ten thousand chillers are running on R290 in Europe already.” In addition to adjusting to the HFC phasedown regulations, manufacturers must take into consideration the demands of end-users. de Graaf says that convincing end-users that they also have a part to play is also a problem. “For a lot of end users,” he says, “refrigeration and air conditioning is just a part of their business, and they produce something completely different.” Thus, de Graaf says, it is difficult to convince end-users of issues such as regulations and shortages, and to encourage them to switch to more efficient systems in the near future. “It’s about investment cost,” he says. “People have to invest not only money but also time, and need to inform themselves. They are often quite reluctant-[they think] we just keep on going with the equipment we have and why shouldn’t it work well in the future?”
Buildings which are 70 or 80 years old are being massively renovated and converted. This is due to enhanced standards and energy efficiency requirements as well as a growing competion in the real estate market
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▶ Marienhof Park, Munich, Germany
COUNTRY REPORT
de Graaf believes that as time goes by, this will only become more of a problem, as at some point the shortage of refrigerants in the market might mean some end-users may no longer be serviced due to changes in terms of refrigeration or lack of expertise, which may, in turn, lead to downtime in the production. “There should be measures taken before it becomes critical to a lot of endusers,” he says. “There is a need for joint action, from associations and the administrations, in order to raise awareness of the problems ahead of us.” de Graff says that for the most part, the issue of lack of training and knowledge capacity is not confined to Germany, but is prevalent in Europe and, to some extent, in the rest of the globe.
of indoor comfort and air quality, which he says is an increasingly significant topic across Europe. Public sector campaigns have evidently also impacted the real estate market, as developers are moving towards more efficient solutions in an effort to comply with legal requirements, lower energy cost and to ensure its competitiveness among end-users, who are becoming more aware of government-driven initiatives. Providing
an example, Danielak says that the move towards lower energy consumption has prompted “many AC fans to be replaced with EC technology”. David Miller, Managing Director of Ziehl-Abegg Middle East, elaborates on this further saying that electric motors and the associated fan technology are often “the biggest overlooked culprit” when it comes to energy consumption in HVAC products and building operations. To drive
Public sector support driving trends Germany’s government is aware of the role it has to play in encouraging stakeholders to invest time, money and effort to meet national targets. Bogers weighs in: “The primary driver is legislation, but also a social rethinking in favour of climate protection, as long as it makes economic sense.” Bogers emphasises that a healthy economy promotes a good business climate and strong market demand, which allows greater investment in building infrastructure to improve building performance. “Continued growth and a strong willingness to invest are forecast over the medium term,” he says. “The political objectives provide the guidelines.” Compton adds: “Generous government funding programmes cover everything from energy-efficient construction and renovation; industrial heat recovery; and smart, low-energy District Heating networks through to simple actions, such as replacing inefficient household boilers. In the heat sector, there has been a remarkable level of innovation with a clear trend towards heat pumps, District Heating and hybrid systems – especially in new buildings. We’re also seeing fuel cells being installed in German basements.” Danielak adds that political will has also driven greater awareness of the importance
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his point, he points to The International Energy Agency’s working paper, stating that ‘Electric motors and the systems they drive are the single largest electrical enduse, consuming more than twice as much as lighting, the next largest end-use’. “With this statement made,” he says, “we see a greater emphasis on capital expenditures (CAPEX) versus operating expenses (OPEX) calculations in the early stages. We see this trend diffusing globally, as clients are far more focused on their payback periods for energy-focused equipment.” Miller adds that Ziehl-Abegg is hoping to leverage its experience in the market “to match and exceed the market and the political requirements for fan solutions”, and focusing on innovations in products designed to fulfill the German and European regulations in terms of efficiency. Germany is also turning its attention to existing building stock. Danielak says: “Buildings which are 70 or 80 years old are being massively renovated and converted. This is due to enhanced standards and energy efficiency [requirements] as well as a growing competition in the real estate market.” This, he says, is prompting manufacturers to design equipment specifically for refurbishments. Although there is a long way to go for innovations to fulfill the requirements for 2050, Miller says that Ziehl-Abegg views this time as an opportunity to develop the right ideas and stay ahead of political requirements. “We even have a close look on the existing installed equipment,” he says. “Even though this is not on the political agenda we have ways to save huge amount of energy and running cost by refurbishing existing installations.” Bogers adds that building operators must also take a more active approach to pursuing energy-efficient building operations. This starts, he says, with the requirements for new construction and renovations, but it can also mean betterqualified personnel or the outsourcing of services.
How does it maintain competitive advantage? In light of this, how are German brands navigating increasingly stringent regulations and market demands without compromising their competitive advantage? Compton believes that while policy and regulations have played a part in encouraging innovation in the German HVACR industry, the country’s “fantastic R&D environment,
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▶ Munich Marien square, Germany
COUNTRY REPORT
In residential buildings,there is a clear move towards intelligent control and operation of the building and towards building technology, such as IoT
leading technical universities, and highly skilled workforce play a much larger role.” For Danielak, it’s a matter of pride: “I believe that HVAC companies in Germany are mainly driven by technological expertise and interest as well as high quality demands to call their products ‘Made in Germany’.”
Automation and smart systems pave the way Technology is reportedly playing a more important role in helping manufacturers stay ahead, with Danielak describing increasing integration of smart systems as “palpable”. Talking of automation, in general, Danielak says: “This part of technical building equipment is very important for today’s customer. It increases customer comfort, but also it is important for the energy efficiency of the building.” He stresses, however, that it is important that the HVAC system is planned properly and efficiently,
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David Miller
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▶ Copyright: © Oliver Heissner / TROX GmbH
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cultivating a strong customer service and after-sales infrastructure. End-users, he says, are showing increasing awareness of sustainability, energy efficiency and design, noting that, in turn, the manufacturer must also provide service, consultation, expertise and honesty. Bogers, commenting on the trend of rising expectations among end-users with regard to HVAC systems, believes that with the technical complexity already quite high, HVAC costs have, thus, risen considerably and that this is an aspect that must be actively considered. “Rethinking needs to start there,” he says. “How can the required HVAC systems be simplified and made easier to operate, thus reducing operating costs? In this respect, the BACS sector faces a major task and challenge.”
‘Made in Germany’ R&D
otherwise such systems will not work up to their potential. In residential buildings, Bogers says, there is a clear move towards intelligent control and operation of the building and towards building technology, such as IoT, smart home, especially through information and communication technology, such as bus systems, wireless solutions, smart sensors, actuators and smartphone apps. “This brings building technology onto the smartphone, making it socially acceptable,” he says. In commercial buildings, Bogers says, the intelligent combination of HVAC, Building Automation and Control System (BACS) and building safety and security “offers opportunities for growth through new smart BACS solutions (smart building)”. Bogers also highlights the pivotal role that BACS plays to maintain high energy efficiency in a building. “BACS is the tool that ensures the correct and optimal interplay of all technical systems, in accordance with building operation requirements,” he says. In his view, BACS will become the interface to the smart grid and will need to receive and “process important control information from the electrical supply network – weighing building operation versus grid stability and electricity availability vs. price”.
By popular demand Danielak says that another way German companies can maintain their leading position in international markets is through
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▶ Elbphilharmonie concert venue in Hamburg, Germany
Matthias Kasprowicz
The drive of local companies to maintain the avowed manufacturing excellence that their brands have been associated with has also translated to significant investment in R&D in order to keep up with the differing external requirements. “We invest on average 5-7% of our annual turnover in R&D,” Miller says. This, he adds, has been a strategy to ensure the company’s competitive advantage. Matthias Kasprowicz, Regional Managing Director of TROX, also sharing the company’s commitment towards R&D, says: “Our company profits are re-invested into R&D and product development. This is the legacy of Mr Trox.” Kasprowicz says this was showcased in the fire protection and ventilation system the company implemented in the Elbphilharmonie concert venue in Hamburg, which opened earlier this year, providing an example of the company’s experience dealing with acoustically sensitive sites. “In our R&D facilities, we have our own acoustic laboratory with two reverberation chambers,” he explains “These correspond to the recommendations for reverberation chambers of DIN EN ISO 3741).” Bogers, sharing recent R&D initiatives at Siemens, such as Building Energy Management System (BEMS) for behindthe-meter optimisation, talks of leveraging the integration of renewables and energy storage and enabling buildings to participate in the energy market, which offers flexibility and control reserves. The development, he says, was in a joint R&D project with Siemens CT and EM, in the city of Aspern, Austria.
Leveraging expertise worldwide With German manufacturers embracing new technology, commitment to aftersales and a drive towards R&D, Compton believes that navigating the external forces has helped, rather than hindered, them. “The German HVACR industry has long focused on producing quality, high-precision, dependable and durable products,” he says. “Indeed, there is a clear focus on manufacturing especially efficient products. I would suggest that the relatively tight efficiency regulations in Germany – in the construction sector, for example – and long-term energy price developments have contributed to German companies having the edge when it comes to high-efficiency HVACR systems.” Compton adds that German manufacturers can capitalise on the growing awareness of climate change and tighter efficiency regulations to further drive their growth. “With
awareness of climate change increasing globally, and most markets introducing tighter efficiency regulations, German manufactures are well placed to meet global demand.” Manufacturers are leveraging the expertise gained from the significant investment directed towards R&D by transferring their knowledge to other parts of the world, particularly in the Middle East, which they have long recognised as a vital market. Daniealak, sharing project references across the world, names current projects such as Tencent Headquarter in Beijing, the Abu Dhabi Plaza in Astana, the Huamin Park in Moscow, the Business Center in Vienna as well as the Andreasturm in Zurich. “I clearly see a great potential for our customers from the Middle East region,” he adds. Kasprowicz also makes a case for the strong presence of TROX in the GCC region, citing the deployment of TROX’s
air-distribution technology at the Dubai Opera House. The company, he points out, has also been involved in a number of other venues, such as the Opera Muscat; the National Museum Doha; the Museum of Islamic Art, Doha; The Ittihad Museum in Dubai, the Louvre in Abu Dhabi and many stadium projects. Similarly, Bogers remarks that Siemens Building Technologies is developing the technologies needed for the future and making them market-ready. “Innovative nations in the Middle East and in Europe,” he says, “are learning from each other’s vision and ambition and adapting these technologies to local conditions.”
HAVE YOUR SAY! We welcome your views on the article. Write to editor@cpi-industry.com
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Etihad ESCO signs retrofit agreement with Dubai Airports Project expected to annually save 20% in energy consumption, says DEWA Chief; would involve the retrofitting of chillers and pumps, among other features, says CEO of Etihad ESCO By Benwen Lopez | Assistant Editor
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nder a recently signed agreement, Etihad Energy Services Company (Etihad ESCO) will be retrofitting Dubai International Airport, as well as the Dubai International Airport Hotel at Concourse B, said DEWA (Dubai Electricity & Water Authority). The MoU was signed on the sidelines of the Water Electricity Technology and Environment Exhibition (WETEX) on October 25, 2017. Speaking on the development, H.E. Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Vice Chairman of Dubai Supreme Council of Energy and Managing Director and CEO of DEWA, said: “The agreement supports the Demand Side Management Strategy 2030 to reduce electricity and water demand by 30% by 2030. We are pleased to cooperate with Dubai Airports in this strategic project, in line with our objectives to reduce carbon emissions.” Al Tayer further added that the retrofit project would enable Dubai Airports to annually save 20% in energy consumption. Sharing further details with Climate Control
H.E. Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer
Ali Al Jassim
Middle East, Ali Al Jassim, CEO of Etihad ESCO, said: “The Dubai Airports retrofit project is the largest in the region, worth over AED 100 million. We would be retrofitting the chillers, HVAC system, lighting and pumps, and we would also be adopting other energy-conservation measures.” Al Jassim added that the project is slated for completion by mid-2019. Meanwhile, Etihad ESCO has also signed an agreement to provide energy-efficient solutions to 34 facilities belonging to Dubai Police. For further details, please visit climatecontrolme.com
EGBC Congress discusses strategies for promoting sustainable built-environments Policies and programmes are not enough, people have to share leadership, says Holley Chant
By Hannah Jo Uy | Features Writer
Holley Chant
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Saeed Al Abbar
he Emirates Green Building Council (EmiratesGBC) on October 17 and 18 held its 6th Annual Congress under the theme, “Urban Energy – Powering Smart, Happy and Efficient Cities”, in Dubai. Holley Chant, Executive Director of Corporate Sustainability, KEO International Consultants and Congress Moderator, said: “The Emirates Green Building Council creates a space every year, at the Congress and in smaller events throughout the year, where people have a safe forum to discuss how we can
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make a reality out of the goals of the Emirates, also in [view of] the Paris agreement. From a government leadership point of view I think we’ve heard today that there are a lot of policies and really good programmes that have been implemented. The reason the discussion is so critical is because policies and programmes are not enough, people have to share leadership.” Saeed Al Abbar, Chairperson, Emirates Green Building Council, spoke on sustainable buildings being the focal point and on the need to formulate roadmaps. “Energy is an important part of the challenges of climate change,” he said, adding that it is important for stakeholders to turn this into an opportunity to move forward. Chant said: “The discussion is important, because I think everyone who lives in this part of the world works extremely hard, the pace is very fast, economic challenges exist and it’s really easy to stop thinking innovatively, stop thinking boldly and stop having the courage to be controversial in what you propose or pursue. This kind of forum creates discussion for that.” Sharing her observations on the evolution of the country with regard to its national goals, Chant said that over the years, she has seen a constant demonstration of progress both in the policy and uptake in policy that cascades down to other sectors.
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ASHRAE standards in Arabic Translation of ASHRAE Standard 62.1 nearing completion, says UAE Falcon Chapter By Hannah Jo Uy | Features Writer
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SHRAE has announced that it is currently in the process of translating its standards into Arabic. Dr Ahmed Alaa Eldin Mohamed, ASHRAE’s Assistant Regional Chair, shared the news exclusively with Climate Control Middle East, adding that the initiative was spearheaded by Osama Khayata, Vice Chair – Government Grassroots Advocacy Committee (GGAC) at the ASHRAE Falcon Chapter, following a survey he conducted to ascertain demand for the standards to be available in Arabic, among stakeholders in the Middle
East region. Khayata said, “I found that many of my Arabic colleagues face some problems understanding the standards in English.” This prompted him to suggest a translation of ASHRAE’s most important standards, which was well received by the Society. “We started translating ASHRAE Standard 62.1 for ventilation,” he said, “which is also a code in Dubai. Approximately we [have] finished about 80% of this standard.” Khayata said the first standard will be submitted by November and estimated that it will be released at the beginning of 2018. “When we finish, then we will start [translating] another standard, like
ASHRAE 55, ASHRAE 90.1. I hope that in 2018, we will be able to finish three standards.” In addition to Dr Mohamed and Khayata, the team facilitating the translation includes Khaled Al Katheeri, Vice Chair – GGAC and Azmi AboulHoda, Publicity Chair and CTTC (Chapter Technology Transfer Committee) Vice Chair. Al Katheeri stressed that the translation will play a crucial role in ASHRAE’s move to promote a more sustainable built-environment in the region. “There are already ASHRAE standards referenced in local codes in
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Step not only saves energy but also yields greater savings over a period of time, says company official By Benwen Lopez | Assistant Editor
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rundfos on October 9 hosted a technical seminar in Dubai that highlighted retrofit opportunities for pumps. Explaining the importance of retrofitting pumps, Tolga Tolga Candan Candan, Business Development Manager, Energy Optimization & Retrofitting at Grundfos, said that whenever building and villa owners choose to retrofit their pumps, they not only reduce energy usage, but they also see high savings over a period of time, owing to the build-up of energy efficiency. Offering an example of a retrofit project, Candan said: “We retrofitted the pumps of the air conditioning system at the
Abu Dhabi and Dubai, in particular,” he said, “and having this will really help the local [community] to include even more standards from ASHRAE.” Further touching on public sector engagement, Al Katheeri said that the GGAC is looking at collaborations with government entities to explain the standards and provide guidance and insight on their applications, as well as advise on any revisions as the standards are periodically updated. Aboul-Hoda spoke on the difficulty of translating technical subject matters against the backdrop of ASRAE’s global vision. “In the UAE and many countries’ around the Arab world, we use English in our business communication,” he said. “So, finding the correct term of these words in Arabic is one of the challenges we are facing, and we are continuing to face, until we finish this task.” Aboul-
Hoda emphasised that with Arabic considered the fifth most popular language in the world, the translation effort supported by ASHRAE reflects its vision to become more global, especially following the recent opening of the global training centre in Dubai, which is the first outside the United States. Dr. Mohamed made a case for the need for Arabic translation in the region, especially in countries such as Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Syria, saying it would help a lot in reinforcing ASHRAE standards to all policy makers in the Arab countries.
Sheraton Dubai Mall of the Emirates Hotel. In this particular case, although our pumps were installed in the facility, the contractor had bypassed the main CU351 controller and directly connected the pumps to the building management system, thus making our variable frequency drives (VFDs) merely soft start and soft stop. “We rectified the problem by connecting the pumps to our controller and running a 500-metre cable from our DP sensor, located on the 25th floor of the building, to the pumps in the basement. We also replaced the CU351 controller with the CU352 controller, fitted with an added communication IP module CIM 500, and the VFDs were connected individually to the CU352.” He further explained that initially, the air conditioning system was running on two pumps of 75 kW, which consumed 25 kW each, but after the retrofit implementation, the hotel needed only one pump that consumed 26 kW, and the same level of comfort was maintained. Candan added that the entire retrofit process resulted in a reduction of energy usage by 576 kWh, and the savings were estimated to be AED 90,000 annually. Speaking on the challenges faced in the pump retrofit market, Candan added: “There appears to be some scepticism about energy savings and the return on investment from retrofitting of pumps, and we are trying to overcome these hurdles through awareness programmes. However, there are some clients who are brave enough to carry out energy checks and retrofit their systems.” Another hurdle in the GCC region, he cited, was the overspecification and installation of over-size pumps, and this particular practice, he said, drives up the energy usage and costs.
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Mafna advocates customised manufacturing approach in the GCC region CEO says the onus is on manufacturers to provide tailor-made HVAC solutions; highlights geo-thermal air conditioning equipment, developed for Saudi Aramco By Hannah Jo Uy | Features Writer
afna Air Technologies Canada announced that it is bringing its customised engineering and manufacturing approach in the design of tailor-made HVAC equipment to the GCC region, during its official launch on October 2, in Dubai. Salman Akhtar, CEO, spoke on the limited solutions being offered in the industry, emphasising that manufacturers must provide tailor-make solutions to address the unique and particular needs of the client. Akhtar conducted a technical seminar, presenting project references and highlighting the geo-thermal air conditioning solution the company provided to Saudi Aramco. Akhtar said that initially, Mafna was a little hesitant about entering the market, owing to prevailing mind-sets. However, Akhtar said, compared to the United States, which favours the standard model, he found that the nature of progress in the UAE is, in fact, one that cultivates diversity. “The people do demand what they need,” he said. “The problem is when it comes to engineering
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and technical products – their hands are tied, because manufacturers are saying ‘no’.” This encouraged Akhtar to bring the solutions the company has been developing in the United States and Canada to the region. Since entering the market a year and a half ago, Akhtar said, Mafna has found a strong reception in the UAE and Saudi Arabia. “We are getting a lot of response,” he said. “As you can see, Aramco, one of the frontrunner oil companies in the industry, immediately grabbed us, because they had problems they were living with for many years.” Talking about the unique nature of the project, Akhtar explained that Mafna had to deal with issues of corrosion, refrigerant leaks, the high-ambient temperature in the country as well as the high-risk environment of the refinery. Mafna, he said, took these into account and provided geo-thermal air conditioning, which became operational earlier this year. Akhtar said that the results were positive and helped them secure a number of projects with the company. Broadly speaking on the importance of such an approach in the industry, Akhtar
said that it was time to do away with the widely prevalent copy-paste culture, which he added, was owing to the fact that in most projects a lot of the responsibility lies with the engineering team, which is not able to demand the specifications it needs. In cases where it is able to do so, the manufacturers cannot or will not adapt to the demand. “So, when we approach them, they certainly wake up,” he said. “It’s a fresh thought that some manufacturers are willing to listen.” In addressing this demand, Akhtar emphasised that there is a lot of creativity in what Mafna does and that each design is one of a kind. “We are actually known in the industry as equipment architect.” he said. Like an architect, Akhtar said, no two buildings are the same, as each owner will have a different demand. Similarly, as an architect does not know what the next design will be until the next project, Mafna is also adapting to the demand of each new client that comes with a set of problems. “We don’t know when the next equipment will have some similar features,” he said, adding that it is for this reason Mafna is always innovating, especially in terms of geometry and architecture.
BELIMO to join Eurovent Middle East
Manufacturer of actuator and valve technology says the motivation for joining the association comes from a need to promote a coordinated approach towards standardisation, legislation and public initiatives By CCME Content Team ELIMO, which manufactures actuator and valve technology in heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems, is set to join the Eurovent Middle East association in a further move to underline its ‘Swiss Quality’ principles in the GCC region, the company said through a Press communiqué. According to the communiqué, BELIMO has been setting standards in HVAC actuator and valve technology since 1975. With BELIMO Automation FZE in Dubai, and with entities located in Qatar and Saudi Arabia, the Switzerland-headquartered company has been serving customers across the Middle East region for more than a decade, the company said. It offers a complete range of products from one source, with a five-year warranty on its entire product range, the company added through the communiqué.
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MEFMA report: Saudi FM market to reach USD 49.82 bn by 2030 The report looks into several ways by which FM companies could significantly contribute to Saudi Arabia’s socio-economic expansion By CCME Content Team
he Middle East Facility Management Association (MEFMA) has forecast the value of Saudi Arabia’s facilities management (FM) market to reach USD 49.82 billion by the end of 2030. The statement is part of a report commissioned by MEFMA. Jamal Abdulla Lootah The expected growth, the report said, can be attributed to key drivers that include steadily booming real estate, tourism and retail sectors. The report, titled ‘Facilities Management Role in Achieving Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030’, which investigates the industry’s pivotal function in the Saudi Government’s long-term economic diversification plan, was released on the sidelines of the recently concluded Saudi Arabia Confex 2017 in Riyadh. Saudi Arabia has the largest market for FM services in the GCC region to date, accounting for a value share of about 55% in the region’s FM market in 2016. The report was completed by TechSci Research. Jamal Abdulla Lootah, President of MEFMA, said: “Saudi Vision 2030 is an all-encompassing economic framework that focuses on its nonoil sectors, including real estate, tourism and retail, to name a few, to help reduce its
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reliance on oil revenues. Part of its objectives is to boost government revenues from USD 159.99 billion in 2016 to USD 1866.52 billion by 2030. The non-oil sectors are forecasted to experience significant expansion in the coming years, in light of the government’s full support and commitment to drive their growth.” The report looks into several ways by which FM companies could significantly contribute to Saudi Arabia’s socio-economic expansion. FM companies, it said, help increase the competitiveness of the local commercial and industrial enterprises by enabling businesses to focus on their core operations. Additionally, capital infused by global FM companies could further catalyse growth in the local services sector and, thus, generate considerable employment opportunities. The report also states that the expansion of small-to-medium-scale FM providers will help stimulate the development and promotion of KSA’s small and medium enterprises.
David Stevenson, Managing Director of BELIMO Automation FZE, said: “We very much look forward to working with Eurovent Middle East and its members with an aim to work towards a lower energy demand, a coordinated approach towards standardisation, legislation, public initiatives and events. It will also provide us with a much-needed networking platform that brings the region’s HVACR industry leaders together. We will look forward to participate in the upcoming HVACR Leadership Workshops, where BELIMO can showcase and discuss some of their market-leading and innovative product solutions.”
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Majid Al Futtaim and Enova unveil net-positive strategy Project to bring in savings of AED 80 million over the next 20 years, says Enova CEO By Benwen Lopez | Assistant Editor
nZEB trend gathers steam in the GCC region Industry insider believes technology maturity and greater awareness among end-users will prove to be key factors for the progress of nZEB in the region By Benwen Lopez | Assistant Editor
s the nearly zero energy buildings (nZEB) trend builds up in the GCC region, consumers need to have a better understanding and become more aware of its high returns, said Christos Mimikopoulos, Executive Director – Solar, Etihad Energy Services.
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Ibrahim Al Zu’bi
Anne Le Guennec
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ajid Al Futtaim and Enova have unveiled their net-positive strategy that aims to slash water use and create more energy than it consumes by 2040, said Ibrahim Al Zu’bi, Head of Sustainability at Majid Al Futtaim Holding. Al Zu’bi was speaking at a media round-table discussion on October 17, in Dubai, and was joined by Anne Le Guennec, CEO at Enova, and Ghaith Shocair, CEO, Shopping Malls at Majid Al Futtaim Properties. Sharing details about the strategy, Al Zu’bi said: “The net-positive strategy is a new mechanism of environmental sustainability, which just means to give more than you can take when it comes to the environment. It covers two main issues, and they are CO2 emissions and water, and we want to do our best to reduce our environmental impact and maximise our socio-economic impact. “We do not want to be just efficient, but we have decided to be net-positive by 2040. We plan to make our buildings not only carbon neutral but will also be producing renewable and clean energy. We already have audited our data, and we know precisely our carbon footprint. The next step would be to reduce our impact, and in the third phase, we will begin to make a positive contribution by integrating renewable solar, wherever possible, so that we can reach our target by 2040.” Speaking on the role of Enova, Le Guennec said that as part of the partnership, her team has already installed a portable solar plant at three malls belonging to Majid Al Futtaim, and by 2017, Mirdif City Centre, Mall of the Emirates and Fujairah City Centre would be equipped with 12,500 solar panels, with a coverage of 25,000 square metres that would produce 6,000 MW of power, yearly. The entire project would bring in savings of AED 80 million over the next 20 years. Speaking on the response from the retail partners, Shocair said: “The response from our retail partners has been very positive towards these initiatives and, through the joint partnership, new levels of standards and guidelines have been established towards achieving our target. It is just about bringing in a change in what they were doing, like procuring recycled paper. Through such practices, we want to push the envelope.” Al Zu’bi added that the shopping mall teams at Majid Al Futtaim have developed a star rating system for retail partners and a fit-out training guide. The system, he said, is mainly focussed on energy and water efficiency and indoor air quality. Training would be imparted to the staff to work towards this goal, and stars would be awarded to the best retail partner who has achieved the target. And currently the policy for MAF shopping malls is that retail partners must achieve a minimum of three-star ratings that focus on indoor air quality, water and energy efficiency, capacity building and engagement for their staff.
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Christos Mimikopoulos
Mimikopoulos said that end-users need to become more comfortable with the risk-reward of the nZEB profile for them to grow more confident in investing towards it. He pointed out that over a period of time, the technologies will become more mature, and the costs will come down, thus making the nZEB trend more economically attractive, enabling the region to harness its results. Speaking on how nZEBs will grow in the UAE, Saeed Al Abbar, Chairperson of Emirates Green Building Council, pointed to the evolution of building codes in the country over decades. nZEB will progress, as it is considered vital. Also, it conforms to the UAE Vision 2021 and UAE Energy Strategy 2050.
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Blueair launches air purifiers for UAE market Company showcases IAQ solutions, which it says, are embedded with HEPASilent technology By Benwen Lopez | Assistant Editor
weden-based Blueair on November 8 introduced its range of air purifiers for the UAE market at a launch ceremony in Dubai. Explaining the features of the air purifiers, Girish Bapat, Director West & South Asia region, Blueair, said: “Our products are designed to help people breathe as nature intended, which is clean air. The latest range is based on HEPASilent technology, which can remove 99.7% of all airborne particles, such as dust, bacteria, mould, volatile organic compounds and other harmful elements, which measure up to 0.1-micron in size.� Elaborating on the filtration cycle, he said the machine sucks in the polluted air, eliminates the harmful particles, which
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includes gaseous elements, and releases the clean air into the room. The machines are designed for rooms as big as 1,200 square feet and have a capacity to clean the entire volume of air in a room within 12 minutes. Sharing details on the smart feature models, Bapat added that the Classic Generation range of air purifiers are IoTcompatible and fitted with smart sensors, which can be synchronised to the Blueair Friend app, which would provide the user information on the type of indoor air quality (IAQ) in real time, and enable them to control the machine, even if they are not present in the facility. The app would also provide information on the outdoor air quality, such as the pollution
levels in different places, Bapat further added. Speaking on the certification of the products in the UAE, T.R. Ganesh, General Manager, Blueair Middle East, said the product range launched for the UAE market, has been certified by the Emirates Authority for Standardization and Metrology (ESMA). Highlighting the B2B strategy, Bapat said the company would be working with local channel partners to distribute its products. He added that one of the market challenges is the poor level of awareness on IAQ, which is of paramount importance in the GCC region. He said the general perception is that the outdoor air quality is always more harmful than IAQ.
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Emicool among winners of 3rd Emirates Energy Award District Cooling utility among 33 winners of the Award, which attracted participation from Middle East & North Africa and from Europe and the Americas By CCME Content Team
Winners of the 3rd Emirates Energy Award
AE-based District Cooling utility, Emirates District Cooling (Emicool) was among the winners of the 3rd Emirates Energy Award (EEA) for raising the bar on energy efficiency. Sanela Habbab, Chief Operating Officer of Emicool, received the Award on behalf of the utility at a glittering ceremony, hosted by the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy on October 24 in Dubai. The event was organised concurrently with the fourth edition of The World Green Economy Summit (WGES). It saw the attendance of leading energy professionals, who came together under one roof to recognise and celebrate the achievements of the winners. The prestigious ceremony was also graced by the patronage and presence of H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Supreme Council of Energy. Organised under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Dubai, under the theme of “Innovative Solutions for Clean Energy”, EEA aims to encourage the rationalised use of energy and resources. The award also aims to highlight best practices and pioneering work in energy efficiency, alternative energy, sustainability and protecting the environment. Speaking on the occasion, H.E. Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Vice Chairman of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy and President of Emirates Energy Award, said the 2017 edition attracted wide participation from countries across the Middle East and North Africa and from Europe and the United States. He
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H.E. Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer
Sanela Habbab
added that the participation exceeded expectations with the number of entries almost doubling to 210, compared to 112 in the previous cycle. Al Tayer said: “Emirates Energy Award reflects the UAE’s strategy to promote innovation that helps the country achieve the UAE Centennial 2071 and reinforce the country’s leadership in all fields. The Award meets the futuristic vision of the wise leadership, which leads to sustainable prosperity in the post-oil future of the UAE. Taking this as an opportunity, I’d like to congratulate all the winners for their outstanding contributions to energy efficiency. Their remarkable work has not only guided us to unlimited innovation and progress, but has also driven us closer to our goals of protecting our planet and ensuring sustainable development for generations to come.” Other winners included Abu Dhabi Carbon Capture Company (UAE), Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (UAE), Moroccan Agency for Energy Efficiency (AMEE – Morocco), Diamond Developers Co. Ltd. (UAE) and The Hashemite University (Jordan).
Heat for #districtenergy should come from #SolarEnergy, UK citizens say. Meet us at #Heat2017 and check out our report http://communicationworks. eu/eng/uk-district-heatingreport/ … for more!
Communication Works @ Comms_Works
UAE demonstrates radical move towards sustainability, says Carboun Company official says country’s target of 75% reduction of emissions by 2050 is ‘impressive and steep’ by regional standards By Hannah Jo Uy | Features Writer
he UAE has demonstrated a radical move towards sustainability. This was the observation Karim Elgendy, Architect and Sustainable Consultant, Carboun, shared with Climate Control Middle East as he spoke on the progress he has seen across the GCC region over the past decade. “In the last two years, we have seen this radical transformation in the UAE,” he said. “This comes all the way from high-level policy to regulations, and
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What is the UAE doing to combat global warming?
to different individual sector policies. It’s all moving in the same direction.” Elgendy said that UAE’s target of cutting emissions by 75% by 2050 is “an impressive and steep reduction by regional standards”. Elgendy added that though there is a palpable move among countries in the GCC region to improve their renewable energy capacity, the reason for this stems mostly from the inefficiencies of burning oil and gas that these countries are meant to be exporting, though it also has a carbonabatement impact.
Clean energy target to be achieved by 2021, raised to 27%, says UAE Minister By Benwen Lopez | Assistant Editor
H.E. Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi
.E. Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment, revealed to Climate Control Middle East that several efforts are being made by the UAE, especially in the energy sector, to combat global warming. Sharing further details of the initiatives, Dr Al Zeyoudi said that originally, the clean energy target, which was submitted to the Paris Agreement, was 21%, but now, that target has been raised to 27%, which will be achieved by 2021. The other initiative, he said, was the recently announced concentrated solar power project, at US 7.3 cents per kWh, and the 800MW solar PV project in Dubai, at US 2.99 cents per kWh.
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Climate change mitigation high on Dubai’s agenda, says government official Samira Al Rais, Director of Policy and Strategy Sustainable Development, the General Secretariat of the Executive Council, outlines the projects for 2017 By Hannah Jo Uy | Features Writer limate change adaptation and mitigation are high on Dubai’s agenda, said Samira Al Rais, Director of Policy and Strategy Sustainable Development, the General Secretariat of the Executive Council, emphasising this in the context of the city’s participation in the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group (C40), a network of large and engaged cities from around the world taking action to reduce greenhouse gases. Speaking against the backdrop of the 6th Annual
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Samira Al Rais
EmiratesGBC Congress, on October 17, Al Rais outlined four high-priority sectors listed on the agenda of the Dubai government for 2017, which were assigned to different entities. The Dubai Climate Change Adaptation Plan is one of the sectors. Al Rais said the Executive Council expected this to be finalised and launched by Q1 2018. A heat island mapping exercise is another sector of activity. The Dubai Municipality, she said, is working on developing the island mapping exercise. The third is an Integrated Coastal Management Strategy. Al Rais said the Council will launch the full strategy by the end of 2017. The fourth is an Internationally Compliant Greenhouse Gas Inventory, which she said, is being developed by the Supreme Council of Energy, the result of which, she added, will be presented by Q4 2017. Al Rais also announced that Dubai is now a member of the C40 Steering Committee and is representing the South Asia and West Asia regions to become a role model in supporting the implementation of the Paris Agreement objectives. Al Rais added that cities that are part of C40 are aware that climate change is happening, emphasising that the cost of inaction “is staggering”.
Iconic buildings trigger awareness of importance of commissioning: AESG Company official says The Opus project focused on human comfort, energy efficiency, and fire and life safety By Hannah Jo Uy | Features Writer
ESG believes that iconic projects serve as a trigger for the industry to build awareness on the importance of commissioning. This was the view Scott Coombes, Director, shared with Climate Control Middle East, while speaking against the backdrop of the company’s work on The Opus, a commercial tower in the heart of Business Bay district that was designed by award-winning architect, the late Zaha Hadid. “I think the commissioning will add unbelievable value to this project, in terms of the life cycle [by] reducing operational cost and improving the ease and cost of operation and maintenance, for the landlord and the tenants,” he said. Gary Williams, Director, added that the company’s work on the project was primarily focused on executing the client’s focus on human comfort, energy efficiency, and fire and life safety.
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Tabreed’s stock certified as Shari’acompliant Certification would further enhance investor base, says CEO By CCME Content Team
ational Central Cooling Company (Tabreed) has announced that its stock is now certified as Shari’a-compliant, the company said through a Press communiqué. According to the communiqué, the Islamic Banks’ Unified Committee for Shari’a Screening, has now included Tabreed on its list of Shari’a compliant companies on the Dubai Financial Market,
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Scott Coombes
Jasim Thabet
and Islamic banks’ brokerage companies can now trade the stock. Speaking on the occasion, Jasim Husain Thabet, CEO of Tabreed, said: “We are proud of the certification of Tabreed’s stock as Shari’a compliant for investment and trading. This certification enables existing and new shareholders with a preference for Shari’a-compliant financial instruments to trade in Tabreed’s shares, thus further widening the potential investor base for Tabreed. A broader potential investor base can only assist in increasing liquidity for Tabreed’s shares.”
Gary Williams
Coombes said projects such as The Opus that push the boundaries, pave the way for other projects to encourage an approach that will further optimise the handover process of the project from the construction team to the clients. “We are very fortunate in this project to have an educated client with a very good design team that was very aware of what they wanted in terms of commissioning,” he said. “This is not common place, so we were able to come on and really add value, and others were also able to see value in what we are giving.” Williams added that the building owner “did everything possible” to ensure streamlined operations by employing the right people and bringing on board a third-party commissioning [firm] to ensure all specifications were executed, despite the cost. Coombes touched on the inherent architectural challenges that come up in the construction of unique buildings such as The Opus, which bears a unique façade. Providing an example, Coombes said that in The Opus, every floor has a completely different design, inevitably impacting the design of fire sprinklers, ducting and MEP equipment. Williams weighed in, “The skill is how to deal with those issues; you can’t just brick wall it.” Williams said the distinctive skill set required to handle the particular requirements of such projects reinforces the need for greater education to help stakeholders recognise the value of commissioning and move away from the copy-and-paste approach prevalent in the industry. This, Coombes added, is what drives the case for bespoke solutions over the ‘desk-based approach’ to commissioning, emphasising the need for on-site presence.
DEWA expands Honeywell’s role in Dubai smart meter project Initiative part of DEWA’s strategy to install one million smart meters across Dubai by 2020, says company official By Benwen Lopez | Assistant Editor
ubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has entered into an agreement with Honeywell to deliver smart meters in Dubai, said Rob Tupker, Vice President and General Manager – Europe, Middle East and Africa, Honeywell Smart Energy. The agreement was signed on the sidelines of WETEX 2017 on October 23. Sharing details of the agreement, Tupker said: “Earlier, we supplied 250,000 smart meters, but with this new agreement we will be supplying an additional 150,000 smart meters. This initiative is part of DEWA’s smart energy strategy to install one million smart meters across Dubai by 2020.” Explaining the benefits of the smart meters, he said that with the units, facility management companies and consumers can access detailed and automatic readings of their current and past electricity usage, thus enabling them to smartly control the bills, which would eventually reduce the load on the grid.
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"Poor indoor air quality has a reported annual cost to the UK of over 204,000 healthy life years” National Institute for Health and Welfaret
My Health My Home @MyHealthMyHome
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Training programmes needed to boost the community, says Rubberworld Managing Director notes demand from consultants and contractors
Leminar inks MoU with Canada’s Flo Fab UAE company will be exclusive distributor of North America-based company’s products in the UAE, Qatar and Kuwait
By Hannah Jo Uy | Features Writer By CCME Content Team
eminar Air Conditioning Company has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Canada-headquartered Flo Fab for the distribution of a range of its products in the UAE, Qatar and Kuwait, the company said through a Press communiqué. With the signing of the agreement, Leminar’s portfolio now includes 20 unique brands and consolidates its position as the supplier of the widest range of HVAC offerings for the region’s MEP industry, Leminar claimed through the communiqué. Leminar will supply Flo Fab’s range of pumps, heat exchangers, suction diffusers, expansion tanks, hydraulic separators, air separators and variable frequency drives (VFDs) to the market. Marc Gauvreau, President, Flo Fab, said: “Over the years, Flo Fab has steadily engineered new solutions and improved its existing products through meaningful acquisitions and investments. As a result, we have some quality products to offer to the commercial building projects in the region. Leminar, with its technically competent team and clear VRF Making understanding of market needs, will be the Inroads in key driver of our success in the region in the Hospital, Intensive coming years.” Care Markets: Pramodh Idicheria, Chief Operating Variable refrigerant Officer, Leminar Air Conditioning Company, flow (VRF) systems are said: ”We are a hardworking team and becoming ... believe in giving our best to both our partners and clients. Flo Fab’s expertise in the commissioning of the complete chilled water system, in particular, will offer greater cost efficiencies for our clients, in addition Cursos/Refrigeração to its range of products.” @renovacao_
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Muzamil Shaikhani
uzamil Shaikhani, Managing Director, Rubberworld, emphasised the need for MEPrelated training programmes in the GCC region, noting that such programmes will boost the general community and raise the standards in Dubai and the UAE as a whole. Shaikhani shared that Rubberworld has witnessed such a demand first hand. “We have these consultants and contractors who ask for initial help in the designing and consulting phase,” he said. Shaikhani made these comments against the backdrop of the opening of ASHRAE’s new global training centre, on September 19 in Dubai. Calling the ASHRAE initiative as a good one, he said it would greatly help the community on aspects where stakeholders lack knowledge.
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DEWA Chief highlights benefits of CSP for HVAC industry CSP project geared towards reducing emissions and improving energy efficiency, says DEWA Chief By Benwen Lopez | Assistant Editor
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he Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has awarded Saudi Arabia’s ACWA Power the project to develop the recently announced 700MW concentrated solar power (CSP) plant in Dubai. “This project is part of our clean energy strategy for the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park being built with CSP technology and will be completed by 2020,” said H.E. Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Managing Director and CEO of DEWA. Al Tayer further added the CSP project would help in reducing the emissions and improve the energy efficiency bar for District Cooling plants, HVAC manufacturers and also for end-users.
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Sathisha Shetty wins ENOC Energy Award Receives honour in the presence of representatives from Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, DEWA and ENOC By CCME Content Team
Sathisha Shetty receives the Award from H.E. Saif Humaid Al Falasi, Group Chief Executive Officer, ENOC and Dr Waddah Ghanem Al Hashmi, Executive Director, EHSSQ & Corporate Affairs and Chairman, ENOC E&RM Technical Committee
athisha Shetty, Project Engineer (MEP), Group Engineering & Projects, Shared Services Center at Emirates National Oil Company Limited (ENOC), on October 17 won the ‘Energy Award – Best Energy Technical Committee Member; Most Engaged, Transparent and Personally Committed Executive’ from ENOC Group. He received the honour at a glittering ceremony at Hyatt Regency Creek Heights, Dubai. Dignitaries and guests included representatives from the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, ENOC EXCOM, DEWA, Dubai Carbon Centre, ENOC E&RM Steering Committee and ENOC E&RM Technical Committee.
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ME sees increase in energy demand at 8% per year Industry insider says the use of renewable energy, reduction of CO2 emissions and improvement of energy efficiency are top priorities for the UAE By Benwen Lopez | Assistant Editor
onsidering the challenge of natural resource scarcity in the Middle East, the demand for energy is spiralling up at the rate of eight per cent per year, which is faster than India, China and Brazil, said Anne Le Guennec, CEO at Enova. Le Guennec added that the recent dip in oil prices had compelled governments in the GCC region states to roll out strategies, such as the UAE Energy Vision Strategy 2050 and the Saudi Vision 2030, to deal with the challenging issues in the GCC region. Highlighting one of the objectives of the UAE Energy Vision Strategy 2050, she said, “The use of renewable energy, the reduction of CO2 emissions and the improvement of energy efficiency by 40% are top priorities for the UAE.” Explaining how the cost of solar technology has reduced over the last couple of years, Le Guennec said that in 2015, the solar plant
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belonging to the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority was the lowest at the time, with a price of US 5.85 cents per kWh. In 2016, a similar deal was signed at a rate of US 2.29 cents per KWh. In early October, Saudi Arabia announced the lowest bidder for a new solar plant has been submitted at a price of US 1.79 cents per KWh. Speaking of available solar solutions offered by Enova, Le Guennec said: “Our models are based on three innovative and flexible models. The first option is where the client covers the full investment for the design-build and operation of the solar plant, while we implement the solution. The second option is when the client would pay us installments for the plant and become the owner after the energy performance contract. And the third option is where we own and operate the solar power plant and sell the energy produced at a discounted price in comparison to the electricity tariff.”
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Rheem launches low-height air handlers in the GCC region Company also showcases its outdoor condensing units, up to 3 TR capacity; says 5.5 TR would be available from Q1 2018 By B Surendar | Editor
Jeff Goss
eminar Air Conditioning on October 25 conducted a seminar in Dubai to launch Rheem’s range of low-height air handlers and to showcase the US-headquartered manufacturer’s outdoor condensing units in the GCC region. The outdoor units are available from 1.5 tonnes of refrigeration (TR) to 3 TR. They will be available in the range starting from 3.5 TR to 5.5 TR from Q1 2018. Jeff Goss, Senior Manager, Product Management and Business Development, Rheem, helmed the launch by making a presentation, titled, ‘360°+1 Design Philosophy at Work’, in which he said a 360-degree approach had been at the heart of Rheem since 2010, when the company started redesigning its HVAC products, with performance, serviceability, installability and integration as the core virtues. The virtues, he said, had helped the company meet the specific requirements of the GCC region, characterised by highambient conditions and a corrosive environment. Elaborating, Goss said Rheem’s emphasis on performance had resulted in a product with an EER exceeding 13 in T1 conditions, which he added, met Trakhees, Abu Dhabi Quality and Conformity Council (QCC) and ESMA standards and qualified for Estidama’s Pearl 2 rating. Goss added it was not enough to raise efficiency alone and that it was important to be mindful of capacity. “So for T3, we offer best-in-class capacities,” he said. “Our units have been tested across multiple ambients from 35 degrees C to 52 degrees C, which have been certified by UL.” Speaking on the longevity of the product and how it contributed to the performance, Goss said the cabinets, painted in polysterbased material, had passed through 1,008 hours of salt-spray-
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corrosion testing to ensure that a scratch or a chip in the unit, did not result in the corrosion spreading to the rest of the product. “This focus on durability is the reason why products installed here 30 years ago are still operating well,” Goss said. Speaking then on installability, Goss said such qualities as a sturdy cabinet, simplicity, convertible return air arrangement and flexibility in the drain connection contributed to ease of installation on site. Rheem’s focus on making the commissioning of the product as easy as possible, he added, meant easy hi/lo voltage hookup. Elaborating on the simple nature of the unit, he said the absence of complex electronics ensured reliability and no breakdown in operation. “No electronics, no harmonics, no downtime,” he said. Also the slim nature of the air handler, measuring 10.5 inches in height, even for 3TR capacity, helped ensure it could go easily into tight spaces, he said. The convertible return air arrangement, he added, was another important feature. “The feature enables easy conversion from vertical to horizontal orientation for ease of installation,” he said. “So where we have a space constraint, we can install and get proper flow to the product.” Goss said the new unit had provision for multiple filter options, in the form of separate locking spaces, which meant it allowed for installation of additional media, if needed. Switching focus to the long pipe length, as another important installation feature, Goss said the total equivalent piping up to 300 feet and a vertical separation up to 150 feet were the reasons behind the success story of Rheem’s installations in Sharjah, to name one place. “You can give an elegant look to the building and don’t need to install in the balcony,” he said. “It can be done in the roof or the basement.”
Tatung introduces its Smart Meters to the UAE Official shares company’s proactive efforts to penetrate MENA market By Hannah Jo Uy | Features Writer
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Turning his attention to serviceability, Goss spoke of how the ability to drop the filter from the bottom of the units was an important example of the thought Rheem had applied while making design decisions. He listed other features like ease of access to the electrical section through the service panel, ease of access of the drain pan through the bottom without disturbing the installation, and a removable fan deck, which gave blower motor access from the bottom. Pramodh Idicheria, Executive Director, Leminar, who held centrestage prior to Goss, spoke of how Leminar was the largest distributor of Rheem products outside of the United States. Leminar, he said, held AED 40 million worth of Rheem products at any given point in time in its 120,000 square feet of storage space across the UAE, thus ensuring it was never short of supplies. In his address, Idicheria listed out other brands that Leminar represented, including Armacell, Frese, Mueller and Weicco. He added that the company went beyond supplying products, though. “We do demand control ventilation, hydraulic calculation, pump room calculation, CFD calculation and heat-load calculation,” he said. “So we are not just a supplier but go beyond.”
atung, a Taiwan-based company, is introducing its smart meters to the UAE. Kevin Luo, Deputy General Manager, Tatung spoke of the company’s move to enter the local market. “This is our first time to bring our products here,” he said. “We are looking to address the needs of local markets across the GCC region and even
Africa.” Luo shared that Tatung provides comprehensive smart metering solutions to Taiwan Power Company, adding that while the company has strong presence in Taiwan it is still in the process of looking for local distributors in the UAE. “We are trying to cooperate with local contractors that will take care of installation, operation, maintenance and after-sales,” he said. “That’s our first approach to the market.” Luo shared that he believes there is a strong market for smart meters in the region owing to the public’s need for transparency. “The high accuracy of the smart meter is very important,” he said, “because that will ensure the precise billing of the consumption of each consumer in the residential, commercial and industrial sector.” Inaccurate logs of power consumption will radically impact the bill, he said, emphasising that smart meters allow consumers to monitor their consumption in real time and view accumulative records for each period.
USD 100 trillion required for climate change initiatives
Funds need to be used to build infrastructure system, says Zoë Knight of HSBC By Benwen Lopez | Assistant Editor
n investment of around USD 100 trillion is required to be spent over the next 15 years to fulfil climate change initiatives, said Zoë Knight, Managing Director and Group Head of HSBC’s Centre for Sustainable Finance. Knight was speaking at the World Green Economy Summit 2017, which was held from October 24 to 25 in Dubai. She said: “The funds would be used to build infrastructure systems that will enable us to achieve the targets of the Paris Agreement. Unlocking this capital is going to be a huge challenge for us all.” Knight added that although some
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corporations have an environmental strategy, governments must play a critical role by setting renewable efficiency targets and offer incentives to propel the change and achieve the climate change targets by the deadlines.
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LG introduces Multi V5 VRF system to the Gulf region Company highlights dual-sensing feature and Smart Load Control to meet fluctuations in latent load By Hannah Jo Uy | Features Writer
G introduced the Multi V5 VRF system to the UAE during its launch on October 25, in Dubai. Elaborating on the product, Dharmesh Sawant, Senior Manager, LG Electronics, said that the company has enhanced the efficiency of the Multi V5, adding that at T1 conditions, LG has improved the efficiency by five per cent to a COP of 4.46, while at T3 conditions, the COP is at 3.44, “which means a lower transformer size due to lower connected load”. Sawant also said that LG has increased part-load efficiency by nine per cent, to help lower electricity bills of consumers. The advantages, he said, were made possible owing to the dual-sensing feature, which takes into account humidity and temperature. Together with the Smart Load Control, the system changes the evaporation temperature to meet the fluctuations in the latent load, Sawant said. According to LG, the Smart Load Control makes it possible to effectively regulate outdoor unit discharge refrigerant temperature, and increase efficiency from 15 to 31%, depending on humidity conditions. Touching on innovations within the inverter compressor, Sawant said LG has increased the frequency range to operate from 10 Hz to 165 Hz, for compressor reliability at low cooling load, and enhanced its bearing system. Speaking on the importance of compressor lubrication,
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Sawant said LG has introduced smart oil management with sensors to ensure oil levels are maintained equally among multiple compressors. According to LG, the Large Capacity Outdoor unit features a biomimetic fan and a foursided heat exchanger, making it possible for a single ODU to reach 20 HP. Sawant added that increased shroud height in the Multi V5’s outdoor unit also helps further increase air flow rate in the condenser coil. The more compact design of the outdoor unit, Sawant said, provides developers with 29% more space, which can be used for landscaping or other utilities, and 30% reduction in weight. Sawant also said that LG has minimised noise level by 4-5 decibels through the night-silent-operation function. The last two features Sawant highlighted are the Ocean Black Fin heat exchanger and auto-dustremoval function. The former, he explained, increases the product’s life span by protecting it from corrosion, which emerged as a main concern among developers. The auto-dust-removal function, Sawant said, was retained and enhanced, owing to the positive response from clients in the Middle East, and
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Amjad Mansour Abu Alika
functions with the condenser fan rotating in the opposite direction to ensure removal of the dust accumulated on the condenser coil. Speaking on the viability of the Multi V5 for high-rise buildings, Amjad Mansour Abu Alika, Senior Manager, HVAC Engineering 1 Team, LG Electronics, said that it can be applied in G+30 buildings , with 110 metres vertical elevation between indoor and outdoor [units], and a 225-metre distance from the indoor to the farthest outdoor unit. Abu Alika added that in some projects in the UAE, LG has applied the technology to G+50 or G+60 projects by putting 50% of the machines on the roof, and the other 50% on the mechanical floor or parking area. Abu Alika shared that LG is proactive in coordinating with clients and consultants to explain VRF systems and help with the design through studies and comparisons, adding that the academy in Jebel Ali, in Dubai, aims to provide training support to help cultivate greater understanding and trigger a change in mind set among stakeholders. “This will not only help LG – it will help the VRF technology market as a whole,” he said. Abu Alika said that in the Middle East, Saudi Arabia, Iran and the Levant
Markus Lattner
region – namely Lebanon and Jordan – have witnessed strong penetration of VRF technology. Markus Lattner, Director, Eurovent Middle East, provided an international perspective with regard to the growing acceptance of VRF technology, during his speech congratulating LG on the new addition to its product line. “VRF systems and inverter technologies have proven their efficiency and advantages over fixed-speed, on/off generation and have gained almost 100% market share in countries like Japan and Korea and almost 80% market share among residential air conditioners in Europe, yet only around 30% in the Middle East,” he said. “With direct and real-time approach to cooling demands throughout the day and throughout the seasons, they mark the latest generation of highly efficient and reliable products for residential and commercial air conditioning.” Lattner added that Eurovent Middle East supports such technologies due to its lower energy consumption and the role it can play in helping achieve the sustainability targets set by various government policies, urging stakeholders to look towards the “advantages of the VRF system as a trusted forward-thinking technology”.
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Gulfood Manufacturing showcases cold chain solutions for f&B industry
Show features eclectic mix of local and international manufacturers in cold chain and transport refrigeration sector By Hannah Jo Uy | Features Writer
ulfood Manufacturing showcased cold chain solutions for the food and beverage industry. The event, which ran from October 31 to November 3, in Dubai, featured an eclectic mix of local and international manufacturers in the cold chain and transport refrigeration sector. According to the organisers, Gulfood drew the attendance of more than 35,000 visitors, and hosted more than 1,600 exhibitors from 60 countries across 30 national pavilions. The event featured new and regular exhibitors looking to position themselves in the local food and beverage sector. Pontus Grimberg, International Sales Director, Frico, a company specialising in air curtains, was one such newcomer. “It’s our first time [to participate], and it’s part of the focus area we have within cold storage,” he said. “Our aim is to meet developers, investors, even all of the manufacturers here, because everyone needs to have a cold storage and that plays well within our hands, because I think we can be part of every step in the food chain, from preventing leakage of cold air to preventing the food from getting ruined.” Sharing insights as a regular exhibitor, Rosy Salameh, Assistant Managing Director, Tiger Profiles and Insulation, said the company’s decision to participate for the third time was owing to the positive response it has earlier received. This, she said, was because visitors were surprised to find a warehouse facility manufacturer to create steel structures and cold stores, providing the company with the opportunity to position itself. “We are happy to see a lot of visitors we don’t usually see in other shows, from countries we don’t usually cater to,” she said. “Especially the African countries, and the fact that they’re here means that they’re serious about what they’re looking
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for, so for us this is a good way to filter the inquiries.” Dr Talat Haffar, Regional Sales Manager, Everest Industrial Group, Commercial Refrigerators, spoke of the company’s long-term participation in Gulfood to showcase its product range of beverage coolers. He said he is optimistic about the market and that currently, Saudi Arabia continues to be the UAE-based company’s biggest market for commercial fridges. Fevzi Kaplan, Foreign Trade Manager, Mopas Cold Storage Solutions and Eco Frigo, which makes refrigerated commercial vehicles, said that the Turkey-based company’s participation signals the company’s move to strengthen communication channels with stakeholders in the UAE and the greater MENA region. Although the company has previously supplied to the UAE, Kaplan said it is looking for suitable and reliable contacts to represent the company, locally. A number of international exhibitors across different pavilions also shared their eagerness to enter the UAE and GCC markets. Gianni Monai, Export Sales Manager, Friulinox, from the Italian pavilion, said the company, which specialises in refrigeration for catering and bakery industries, views the exhibition with particular interest, as it manufactures shock freezers and blast chillers, which are in demand
Scandinavian Cooling Systems introduces ammonia chillers in the UAE Company's Managing Director says easy commissioning and plug-and-play feature make them particularly attractive to the Middle East By Hannah Jo Uy | Features Writer candinavian Cooling Systems has introduced portable ammonia chillers to the UAE market. Lars-Olof Johansson, Managing Director, elaborated on the concept saying that they are prefabricated machine rooms built in a factory in Sweden to reduce installation time as well as to ensure fixed cost, delivery and quality. “It makes the commissioning easier,” he said. “It’s pretty much plug-and-play. The option of these portable chillers to be brought across any
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premises makes it particularly attractive to the Middle East.” This, he said, is largely owing to the unique business systems in the region that vastly differ from those in Europe. “In Dubai, unlike in Europe, some clients are renting not owning,” Johansson said. “They rent warehouses or offices. They can move somewhere else. So, they want to take as much as possible with them. This is very easy to install, very easy to lift up and take somewhere – it’s like moving a caravan. I
didn’t know that the psychological side of the concept, the fact that you can own it and bring it with you somewhere else, would have such a strong impact.” Johansson spoke against the backdrop of having just received two containerised ammonia chillers from Sweden, which are set to be operational in JAFZA South. Going deep into the topic of customer psychology in discussing the issue of transparency, he emphasised that though price is always an issue among consumers,
by growing number of hotels, restaurants and food factories. The demand for refrigeration from these industries, he said, prompted the company’s decision to exhibit for the second year. Amar Choudhary, Senior Key Account Manager, SAARC countries, Verbruggen Palletizing Solutions, spoke of the Hollandbased company’s solution in the context of thermal integrity, emphasising that the pallets help in air circulation, as well as in maintaining the quality of the product to ensure a reduction in losses. Omega Ice Hill showcased its heattransfer technology, which, Anil Agrawal, Managing Director, said, is crucial for processing, chilling and storing food products. He added that the company is looking to expand its presence in the UAE and wider Gulf region. Sebastien Comby, Chief Executive Officer, ACFRI, from the French pavilion, showcased the company’s product line of more environmentally friendly refrigerants which, he said, was recently launched globally. Currently, he said, ACFRI is supplying to the UAE as well as to Kuwait. “The reason why we are here is to make more contacts and find some distributors to develop this business,” he pointed out. Natalie De Saeger, Export Business Manager, JRI, which manufactures temperature-monitoring systems, said the company was aiming to introduce two new products in the UAE by the end of 2017 through its local distributor to help monitor and address temperature excursions in the cold chain.
ensuring transparency though various means will also have a veritable impact in their decision-making. As an example, Johansson said, the company gives customers the option of monitoring production on a daily basis by giving access to live cameras feeds, so they can track the quality and development of the product as it is being made. The 40-feet container, he explained, takes about 10-11 weeks in production, while the shipping time from Sweden to Dubai takes approximately three and a half weeks. Installation, he said, can be made in a short period of time, with a week for the connection of power and the piping system, as well as the commissioning. Johansson said pre-testing and pre-commissioning of controls and electrical systems are conducted in the factory in Sweden before the chillers are shipped. “When the system arrives,” he said, “we just connect the electrical power and turn on the breaker.”
Eurovent Middle East conducts commercial refrigeration workshop Leading experts emphasise food safety and cost savings through state-ofthe-art refrigeration technologies; highlight the value of cooler units and air curtains By Hannah Jo Uy | Features Writer
urovent Middle East conducted a workshop on commercial refrigeration on October 30 in Dubai. The event was the second edition of its ‘HVACR Leadership Workshops’. It featured speakers that spoke on trends and technological solutions that would allow the industry to remain compliant with emerging regulations and demands. Francesco Scuderi, Deputy Secretary General of the Eurovent Association, said: “Commercial refrigeration is highly important for the GCC region, as it puts an increasing focus on saving energy while ensuring food safety. The workshop discussions showed that there is a lot of unused potential in the UAE with standards not in line with the best available technologies and approaches. Furthermore, as seen during the workshop discussions on the Kigali Agreement, a lot of unjustified myths seem to exist concerning refrigerants, which deserve to be clarified in a wider framework.”
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Francesco Scuderi
Serdar Tumen
Pontus Grimberg
Serdar Tumen, Business Development Manager, Friterm, spoke on the influence of cooler units with regard to preventing moisture and aroma-loss in open-shelf products in cold storages. Tumen touched on the thermal performance and energy consumption of refrigerated display cabinets for supermarkets, according to ISO standards, delving into material selection and its applications, in an effort to underline the critical role that refrigeration companies play towards designing the appropriate cooling systems. “Aroma loss can be prevented by decreasing the temperature difference for the long cold storage products,” he pointed out. Tumen also spoke on the impact of varying room and evaporation temperatures, the necessary air flow, the influence of air speed on cooling and the importance of air circulation on the overall integrity of the products within the cold store. Pontus Grimberg, International Sales Director, Frico, spoke on how air curtains can help reduce energy consumption of cold rooms, urging participants to look at each building as a cold store to underline the importance of keeping conditioned air within the building – an issue recognised by Dubai Green Building Regulations, he stressed. “We can apply this to cold stores,” he said. “At an entrance, you have huge losses, heavy air rushing out and hot air entering. By introducing an air curtain, we can prevent this to a high degree.” Grimberg emphasised that integrating air curtains in the design of a cold store can lead to approximately 70-85% energy savings, provide comfort, improve indoor air quality and reduce cost. He noted it was also a more hygienic alternative to plastic strips and can help alleviate food waste by ensuring the thermal integrity of food items being stored. Scuderi noted that the positive response to the workshop, which drew close to 100 participants, signals market demand for such forums on specialised activities. The association announced that the next workshop, which will focus on Evaporative Cooling Equipment (Cooling Towers), will be organised in partnership with The Big 5 Dubai and will take place on November 28, at 2pm, as part of the exhibition’s parallel programme.
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NEWS GLOBAL
General awareness of building water system management increasing, says ASHRAE
Chigo launches CMV-T
Representative says Society is unsure if uptake is due to high-profile outbreaks or increasing wariness of potential liability for property owners
Company says the new VRF system will be deployed at two stadia projects for FIFA WC 2018
By Hannah Jo Uy | Features Writer
By CCME Content Team
eneral awareness has been building for the process of managing all building water systems for the protection of residents and occupants. This was the observation Michael P Patton, Member of ASHRAE Committee SSPC 188, shared with Climate Control Middle East, adding that he is uncertain whether this awareness is due to high-profile community outbreaks making news or the increasing wariness of potential liability for property owners and developers. “ASHRAE Standard 188-2015, Legionellosis: Risk Management for Building Water Systems has become an important document and the “go-to” process for building water management programs,” Patton said. “A water management program (WMP) for building water system is the innovation.” He added that it is widely understood that any building water system, which receives the type of attention and knowledge, which is the direct result of developing a WMP, is the best way to reduce disease. Patton added that government entities in the United States, such as the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the General Services Administration (GSA), have adopted the Standard 188 process to help prevent disease. “On their own initiative, the US CDC developed and aggressively promoted a companion ‘toolkit’ that simplifies the code-intended language of Standard 188 and makes the process more approachable,” he said. Patton added that CMS recently promoted both Standard 188 and the toolkit as the recommended process for compliance with their recent directive that hospitals, critical care centres and long-term care facilities implement WMPs in order to maintain certification.
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Over two million US homes now rated under RESNET system System provides homeowners and prospective buyers energy data and estimates anticipated utility costs, says company official
higo has launched the CMV-T VRF system, which the company said, is suitable for T3 conditions. The full DC-inverter system, Chigo added, has won tenders for two projects – Volgograd Arena and Nizhny Novgorod Stadium – for the FIFA World Cup in Russia in 2018. The fact that the technology has won the confidence of the organisers indicates the good performance it is capable of, Chigo said. According to Chigo, the CMV-T comes with a DC compressor and DC brushless fan motor. It covers a wide capacity range, starting from 8 HP to 22 HP for single module, with a maximum capacity of 88 HP, where four 22 HP units are combined, Chigo said. The CMV-T also covers a wide operating range and can operate stably at extreme temperatures ranging from -20˚C to 55˚C, Chigo claimed. Besides, it has various safety-protection features to keep running in a stable manner, Chigo said. The CMV-T, Chigo added, has a three-stage back-up function, which allows the entire system to work even during emergency situations.
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By Benwen Lopez | Assistant Editor
he Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET) has reported that over two million US homes have now been rated by its Home Energy Rating System (HERS Index Score). Explaining the baseline of the rating system, Steve Baden, Executive Director of RESNET, said: “The HERS Index is a way to measure the energy efficiency of a home. The rating provides homeowners and even prospective buyers all the energy data to reduce energy and offers an estimate of anticipated utility costs.” He added that the rating standard has been recognised by the US Department of Energy, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Internal Revenue Services. Baden further added that in 2016, over 200,000 homes were rated under the HERS Index Scores, which is equivalent to a reduction of 905,000 tonnes of CO2, and which resulted in USD 268 million in average annual energy bill savings.
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Under the Patronage of H.H. General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the U.A.E. Armed Forces Hosted by
Strategic Sponsor
BOOK YOUR STAND TODAY
Energy Efficiency Expo is the event to exhibit at to unlock opportunities in the GCC region's drive towards energy efficiency and improving the performance of physical infrastructrure. Meet the key buyers in MENA and position your brand as a leader in energy efficiency technologies. Here is a selection of organisations that were represented by senior decision makers in our hosted buyer programme in 2017: Dubai Municipality
AECOM
Makkah Municipality
M.H. AlShaya Co. (Kuwait)
Emirates National Oil Company
Electicity Distribution Company (Jordan)
WS Atkins
Al Ayuni Investment and Contracting Comp (Saudi Arabia)
CH2M
Bahrain Petroleum Company
DMott McDonald
For exhibition space booking and sponsorship opportunities at Energy Efficiency Expo 2018 Carla Fadel
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M i d d l e E a s t & N o r t h A f r i c a ﺍﻟﺸــــــــــــــــــــﺮﻕ ﺍﻷﻭﺳــــــــــــــــــــﻂ ﻭﺷﻤـــــــــــــــــــﺎﻝ ﺍﻓﺮﻳﻘﻴـــــــــــــــــــﺎ
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NEWS GLOBAL
Midea wins bid to provide central air conditioning to seven stadia in Russia Company to supply falling film water-cooled screw chillers, full DC inverter VRF systems and fan-coil units By Hannah Jo Uy | Features Writer
idea has recently won a contract to provide central air conditioning systems to seven stadia in Russia, the company revealed to Climate Control Middle East. The company will be providing comprehensive air conditioning solutions for the stadia with falling film watercooled screw chillers, full DC inverter intelligent VRF systems and fan-coil units, it added. The air conditioning systems will operate in Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow; Volgograd Stadium, Volgograd; Ekaterinburg Stadium, Ekaterinburg; Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, Nizhny Novgorod; Kaliningrad Stadium, Kaliningrad; Samara Stadium, Samara and Saint Petersburg Stadium, Saint Petersburg. Johnson Huang, Marketing Director, Central Air Conditioner division, Midea, said it was an honour for the company to support sporting events in Russia. The company further noted that it has a long history of providing full inverter technology solutions to a series of large-scale intercontinental tournaments and national games. Midea emphasised that the system carries the industry’s first blackbox technology, which can achieve 24-hour status monitoring, provide remote diagnostics as well as automatically report maintenance issues, to ensure stable service during sporting events.
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AHRI releases economic analysis of HVACR industry New report shows industry on upswing after recession By CCME Content Team
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“Poor indoor air quality is responsible for around 99,000 European deaths a year” World Health Organisation @WHO
My Health My Home @MyHealthMyHome
merica’s heating, ventilation, air conditioning, commercial refrigeration, and water heating industry has bounced back from the Great Recession and has surpassed its 2008 economic indicators, according to a report issued today by the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI), which represents manufacturers of such equipment. The report found that in 2015, the most recent year figures are available, the industry shipped USD 42 billion worth of products and equipment to consumers in the United States. Although manufacturers alone account for about 125,000 US jobs, together with upstream suppliers, and downstream distributors, that number increases 883,100 US jobs. In addition to these jobs, there are approximately 408,000 jobs associated with installation, construction, and maintenance related to HVACR, which combine to bring the total number of jobs, including contractors, to nearly 1.3 million, the report said. The manufacturer jobs alone generated
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REFCO celebrates 45th Anniversary
CEO Ulrich says the company continues to expand into new markets By CCME Content Team
Global average loss of vaccines due to weak cold chain estimated at 25% Saying that the figure excludes America and Europe, industry expert stresses that vaccinations represent the cheapest form of preventive medicine By Hannah Jo Uy | Features Writer
lobal average loss of vaccines due to break in cold chain is estimated to be about 25%, excluding America and Europe. This was the figure that Mahesh Krishnamoorthy, CEO and Founder of Degree M Labs, shared with Climate Control Middle East, while speaking on global trends in relation to healthcare and refrigeration. “Vaccination is the cheapest form of preventive medicine,” he stressed. “Even after sustained global efforts, a considerable percentage of the population in developing countries remains nonvaccinated.” Krishnamoorthy emphasised that ensuring the right temperature is a major challenge the world faces with regard to the storage and transportation of vaccines to remote locations, where power is not available. “Maintaining temperature is an uphill task,” he said. “Various types of refrigerators have been made to address this problem.” A common approach to detect excursion of temperature in vaccines is to rely on the ‘vaccine vial monitor’ he said. This is a colour-coded sticker affixed to the vaccine vial, and the colour of the same will indicate if it has been exposed beyond the temperature range. However, Krishnamoorthy stressed, the monitor on its own does not prevent the loss of the product but only informs that it is not to be used. “Our intervention,” he said, “is to prevent the loss by alerting the stakeholders at the time of excursion, so that there can be immediate action to prevent loss.”
G wiss-based HVACR manufacturer, REFCO celebrated its 45th anniversary in September, with its CEO, Manfred P Ulrich, saying the company was continuing to expand into new markets. More than 95% of the company’s total sales are exported, it said through a Press communiqué, adding that development and manufacturing of a full range of products of tools and components over the years for the air conditioning and refrigeration industry can only be achieved by outstanding performance at the highest quality level. Over 100 guests from 30 countries attended the celebrations in central Switzerland. The company enjoys long-lasting co-operation agreements in over 80 countries, it said through the communiqué. The company listed customeroriented solutions, certified quality and international approvals as some of the reasons for the wide acceptability of its products. As part of the celebrations, the guests also had the opportunity to visit REFCO Manufacturing Ltd., as well as Manometer AG and Feinwerktechnik Wiegand AG, to see for themselves where and how the many different products are made. The extensive range of products includes professional tools and components, not only for household appliances but also for automotive industry and commercial air conditioning and refrigeration applications.
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$15.5 billion of value added to the US economy on USD 10.1 billion of labour compensation, the report added. A state-by-state analysis found that the top three states in upstream (supplier) employment were Texas, California, and Tennessee. The top three states in downstream (distributor/contractor) economic impact were California, Texas and Florida. As with other US manufacturing segments, direct HVACR and water-heating manufacturing employment fell from 191,000 jobs in 2000 to 125,000 in 2009, where it has remained, essentially steady, since, the AHRI report said. The vast majority of the decline, the report added, is due to productivity gains, which have increased at an average rate of 2.2 per cent per year, rather than to a decline in output.
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ASHRAE publishes 2017 Version of Thermal Comfort Standard Standard 55-2017 now includes calculations from direct solar radiation By CCME Content Team
he 2017 edition of ASHRAE’s major thermal comfort standard has been published to incorporate seven published addenda to the 2013 edition. ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 55-2017, ‘Thermal Environmental Conditions for Human Occupancy’, simplifies the language of the 2013 standard and clarifies the three comfort calculation approaches in Section 5.3.3, 'Elevated Air Speed'. The 2017 edition includes a new requirement to calculate the change in occupants' thermal comfort from direct solar radiation. “The updates to Standard 55-2017 are the result of a continuing series of modifications made based on new research, experience, and proposals from designers, manufacturers and users,” said Abhijeet Pande, Chair of the Standard 55 committee. “Standard 55 has been
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rewritten with a renewed focus on application of the standard by practitioners and use of clear, enforceable language.” The three comfort calculations methods provided in the 2017 edition are: A graphic method for simple situations, An analytical method for more general cases, and A method that uses elevated air speed to provide comfort. Other additions include simplification of Appendix A to a single procedure for calculating operative temperature; clearly stated requirements and calculation procedures appearing sequentially; an update to the scope to ensure the standard is not used to override health, safety; critical process requirements; and removal of permissive language.
COMINGS & GOINGS
KEO appoints new MD for Project Management Mark Jamieson will lead the Project Management International division of the firm By CCME Content Team
Mark Jamieson
esign, engineering and project management firm, KEO International Consultants, has announced that Mark Jamieson has taken on the role of Managing Director (MD) of the Project Management International (PMI) division. According to KEO, Jamieson was the Executive Director for PM Services at the
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firm. He brings with him a wealth of experience, with more than 25 years in construction project management, engineering and delivery across the globe, KEO said. Jamieson is a Chartered Civil Engineer and a Chartered Manager. As well as leading major construction projects from nuclear to rail, and from infrastructure to building projects, he is a champion for developing professional engineers across the region, KEO said. He is a Fellow of the UK’s Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) and a Chartered Manager with a Bachelor of Engineering from the University of Birmingham, in the United Kingdom, KEO added. Donna Sultan, President & CEO, KEO International Consultants, said: “These are exciting times for KEO’s journey as the leading consultant in the market.
Such strategic moves and appointments will support our reputation as a global practice. In his new role, Mark will be heading the largest KEO business division and leading the team to achieve further notable successes. I am confident that Mark’s model of leadership and his vast experience in the industry will be beneficial to KEO’s team internally as well as to our clients externally, supporting our strong reputation in the market. With his client-centric approach and motivational leadership, I am confident that Mark will further strengthen our market position.”
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25 AWARD CATEGORIES: • Manufacturer of the Year (air treatment) • Manufacturer of the Year (air movement, ventilation) • Manufacturer of the Year (fire safety) • Project of the Year (fire safety) • Building Envelop of the Year (contributing manufacturer) • Building Performance Services (testing and certification) • District Cooling Company of the Year • O&M Company of the Year (chilled water plant) • District Cooling Utility Provider of the Year • Innovative Manufacturer of the Year (chillers) • Manufacturer of the Year (chilled water system equipment and components, less chillers) • Manufacturer of the Year (standalone DX, including VRF)
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