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Part L and F of the Building Regulations; European Energy Performance of Buildings Directive; local government renewable energy obligations – are just some of a growing number of regulations which require specifiers and project managers to demonstrate how their buildings will perform against ever increasing targets on energy use.

Mitsubishi Electric is bringing together a number of independent experts to host a series of free one-day seminars on how to ensure building design complies with new regulations, as well as information on the latest developments in energy efficient systems and renewable energy sources for both heating and cooling applications.

Topics discussed on the day will include:

• CO2 emissions
• Renewable technologies, including a live demonstration on ground source
• Lifecycle costs
• Control systems
• Running costs
• The Code for Sustainable Homes, including a live demonstration of Ecodan™ heat pump boiler
• Zero carbon solutions
• ‘The London Plan’ – strategies and targets set by the GLA to make London a greener capital

DATES AND BOOKING INFORMATION

Tuesday 18th March 2008

To reserve your place on one of these FREE seminars, please
TELEPHONE 01707 282880
Or email air.conditioning@meuk.mee.com

The seminars will be held at Mitsubishi Electric, Travellers Lane, Hatfield, Herts, AL10 8XB

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The installation of seven Mitsubishi Electric WR2 PQRY-P250YMF-C heat recovery air conditioning units into the Zetter Hotel in Clerkenwell is now helping the stylish conversion provide exactly the right environment for its guests, whilst using the natural underground lake deep below the city streets as a cooling and heating source to save on energy consumption.

The Challenge

The Hotel, which is within walking distance of Sadlers Wells, the Barbican, Smithfields, St Pauls and the City, has been refurbished to an exceptionally high standard.

The refurbishment was designed by architects Chetwood Associates, using sustainable materials and environmentally responsible principles with the main atrium providing natural ventilation and the air conditioning cooled by water pumped from a bore-hole which sinks 130m below the building.

The air conditioning system, which was supplied by Mitsubishi Electric’s Direct Bristol office, was put together by a design team from engineering consultancy, Buro Happold and Gratte Manly Mechanical Services and installed by J C W Air Conditioning of Bristol.

The architects were looking for a system that not only allowed for a sustainable and energy efficient design, but also avoided losing valuable roof space that has now been used for penthouse suites

“If we had installed standard air conditioning units we would have lost at least one penthouse suite which earns valuable revenue for the hotel,” explained Todd Billo, Maintenance Manager at the 59-bedroomed hotel, which includes seven rooftop studios with patios providing panoramic views over London. All rooms have giant sash windows and are reached via the dramatic five-storey atrium.

The 18-month conversion project has retained many of the building’s original features and scars while blending the traditional and the modern, to create an unpretentious urban space in which to sleep, eat and meet. The building’s large sash windows for example, are a dominant feature of every room and particularly on the south side of the building, this can leave rooms hot as the guests walk in, so it is vital that the air conditioning is able to cool quickly to a comfortable level.

The solution

One of the unique features of the WR2 system is the fact that the condensing units can be sited indoors, and in the case of Zetters, the seven units are installed in small service rooms on each floor. Each unit can provide up to 31.5 kW of heating and 28 kW of cooling and link in this occasion to PFFY-P VLRM-E floor standing units concealed in each of the bedrooms.

Along with this capability to free up vital roof space, the WR2 is also unique in its ability to link to a building’s water loop and transfer heating or cooling energy between them, allowing the units to offer incredibly efficient double heat recovery, producing heat recovery from indoor units on the same refrigerant circuit in addition to using the water circuit to transfer energy between different WR2 circuits.

In the case of the Zetter Hotel, ground sourced water from an aquifer approximately 130m below ground provides water at a constant 13 – 14°C. The water is pumped up the borehole and passed through a plate heat exchanger and then finally metered before being piped to the sewer.

The refurbished building, which opened in March 2004, is utilising the WR2’s 2 pipe simultaneous heating and cooling ability to precisely control the various temperature requirements within the Hotels rooms.

By using the open loop bore hole the “WR2” systems efficiency benefits from the constant year round water temperature of between 13 ~14°C. Unlike conventional air cooled systems where the heating efficiency drops at low ambient temperature and with defrost cycles, the WR2 system efficiency remains high regardless of ambient conditions.

The air conditioning is controlled by Mitsubishi Electric’s G50 system which links to the overall BMS, although each room has an individual controller. When a guest enters the room and places their VIN card (room key) in the slot which controls all lights and services, the air conditioning will come on and will automatically switch off when the room is vacated. The system is also connected to sensors on the sash windows so that if they are opened, the air conditioning will switch off to stop energy being used when it is not needed.

“The system has been so well set up that it practically runs itself and we are now fine tuning it so that we can get maximum efficiency,” says Todd adding that the user-friendly G50 is easy to pick up and understand.

Water has figured largely in the history of Clerkenwell, whose name derives from a well used to bring water up to medieval London from the underground reservoir.

In addition to using this water to take away excess heat from the air conditioning systems, the Zetter Hotel also filters it and offers it to guests in the form of still or sparkling bottled spring water.

The hotel and its restaurant have already proved very popular and the installation of the WR2 system will ensure that the building has a reliable, energy efficient environmental control for years to come.

Ongoing monitoring

The principle of the WR2 system in use at the Zetter Hotel is double heat recovery, firstly extraction of heat from the underground water source and then heat recovery between condensing units and then the indoor units so that the system provides maximum efficiency at all times.

Continual monitoring of the system shows that the WR2 system at Zetters has already been providing an average COP of 3.48 at full load and at current water volume flow rates 5m3/h and temperature of 32°C.

The ability to monitor on an ongoing basis will allow the Hotel’s owners to see how efficiency varies depending on the water volume flow rate and temperatures and any seasonal changes within the hotel and in clientele numbers.

The owners can then examine ways of matching any changes required or can look to increase energy efficiency – For example, reducing the water temperature to 20°C and increasing the water flow rate to 7.5m3/h, will increase the COP to 5.1.

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The British Board of Agrément has issued its first-ever Certificate for a renewable energy technology – the Clearline range of roof integrated solar water heating panels from Viridian Solar (Certificate No 07/4474).

Clearline is roof integrated, meaning that it replaces tiles and sits lower in the roof. The resulting aesthetic is a great improvement on the standard installation of solar panels above the tiles. In common with other quality solar panels, Clearline has passed tests to the European standard for solar panels (EN 12975- 2 : 2006).

The BBA and Viridian worked together to develop a series of tests.

Greg Cooper, Chief Executive of the BBA said: ‘This was a new area for us but we have unrivalled expertise in the assessment of roofing products, so evaluating the weathertightness and structural aspects of the Viridian panel was straightforward, as was our examination of its behaviour in relation to fire. Measuring the energy performance was more of a challenge but again our experience in hot water storage systems was invaluable, as was the input of our client, and our work on durability over the years helped us derive a statement for that, too’.

Peter Crane, Head of Standards at NHBC said ‘NHBC welcomes the Certificate awarded to Viridian Solar for their roof integrated solar water heating panels. It is important that renewable energy technologies incorporated in new homes are both properly assessed and correctly installed’.

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Tapworks, the leading UK water softener manufacturer, has been independently assessed as the first carbon neutral water softener manufacturer in the UK – and it’s believed to be the first popular household appliance manufacturer of any kind to be able to claim carbon neutral status or better.

The forward thinking company – the UK arm of the world’s leading water softener company – called in an accredited EU Emissions Trading Scheme Verifier to assess every aspect of the work it undertakes with a view to confirming what it had been working towards over the last twelve months – that it was categorically, performing in a carbon neutral manner.

The assessor measured and evaluated every aspect of the UK operation from the product’s arrival in the UK, transportation, the operations of the company’s HQ in Stokenchurch, other UK transport issues including the use of company owned vehicles and the end use operational energy costs – the energy used by the water softeners after they had been installed in customers homes. An annual tonnage of carbon dioxide generated for each of these areas was calculated to assess the required savings that needed to be available to set against the emissions to achieve a carbon neutral status – or better.

Tests were carried out on Tapworks water softener models to establish the electrical power drawn to operate the products and these averaged out at 7 watts per unit. The assessor then used verifiable figures from a US study on the energy savings that can be attributed to a Tapworks water softener – savings that can be attributed to the reduction of scale formation on boiler heat exchangers, in radiators and pipework, in valves, pumps and taps, leading to vastly improved thermal transfer from a standard domestic heating system along with the reduced energy required in the home – and in fact the figures were reduced for UK operation from the between 22 and 30% measured in the USA to just 20% here in the UK to give a generous margin for error – the independent assessor confirms the findings that “it is likely that the annual emissions created in the US manufacture of the UK sold units are covered by the annual emissions saving created by the softener use. It is therefore safe to state categorically that the UK operation of Tapworks has a beneficial impact on the environment.”

Tapworks managing director Mike Pickavance is understandably delighted with the report and being named the first UK appliance manufacturer to be able to categorically state that his operation is carbon neutral or better: “This is an aim we have had for a while and to get this report is excellent news for the business – but even better news for our growing customer base who can buy install and use their Tapworks water softener knowing that it is not only not contributing to the CO2 emissions problem, it’s actually helping it! To be able to claim that as a business you are carbon neutral is no easy task – ask Marks and Spencer – and can only be achieved by quantifying the actual energy employed at all stages of the business’s activity and transparently accounting for the compensatory measures we employ to offset the impact of the environmental emissions we all cause to a greater or lesser extent.

“This report highlights that by installing a water softener, if you live in a hard water area of the UK – which is about 60% of the country – you will not only be installing a carbon neutral appliance, you will also be saving up to 20% a year on your energy bills because of the reduced demand on electrical energy supply from a power station or gas combusted in the water heating equipment.”

It could even be argued that the Government should legislate for every home in a hard water area in the UK to have a Tapworks water softener installed to contribute towards it achieving its emissions reduction targets!

Whilst this is all excellent news the report still singled out areas where the operation could improve still further: “We’re delighted, but not resting on our laurels,” says Mike Pickavance. “We are now aware of areas where in return for minimal additional effort we can improve these figures still further and as a business that’s what we want to do. It makes huge sense to the business as not only will we further reduce emissions we will see benefits in operational costs that will add to our bottom line. It’s a strange thing that people still see making an effort to reduce emissions as an additional cost. Entered into sensibly, it’s quite the opposite. Being more energy efficient and energy conscious saves money and can add to your profit.”

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Weatherite Building Services has installed new environmentally friendly air conditioning systems at two John Lewis department stores in Norwich and High Wycombe.

Following the success of similar work they carried out at other John Lewis stores, Weatherite was once again appointed Principle Contractor for the projects, which together were worth a total of almost £400,000.

At both stores the work involved the recovery, design, supply and installation of new air conditioning units to replace the previous units that used the R22 refrigerant, making them environmentally unsound.

At the Norwich store, Weatherite installed Hitachi air cooled chillers, Daikin DX split units and Airedale condensing units. At High Wycombe they installed Hitachi air cooled chillers and Daikin DX split units.

Mike Turton, sales director, Weatherite, comments: “We are delighted to continue to support John Lewis with their five year programme to upgrade air conditioning within their stores, and in particular to be appointed the role of Principle Contractor.

“Having now successfully upgraded the air conditioning systems at six of their stores, we have built a strong relationship with John Lewis and look forward to working with them again in the near future.”

Graham Mappledoram, Central Specialist (HVAC) at John Lewis, adds: “Once again, we are delighted with the work that Weatherite have done for us. Customers and staff at both Norwich and High Wycombe have commented on the difference the new air conditioning has made to the stores.”

WBS is part of the £40m Weatherite Group, one of the UK’s leaders in air conditioning and air handling equipment.

More recently WBS has expanded its activities to cover other sectors of the building services market including heating, ventilation, boiler house refurbishment, water, control systems and electrics as well as all aspects of commercial air conditioning systems, offering a single source choice to its customers which includes full project management, design, installation and commissioning capabilities.

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1st Anniversary
The HPE/KBB show is an ideal venue for HYDRAQUIP to celebrate their first anniversary of being at their purpose built premises. To celebrate the company will be showing off new products and areas where they have worked in close partnerships with major manufacturers to exceed their demands.

Product Launch
The show will see the launch of the exciting new ELEGANT range of valves by HYDRAQUIP, which will offer both OEM's and end users a quality component that they will be proud to incorporate into their final range or finished installation.

Come and join us in Hall 8 Stand PH49

Your FREE Tickets
To request your FREE tickets for the show please contact Rabs by email rabs@hydraquip.co.uk or telephone 0845 260 4334. To register online please visit the KBB website www.kbb.co.uk

Cant Make the show?
Then an open invitation is extended to customers and their clients to visit the HYDRAQUIP production facility in Kent, to view and discuss ways in which the HYDRAQUIP partnerships have built, improved and benefited customers in a number of industries and could help you.

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A range of user-friendly underground water meter boundary boxes has been launched by Hepworth Building Products.

Designed for safety and ease of access, HepBox® provides the connection point between mains and household water supply. Taking into account the needs of utility companies, installers, meter readers and pedestrians, HepBox’s® design is based on Hepworth’s extensive expertise in transporting water and composite access cover technology.

HepBox® includes a lightweight access cover, which will support wheel loads of up to 12.5 tonnes, and has an anti-slip tread pattern to reduce the risk of pedestrians slipping in wet or icy weather.

The first product of its type to be both WRc and WRAS approved, HepBox® meets the requirements of the UK water industry specification for boundary boxes, including basic performance and quality control tests.

Installer-friendly features include the product’s two telescopic height adjustments, one to set the height of the box in the trench and the second to establish the final pavement levels. HepBox® can also be supplied with a Universal fitting making it easier and more cost effective to connect to an existing water supply.

Meter readers benefit from the HepBox’s® white guard in its main chamber, which gives better reflectivity of light onto the meter dial for ease of reading. It also has a stainless steel detection plate in the composite lid with a number matrix to help identify the property. All these features are useful to utility companies, who also benefit from HepBox’s® modular construction, which enables Hepworth to customise the product to each utility company’s specific technical and cost requirements. The hinged lid tool has been designed to allow customer badges or company logos to feature as required.

George Robertson, Composites Division – Managing Director, Hepworth Building Products, says: “Hepworth has a long history of supplying products to the water industry, so we are delighted to bring this advanced, customer-friendly product to the market. The introduction of HepBox® means that we now offer a total water, electricity and gas meter box package for the multi-utility market, something which is totally new in the marketplace.”

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Long-lasting Dulux Metalshield paint has given a sharp new look to a Cornish rollercoaster. The Hornet can carry 1300 passengers an hour and has been thrilling visitors to the Flambard’s theme park in Helston since it was built in 1995. After twelve years service though, the ride’s steel structure was showing its age and it was time for a re-paint.

Paul Morris, Technical Services Manager at Flambards, says that the important thing was to have a high durability exterior coating that would look good for years to come, and he turned to Dulux Trade to find the best system.

“We have to shut the ride down to paint it, so we don’t want to be doing it very often,” he says. “Dulux Trade is the leader in this type of application, with top quality products, so we wanted a recommendation on the best system to use.”

The system that Dulux Trade recommended was one coat of Dulux Trade Metalshield Zinc Phosphate Primer – a high build, fast drying primer with excellent rust inhibiting performance – followed by two coats of Dulux Trade Metalshield Gloss. This is a quick-drying solvent-based paint, specially formulated for metal, which can be over-coated within four to six hours.

Using the Dulux Trade specification as the basis for tenders, the painting contract was awarded to Whittle Painting of Nottingham, a company recommended to Paul Morris by another theme park, Drayton Manor, where it had repainted the Shockwave rollercoaster.

“Whittles was very professional – a top class company. The ride was closed for three weeks in June for the repainting, and the job was finished in two,” he says.

Painting the 410 metres of track and 120 support pillars required 300 litres of Metalshield gloss in three colours. Plush velvet, a deep royal blue, and traffic yellow were used on the track and columns with the handrails picked out in green.

Whittle Painting used 60 foot mobile hoists to paint around a third of the work, and the rest was completed using rope access and harnesses attached to the track which the painters then walked round.

“The results are impressive”, says Paul. “The Hornet looks like a new rollercoaster now and we are really pleased with the result. If we hadn’t used high quality paint we would have to be repainting it repeatedly, but with the Dulux Trade system we don’t expect to paint it again for ten years.”

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Having been established for many years and subject to considerable development activity over the years the Paddington Station water supply network is understandably vast, complex and to some degree uncharted. So the task of surveying the site to establish what's flowing where is challenging. And further complicated due to the original footprint of the station being reduced over the years, replaced by commercial office development and numerous retail outlets on site, which draw their water from the station supply. However, faced with higher than expected water bills the Paddington Building Services Team of Network rail was presented with the daunting task.

Having considered various survey options the management team opted for the Flow Measurement and Analysis services offered by Micronics utilising Micronics expertise with their Portaflo 300 – Time of Flight – portable flow and logging instruments. Portable Clamp-On Ultrasonic flow measurement has clear advantages for survey work and Micronics were selected as the supplier due to a combination of their long-term experience with non-invasive, Clamp-On technology, product performance and pre-order assistance. Six Portaflo 300 – instruments were utilised in two surveys to gather 24 hour consumption/load profiles for selected Hot and Cold water services including supplies to public conveniences.

The project is the joint responsibility of Building Supervisor – Peter Rogerson and M&E Supervisor Terry St Ledger. Terry St Ledger says the task of identifying what's flowing where in a site like Paddington is an ongoing project. The two Micronics surveys have provided useful information and an insight into what's flowing where, we've made a start but we will need to continue with further investigations over a longer term to realise the benefits.

Its early days and there has been no direct cost-benefit to Network Rail as yet. However, the project has demonstrated the benefits of Portable Clamp-On Ultrasonic flow measurement and that the option to hire or purchase a service with the necessary expertise for projects of this type is a viable alternative to product purchase.

There is potential for replication on-site, and the project is an example of how Clamp-On – Ultrasonic technology could be successfully implemented to gather information as part of an overall Water and Wastewater management process on similar sites. For further information please visit www.micronicsltd.co.uk.

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