Heating & Ventilation

Clean heat to spur low carbon jobs growth by 2030

A large percentage of lower carbon employment opportunities expected to emerge by the end of the decade will require individuals skilled in supporting green heat and power, says new research

A majority of the low-carbon jobs available in the UK by 2030 are expected to involve providing cleaner electricity and heat, a new report has found.

Research compiled by Ecuity Consulting for the Local Government Association (LGA) has considered the likely employments impacts of the emergence of a number of low carbon industries. These professions are seen as being central to support the government’s ambition to have fully eliminated or offset national carbon emissions by 2050.

The research considered the jobs likely to be created in the fields of low carbon heating, which will focus on areas such heat networks, Combined Heat and Power (CHP) systems as well as installing technologies able to run on renewable energy. It has also factored in the likely skill requirements needed to sufficiently address demand for these systems and services.

An anticipated reliance on alternative fuels such as bioenergy and hydrogen, and increased development of energy efficient products that includes insulation and monitoring and control solutions are also covered in the report.

In England alone, efforts to move towards the government’s 2050 net-zero target are anticipated to see 690,000 low-carbon economy jobs exist by 2030. The figure is expected to rise to 1.18 million by 2050.

Ecuity estimates that 46 per cent of these low carbon jobs by 2030 will be based around the supply of clean electricity and low-carbon heat technologies, such as providing heat pumps to homes and businesses.

21 per cent of the low-carbon employment opportunities will meanwhile be represented by work to introduce energy efficiency solutions such as insulation and controls, the report added.

A “diverse” range of skills will be required to fill these potential employment opportunities, according to the research. Feedback from experts in the report identified immediate skills gaps in low carbon heat and power sectors.

Another key finding of the research was the leading role local councils were looking to play to support net-zero transformation, particularly around funding for skills projects that can address local needs for new jobs. One such solution cited in the report would be the development of a pipeline of skilled individuals on a local level to fulfil lower carbon employment.

Ecuity consulting added, “Councils and combined authorities could be supported to coordinate local education providers and businesses to bridge gaps in NVQ-related skills so that the workforce is equipped to meet emerging demand.”

Robert Honeyman, economic analysis head with the consultancy group, said that a wide array of new technologies and workers would be needed for any viable national net-zero strategy. Mr Honeyman said that the shift to a low-carbon economy has been identified by researchers and economists as providing a clear route for economic recovery from Covid-19. He said, “Local authorities can play an important role in identifying, allocating funding and supporting collaboration between local low carbon employers, education providers and the labour force.”

“Through the implementation of ambitious reskilling schemes and emission reductions targets, local governments stand to gain not only by reducing their own carbon emissions, but also as promoters of strategic industries within their region and leaders within the net zero transition.”

Cllr Sir Richard Leese, Chair of the LGA’s City Regions Board, said that a demand for ‘green jobs’ would “sky-rocket” in number towards 2050. He said that such a shift in the labour market would see local government having to play a vital role - based on each authority’s local knowledge and expertise - to fill these positions.

He said “Localising and devolving skills investment, back to work support and any job guarantee will be critical to ensuring everyone benefits from new local jobs, including these one million new low carbon jobs.”

“To help meet national climate change targets and capitalise on the green jobs revolution, councils need to be given long-term funding, devolved powers and easier access to complex government funding pots to help realise the government’s target of being carbon neutral by 2050.”

Heating & Ventilation 13

Panasonic Aquarea Cascade Provides Control for up to 10 Air Source Heat Pumps

• Designed for small hotels, supermarkets, restaurants etc, for central heating projects • Large, easy to use touch screen display • Built in MODBUS IP for remote access for off-site management

Premises across the world require efficient heating and cooling systems with the capability for remote monitoring, control and maintenance in a variety of applications. For Panasonic systems, Aquarea Cascade Control is a highly integrated interface which allows for establishments such as supermarkets, hospitals, care homes and hotels to control up to ten Aquarea Air Source Heat Pumps to deliver and remotely manage the demands for energy-efficient heating and cooling across their organisations.

Panasonic’s Aquarea Cascade Control (PAW-A2W-CMH) has a large, easy to use touch screen display and provides control for up to 10 Aquarea airto-water heat pumps, connected at any one time, to run simultaneously or in cascade mode and creating a system with capacity up to 160kW. The Aquarea Cascade Controller can also connect to solar photovoltaic (PV) panels and 3 way valves for cooling, ideally suited for commercial and hospitality applications with additional means of energy sourcing which require specific solutions or programmes, yet can all be managed using one device.

With its own built in MODBUS IP, the Aquarea Cascade Controller integrates with the building’s BMS communication and can have up to 3 M-BUS devices connected for a smarter way to manage heating, cooling, and domestic hot water (DHW). Logging, analysing, optimising and controlling energy, as well as processing data, can all be accessed via the single control interface. Remote access for off-site management at any time of the day could not be easier, helping to prevent any disruption to the building’s inhabitants and allowing business to continue as usual by connecting the control to BMS. a more sustainable building and reducing heating and cooling costs. Cascade Control is being increasingly utilised across many sectors to make use of parallel-connected heat pumps and the benefit of remote access for management and maintenance resulting in multiple savings. An example is a recent project in the UK – a healthcare facility where six highly efficient Panasonic Aquarea H Series T-Cap 16kW Air to Water heat pumps, along with a Panasonic Cascade Controller, have been installed to provide underfloor heating to 2022m2 of floor space within the building. This brand new €10m modern facility houses 15 in-patient rooms with en-suite facilities for those with life limiting conditions, several treatment rooms for out-patient clinics and multidisciplinary specialist services. The Care Home is benefitting from the Aquarea Cascade Control which modulates the air source heat pumps to meet demand and further save on energy usage.

To find out more, please visit www.aircon.panasonic.eu

Panasonic Expands Voice Control Language Availability for its Air Conditioners

• Compatible with Amazon Alexa[1] and Google Assistant[2] • Now available in additional European languages • Comfort control for your smart home

Panasonic Heating and Cooling works with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant for voice control of your connected devices.

Customers may now control compatible Panasonic domestic air-conditioners and commercial PACi systems by voice[3] in a range of additional European languages, to further provide simple and convenient control.

Voice control is now available for domestic air-conditioners in English, Italian, Spanish, French and German[4] on both Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, with the additional languages of Swedish, Danish, and Norwegian for Google Assistant.

The voice control functionality for Panasonic solutions offers a wide range of benefits for both the commercial and residential markets. For example, homeowners who are used to controlling their lighting and audio with their voice can also include preferences for their Panasonic air conditioning system to create the complete desired environment. Once paired with a Panasonic airconditioning unit via the Comfort Cloud app, homeowners can use Google Assistant[5] or Amazon Alexa for simple voice-controlled tasks such as on/off, operating modes, checking operating status or temperature settings with a simple voice command “Alexa, set the living room air conditioner to 25°C” or “Hey Google, how cold is the living room air conditioner?”.

Thanks to Panasonic product compatibility with voice assistants, users can also add air conditioning to their routine of assistants. For the commercial sector, voice control is compatible with Panasonic PACi solutions. From June 2020 users can easily pre-determine working environments to provide the most suitable climate throughout the day for maximum comfort in an additional range of languages. For example, settings on the Comfort Cloud app such as temperature can be activated by voice command in a variety of languages to pre-cool a store before customers arrive. This service can be easily administered by any worker via Amazon Alexa, or by inviting them to join via the Google Home app.

For fast, convenient and hands-free control, link your Comfort Cloud app with Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa to help save time and provide ease and comfort.

To find out more, please visit www.aircon.panasonic.eu

Heating & Ventilation

Leading HVAC industry figure predicts resurged IAQ interest in response to Covid19

The former CEO of Worcester Bosch, Richards Soper CBE, is predicting a renewed interest in indoor air quality amongst homeowners, residents and developers.

According to Soper, who is supporting the launch of Unico Systems’ small duct heating, cooling and ventilation into the UK, now is the time for installers to explore new technologies and to be a lot more vocal about indoor air quality to those outside of the industry.

Soper said: “We’re all spending much more time at home due to Covid19 and having had some incredibly hot days in Spring people are already looking towards yet another record Summer and considering how to improve conditions in the home. Both air conditioning and filtration are common in cars, but with the ban on non-essential travel in effect even this has been out of bounds for most of us.

“With the UK set to get even hotter over the coming years demand for the type of climate control and filtration currently only found in cars is only going to increase.” James Dyson, whose company has undertaken a major online television advertising campaign promoting its plug-in air purifiers.

Soper continued: “There are HVAC options out there that are both cost-comparative, more effective and a lot quieter than traditional split systems and the latest plugin options.”

Another driver of increased demand for improved indoor air quality is its ability to combat illness and allergen causing bacteria and microbes.

Soper commented: “We now have systems that can provide year-round ventilation, an increasing necessity in air-tight homes, which according to a report last year saw 3.5 times the levels of indoor air pollution compared to outdoor[i]. Coupled with additional filtration and electric air cleaners homeowners and developers have the opportunity to kill and remove disease and allergen inducing bugs and microbes in the home.” One installer who has already seen demand for HVAC solutions in response to health concerns is David Jackson, owner of Response Mechanical Services. Jackson said: “We’re predicting that health and wellbeing will be an increasing driver for installs in the coming months and years. Even before coronavirus we were seeing demand for improved air quality, particularly in offices which are often subject to annual flu and cold outbreaks, as well as in homes with families looking to reduce the impact of long-term health conditions such as multiple sclerosis and asthma.”

Soper concluded: “IAQ will be an integral part of making the places we work and live safer in a post Coronavirus world. Understanding and being vocal about the types of HVAC technologies that can help improve indoor environments is key.”

To find out more about Unico Systems visit: www.unicosystem.co.uk

To alleviate the very real problems of noise, keeping sound and air pollution outside, Vectaire has three new models in its vertical whole house heat recovery range. The Midi, Maxi and Maxi Plus are now available with integral acoustic attenuation - lined with superior sound deadening materials for really low sound levels and tested by BRE. Sound pressure levels are down to <5.0, <5.0 and 6.9 dBA respectively. They are easy to install – nothing extra is required other than the unit itself – they are the quietest, lightest and smallest on the market. Efficiency, performance and economy remain the same as the standard models. “BY-AT” models incorporate summer bypass and frost protection, and commissioning is via an integral LCD. Windows can be kept firmly closed while these MVHRs provide energy efficient ventilation and a comfortable environment. Products are SAP PCDB Listed and manufactured in our own factory in the UK to ISO 9001. Vectaire offers a design service ensuring units are installed in the best possible way to provide efficient, effective, low energy and very economic ventilation. Vectaire can also organise installation, commissioning and maintenance of these products and can supply all necessary accessories. All Vectaire’s residential ventilation is detailed in the latest Low Energy Catalogue.

You can have it all with Speedheat

Creating an airy, open space for living calls for clean lines and minimum fuss – but you also need to keep cosy. Speedheat electric underfloor heating can help to achieve it all. Installed with minimum disruption and no noticeable build up in floor height, Speedheat’s system is invisible under your choice of final floor finish. It is ideal for new build, renovation and redesign projects and comes complete with state of the art, unobtrusive controls. Speedheat spells the end to ugly radiators or trailing cables, with nothing to spoil the view. info@speedheat.co.uk

Editors Choice

Nearly CO2-free heating for 90 households

• The showcase for social, digital & connected, green & sustainable living has commenced in Central Europe • Panasonic’s global Smart Cities portfolio extended with this European Lighthouse project • In place to continue surpassing competition regarding market growth in the “Residential Energy Saving

Equipment”

Panasonic is proud to announce the start of its innovative, CO2-saving energy solution for the smart city project, Future Living® Berlin. The urban beacon is an important project in the company’s wider smart cities portfolio, which contribute to its focus on the decarbonization of society.

The installation in Berlin combines both green & sustainable and digital & connected living. It is realised through the installation of smart energy solutions including Panasonic’s highly efficient air to water heat pumps, photovoltaic (PV) panels and storage batteries integrated into an intelligent and efficient energy management system. Efficient Energy Management

Junichi Suzuki, Chairman and CEO of Panasonic Europe B.V comments,

‘We bring to the project over 60 years of heating and cooling expertise alongside decades in PV and battery solutions, and a passion for innovations that will shape the future for generations to come. ‘

Panasonic has achieved strong sales growth in the relevant Energy business areas in Europe, e.g. double-digit sales growth in the air to water heat pump business for the last 10 years. The company has also committed in 2019 to grow the “Residential Energy Saving Equipment” business multiple times over by 2025.

For Panasonic, Future Living® Berlin is a fundamentally important experiment in building cutting-edge energy solutions. The project marks a milestone in achieving the goals set in the strategy.

Panasonic’s energy experts and software engineers of its R&D Centre in Europe have developed an intelligent energy management solution to optimize the use of energy and couple electricity with the heating sector. The smart control combines heat pumps together with other efficient, green Panasonic technologies, such as PV panels. The technologies have been integrated into an efficient energy saving solution not only controlled, but also constantly optimised by Panasonic’s intelligent energy management solution.

Ralf Becker, Project Leader Energy Group, Panasonic R&D Centre

Europe explains, ‘The solution is a world’ first, developed as a joint-venture with leading research institutions for decentralized energy management. In simulations together with university test labs we achieved an improvement of used energy by up to 15%.‘

A Beacon for Sustainable Living

The core energy component of the Future Living Berlin green & sustainable goal is the installed Panasonic’s air to water heat pump product line-up, ‘Aquarea’. A highly energy efficient technology, they run almost carbon-free when powered by the renewable energy provided by the 600 Panasonic HIT panels, which supply a capacity of 195kWp. On account of the patented

silicone technology, the Panasonic photovoltaic system is 10% more efficient than conventional modules. Furthermore Panasonic’s HIT technology achieves a significantly better performance in hot environments because of its superior temperature coefficient – an essential advantage in coping with the climate change.

Utilising the renewable energy, the air to water system is used for space heating and warm water generation. For increased performance, the heat pumps include a cloud-based connectivity feature for installers called Aquarea Service Cloud which makes them even more reliable. It saves further CO2 emissions as maintenance visits can be organized much more efficiently and partly even conducted remotely.

These energy solutions are brought together under a Aquarea Smart Cloud, which allows end-users to monitor their power usage and manage temperature settings accordingly. This results in increased efficiency and comfort while enjoying transparency of their consumption.

To achieve further sustainable and green objectives, residents are part of a wider ecological environment which offers green car sharing, shared washing machines, and Panasonic energy solutions The digital & connected goal of Future Living Berlin starts within the residential apartments. The equipment follows the idea of being smart and connected with Panasonic TVs and smart speakers being part of an overall IoT infrastructure, which includes an apartment manager as the central hub.

Digital & connected solutions are further extended to include wider security, safety, and smart building solutions that enhance the overall comfortability of residents.

Suzuki continues, ‘Future Living® Berlin is a future Way of Living – of how we may live tomorrow with a focus on social, digital & connected, and green & sustainable living.’

Panasonic is partnering in the smart city project with GSW Sigmaringen, the building-owner of Future Living® Berlin.

www.panasonic.com/global