Ventilation & Heat Recovery Sustainability offers real opportunities

The HVAC industry has an important role to play in helping to promote the benefits of a circular economy, reducing the level of plastic waste and transforming recycled materials into useful products. Alex Finch from S&P UK explains why the company has pledged to invest in sustainability.

The HVAC manufacturing industry has an essential role to play in helping to solve our biggest sustainability challenges and setting a clear example to inspire businesses, customers and the wider economy.

Set against the landscape of rising costs for energy and raw materials, finding the time and resources to invest in the research and development required to help the UK reach its net zero goals with eco-friendly and innovative products is itself a difficult challenge.

But rising to the challenge – especially one so vital – and finding the right solutions can be, and must be, a top priority for everyone – from manufacturers, distributors and merchants to architects, specifiers and installers.

Sustainability must become a badge of honour. Taking your first step towards responsible plastic usage and building momentum across your product and accessory range is the most important step you can, and should, take in 2023

Circular economy

The scene has been set. The UN is warning that every year more than 400 million tons of plastic are created in the world but less than 10% of the waste is recycled.

Today, the consumption of certain materials such as plastic and cardboard is an everyday reality. But that should not be harmful to the environment.

Some 79% of plastic rubbish created ends up in tips or is thrown away in natural environments.

This plastic, when not handled in the correct way, causes environmental problems, such as the emission of greenhouse gases and the presence of microplastics in the oceans.

Cut To The Chase

 Some 79% of plastic rubbish ends up in tips or is thrown away in natural environments

 We need to move to a circular economy that can transform rubbish into useful products

 85% of the materials used to produce S&P’s new in-line ventilation solution are from recycled plastics

 The HVAC industry can be a flag-bearer for sustainability by playing an active part in driving change

That is not a reason to stop using it, but to do so in a responsible way.

This means following a process of manufacture, consumption, recycling and a return to the starting point in order to give plastics a new life.

After all, the UK is legally bound to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases to net zero by 2050, while government goals under the Environment Act 2021, being refreshed every five years, include maximising our resources, minimising waste, and using resources from nature sustainably. Instead, we need to move to a circular economy that can transform rubbish into t-shirts, bicycles, artificial limbs and, of course, in-line ventilation units.

Natural evolution

At S&P UK we are looking to lead the way with our new ‘planet-friendly’ in-line ventilation solution for the residential sector.

The energy efficient TD EVO PF ECOWATT is a natural evolution of our existing TD range of in-line, mixed-flow duct fans that are designed to produce higher working pressures and rigorous standards of safety, performance and reliability within demanding environments.

The performance is exactly the same. The design, efficiency and effectiveness remains unchanged.

What is different, however, is that 85% of the materials used are from recycled plastics – drink bottles, milk cartons, and laundry detergent containers that would have otherwise ended up in landfill or our oceans.

The TD EVO PF ECOWATT features sealed rubber gaskets designed to prevent air leakage between the appliance and ducts. It includes functionality to set the required airflow rate as well as a brushless EC motor that features the option for 100% speed adjustment.

The range comprises seven diameters and covers a flow range from 190 to 1780 m3/h, while the optimised design of the impeller, guide vane and outlet diffuser aims to increase performance and lower acoustic levels.

Big opportunity

Sustainability offers real opportunities for the HVAC manufacturing industry. The collection and transformation of plastics has to move from simply being the latest fashion trend to becoming an entrenched obligation for everyone.

We have seas, oceans and natural environments swamped with plastics, and it seems we are not going to solve the problem in the short term. We need real projects and actions to prevent those tons of plastic waste from harming our planet and natural environment.

That’s why we’re excited and proud to be launching our inaugural sustainable, energy efficient in-line ventilation unit into the UK marketplace, while at the same time helping to establish the HVAC industry as a flag-bearer for sustainability that makes a real, immediate and longlasting difference.

We recognise that we are only taking our first steps on the vital journey to becoming a more sustainable HVAC manufacturer, but we pledge to continue to invest in leading research and development to further improve our green credentials and play an active role in driving real change across our ambitious and responsible industry.

Find out more

Operating nationally, S&P UK is a leading fan, air movement and ventilation systems provider offering over 10,000 products along with technical sales support and consultancy. It is a subsidiary of Spanish owned S&P Group, whose global operations span over 90 countries. For more information please use the online reader link below. ◼ phamnews.co.uk/323/46