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The results of a seven month trial just published by Mitsubishi Electric have demonstrated an average Coefficient of Performance (COP) of 6.27 for a ground source heat pump air conditioning system and an impressive COP of 7.14 when the efficiency is maximised through heat recovery during the months when there is a mixed demand for heating and cooling.

The ground source system was designed to provide heating and cooling to the Hoddesdon headquarters of civil engineering and building contractor, VolkerFitzpatrick. It was installed by sustainable energy solutions provider, Cool Planet in conjunction with VolkerFitzpatrick and incorporates seven Mitsubishi Electric City Multi WR2 condensing units in conjunction with a closed loop ground array of 36 bore holes. These were arranged at a spacing of 5.5 metres and at a depth of 100 metres.

VolkerFitzpatrick designed its new building to replace outdated facilities, enhance the company’s corporate identity and showcase its sustainable credentials. The company’s Building Division carried out the design and build of the new office space, with the equipment installed to provide 100% of the heating and cooling demand for the building. VolkerFitzpatrick’s in-house building services department specified a range of energy efficient solutions to suit the overall building design.

A ground source heat recovery system was installed in conjunction with other technologies including PQFY heat pump boilers, solar thermal hot water preheating, an Ecodan® hot water generator, ground air technology, low energy light fittings, daylight saving lighting controls and photo-voltaic brise soleil.

Cool Planet was contracted by VolkerFitzpatrick to design and install a closed loop geothermal system to provide 100% of the heating and cooling load for its new corporate headquarters building. The location on the outskirts of Hoddesdon in Hertfordshire and the amount of surrounding land made it ideal for a ground source heat pump solution.

“First we carried out a feasibility study to determine the scale of the ground works required based on indicative peak heating and cooling loads,” explained Cool Planet’s Steve Gray. “We also carried out a thermal model of the building to ensure the correct sizing of the system to minimise energy consumption and capital costs.”

Both trench and vertical closed loop boreholes were considered, with boreholes preferred because they could be confined to particular areas of the site and in comparison to their trench counterparts impinged less on the construction works. In addition, there is a more consistent COP due to more stable ground temperatures.

“This was the regeneration of a brownfield plant compound and VolkerFitzpatrick’s plan was to use realistic and practical low energy design to reduce carbon emissions, both in construction and in use,” added Gray. “The pioneering three-storey office design had to utilise current best practice and sensible sustainable solutions with the company aiming to achieve a BREEAM Excellent rating.”

From the seven months of analysis it is clear that the ground source system was highly efficient and capable of dealing with the building’s heating and cooling requirements in an environmentally friendly way. It is also clear that system efficiency is maximised when heat recovery takes place during months when there was a mixed demand for heating and cooling. However, even when heat recovery was not being used, the ground source system was still able to produce very high COP’s.

“When we compare the results with alternative technologies and contrast expected efficiencies we estimated a 46% reduction in running costs compared to a chiller and gas boiler system as well as a 53% reduction in CO2 emissions,” added Gray. “Taking this a step further, the cost per m2 to heat and cool the building using the ground source system over the 7 months was £1.29/m2.

From the results it is clear that the building is actually performing better than envisaged at design stage, highlighting the efficiency of the Mitsubishi Electric ground source units and therefore enabling VolkerFitzpatrick to heat and cool their building in a highly environmentally friendly manner.

“We had anticipated monthly COP’s of between 4.0 and 6.0 at the design stage and the resulting 5.54 and 7.14 are a significant improvement which demonstrates the advantages of a heat recovery system,” said Gray.

For more details on the comprehensive design and installation services provided by Cool Planet, call 0870 850 9493 or visit www.cool-planet.co.uk.

For further information on the City Multi WR2 ground source system call 01707 282880 or visit www.mitsubishielectric.co.uk/aircon.

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Precision Technology Supplies Ltd, are pleased to announce we have extended our stock range of American Threaded Stainless Steel fasteners. Our stock range start at just 0un and goes up to 1” diameter. From Bolts and Nuts to Machine screws and Socket screw and all fastener types in between. Full details of the range are available in our handbook which is available to download at www.pts-uk.com/downloads.html.

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From the company that brought you Stainless Steel M2 & M2.5 Socket Button and Countersunk screws as standard. And offer M1.6 Socket Setscrews as Standard in A2. Precision Technology Supplies Ltd can offer the complete range of Socket Screw products in M3.5 from stock. This includes Socket Cap, Button, Countersunk and Setscrews. For full details please visit our website www.pts-uk.com or call our sales office for more details. Don’t forget to ask for a copy of the updated Microscrews Handbook showing full details of the range available.

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Precision Technology Supplies Ltd, the specialist supplier of Stainless Steel Metric Micro Fasteners, can now offer from stock M1.4 & M3.5 Socket Capscrews (Din 912). The range is as follows M1.4 x 2 to M1.4 x 16 and M3.5 x 5 to M3.5 x 30. Both diameters are available in A2 and A4 material. No minimum quantities – No expensive machining costs. Look out for more new ranges later this year – details to follow.

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Micro screw range gets bigger again. Precision Technology Supplies Ltd has again increased its stock range of Metric Micro Screws and Fasteners. We now offer possibly the largest range of Micro fasteners in Europe with stock sizes starting at just 1.0mm. Our range covers Machine screws, Socket screws, Hexagon head screws and self tapping screws as well as a wide variety of nuts and washers to suit. Machine screws are available in Slotted from M1 and in either Slotted, Phillips, Pozi or TX (Six Lobe) from M1.6. Socket screws are available from M1.4 in Cap, M1.6 in Set and M2 in Button and Countersunk. Most items are available in both A2 (304) and A4 (316) Stainless Steel. We can also offer Black finish as an option on all items.

Quality and speed of service are an important part of the whole package offered by PTS with same day despatch of stock items to every corner of the Globe.

As well as its wide range of Metric Micro Screws and Fasteners PTS also offer the full range of standard Metric Stainless Steel Fasteners and an extensive range of American Threaded Fasteners.

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World leaders gathering in Copenhagen for the UN Summit to hammer out a deal on climate change and carbon mitigation will grab the headlines now . But beyond that meeting is an opportunity for manufacturers of low carbon technologies and equipment and builders of low carbon, green and energy efficient buildings and vehicles to prosper – in a new framework of government and institutional support.

Low carbon energy is an area where Britain an d Europe seek to take the lead, and indeed there are signs that it is making progress. A pre-Copenhagen progress report recently outlined in London by Dr Pierre Dechamps, energy advisor for the European Commission showed the potential and the financial support for low carbon industries after Copenhagen.

Dechamps told the London meeting that the European Union was committed to a 20 per cent cut in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 – rising to 30 per cent if there was an international agreement at Copenhagen. In addition, Europe had targets of a 20 per cent share of renewable energy by 2020 and a 20 per cent increase in energy efficiency.

The European Commission has now developed the Strategic Energy Technology Plan, which has the specific objective of developing the energy technologies which will allow for what Dechamps calls ‘a new industrial revolution’ and deliver competitive growth with low carbon emissions.

The Plan proposes joint integrated planning and European industrial initiatives across a range of low carbon technologies. These include a European Wind Initiative; a Solar Europe initiative; a Bio-Energy Europe initiative; and a European Electricity Grid initiative.

In addition, the Plan includes more ambitious technologies. These are: a European carbon capture, transport and storage initiative; a Sustainable Nuclear Fission initiative; Fuel Cells and Hydrogen; and Nuclear Fusion.

These are supported by the seventh EU Framework Programme for Research and development, which has an energy budget of 2,265 million euros and an environment budget of 1,886 million euros.

Major energy companies have started to outline how this secure-affordable and low carbon future could happen. Shell recently suggested a three pronged energy policy: firstly a step-change improvement in energy efficiency; secondly the need to boost ‘complementary’ energy sources; and thirdly, to deploy carbon capturer and storage technology to enable Europe to have clean power from coal (and perhaps later gas too).

This so-called ‘trilemma ‘ was first coined by energy giant Eon and was also the theme of a recent event in London hosted by Eon and the Daily Telegraph. There, a panel of experts including the CEO of Eon and a former Energy Minister looked at the Copenhagen agenda and how it might help achieve these three aims. All agreed that energy efficient technologies were the key.

So low carbon technology is at the heart of all three – technology to bring about energy efficiency, and so cut energy costs and reduce electricity generator’s and customer’s carbon footprint. The market for that technology is there, and there are opportunities for those making and deploying it, as well an those using it.

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