Keeping air cool and clean is a breeze By Grantlee Kieza,
Sensor equipment is becoming much more affordable along with advances in remote-control equipment that immediately detects when air-conditioning is not operating properly, allowing management to know of issues before guests.
On July 17, 1902, Carrier’s machine was designed to control heat and humidity. While the principles of air-conditioning have remained largely unchanged since then there have been enormous developments to the process in recent years, in response to global warming and the COVID pandemic. One major advancement now blowing into Australia is “bipolar ion” technology, which continuously disinfects outside air as it flows into rooms. Bipolar ions attach themselves to airborne viruses, odours and pollutants, rendering them inactive. As household income grows in developing countries, demand for air conditioners is expected to triple by 2050. The surge will multiply what is already a major source of greenhouse gas emissions, with air conditioning now responsible for almost 20 percent of electricity use in buildings around the world. All 197 United Nations member countries are phasing out the production and import of ozone depleting substances, including the once common R22. In 1996 Australia started its phaseout of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), through import controls, R22 equipment is gradually reaching the end of its useful life and is being replaced with new equipment using different refrigerants. Air conditioning has never been more important to Australian accommodation properties, especially in tropical climates. Queensland management rights and accommodation management veteran Barry Turner, says any local accommodation provider without
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AccomNews - Winter 2022
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Industry Reporter
a good air-conditioning system will quickly be frozen out of business. “When people go on holidays, they usually want a level of comfort equal to or better than at home,” Mr Turner said. “A good air-conditioning system is crucial to the success of any property.” Lynda Kypriadakis, the Managing Director of building advisory company Diverse FMX, says people being able to turn on their air conditioning from their mobile phone, half an hour before they come home has been the major trend in air conditioning systems in recent years and it has been readily adopted in the accommodation sector. Rising maintenance costs and unplanned downtime are both warning signs that equipment is reaching the end of its useful life. Ms Kypriadakis said that if airconditioning performance was waning, it was often because the property had overlooked basic upkeep, such as cleaning coils, washing the reusable filters, checking the electrical connections, and inspecting the refrigerant lines. Winter is an opportune time to upgrade air-conditioning systems in Australia and 10 years is a good benchmark for hotels to evaluate if it’s time to upgrade. For machines using variable refrigerant flow (requiring less
maintenance than fixed-capacity traditional systems) the lifespan can stretch to 15 to 20 years. Ms Kypriadakis said the first thing she would recommend as a project manager is that property owners have a mechanical engineering consultant involved early in any major air-conditioning upgrades. “Unfortunately, managers often listen to the contractor (the guy who is selling them the system) whether it's a split system or wall mounted inside the room or fully ducted, and the guy trying to sell you something will have a conflicted opinion,” Ms Kypriadakis said. Having a mechanical engineering consultant in place before any upgrades commenced would also ensure that cost-effective equipment was purchased. The latest smart air-conditioning controllers use infrared technology to connect with existing smart home technologies and mobile phones through apps. Just as smart phone technology changes rapidly with each new release from the manufacturers, smart room technology changes at the speed of light. Smart energy-management systems now use sophisticated algorithms to continuously analyse historical local weather patterns and peak demand loads to optimize energy consumption for air-conditioners all year round.
ENERGY & RESOURCES
Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems typically account for as much as 30 per cent of a building’s energy use, so getting the best out of them is paramount. Capital and maintenance costs of HVAC systems also comprise a significant proportion of building costs, but these can be minimised through good system design. While significant energy and capital savings can be made through investing in new, highefficiency HVAC systems, existing systems can also be optimised simply by fine-tuning controls and good maintenance practices. Minor adjustments to thermostat set points can often be made, resulting in energy savings without reducing comfort for guests. One major problem with air conditioning systems is mould caused by humidity. Unchecked, mould will go into circulation with the potential to cause illness and allergies. The best step to reducing mould in air conditioning systems is keeping them clean. Experts advise to clear the dust and cobwebs away from the exterior of an air conditioning unit constantly, so they are less likely to be sucked through the system. Often, mould particles are attached to dust and debris, so it is essential to keep air conditioning filters as clean as possible. Blocked filters also cause air conditioning systems to operate at higher temperatures and use more power. And power these days is certainly not cheap.
