Event throws light on maintaining hygienic standards with energy efficiency

On September 28, Euroclima, which manufactures air-handling units and double-skin fan-coil units, and an associate of Faisal Jassim Trading Company, conducted a seminar on best practices in AHUs, at Hilton Abu Dhabi. The speaker, Bernward Ruegenberg, Technical Director at Euroclima, made a presentation highlighting hygiene-related requirements for AHUs.

Drawing attention to the need for complying with hygienic international health standard in AHUs, Ruegenberg said that it was of prime importance, as biological contaminants like bacteria, mould and other of micro organisms can breed in air conditioning systems and form a biofilm, which can get suspended in indoor air. This could pose a health hazard in the form of respiratory infections, lung diseases, mainly for people with weak immune system, especially children and the elderly. Other possible health problems, he said, were allergic illnesses, irritant effects and toxic effects.

Under the rubric of Hygienic Requirements and Energy Efficiency Testing for AHUs, Ruegenberg spoke about why hygienic air conditioners are a must in central AHUs and decentralised /domestic air conditioners, and put forward 10 hygienic requirements for good air quality. He also gave guidelines for technical measures that can be taken to reduce the risk of unhygienic conditions in AHUs.

The 10 requirements he dealt with comprehensively were regarding:

1. Casing materials (metal parts)
2. Non metallic parts
3. Construction details
4. General accessibility
5. Coils
6. Droplet separators
7. Condensate trays/drain pans
8. Filter sections
9. Drain trap/siphon
10. Fan motor sections

Under the topic, General AHU applications and hospital sector, he discussed European hygiene standards and hygiene requirements for ventilation and air conditioning systems and units. Ruegenberg supported and demontrated his presentation with visuals and graphs.

Ruegenberg also added that all parts in contact with the air flow should be made of materials which do not emit any substance harmful to health or provide a nutrient substrate for micro organisms – from the ceiling to the floor.

In conclusion, Ruegenberg said that for air conditioning units to provide good air quality, we need to ensure that hygiene conforms to AHU execution, there is proper maintenance and cleaning and that there are regular hygiene inspections.

Explaining how to ensure hygiene standards to conform to AHU execution, he listed the following:

1) Specify AHU execution to be according to actual and sophisticated hygiene standards, treating this matter specifically:

• VDI 6022 – part 1 – or all HVAC applications

• DIN 1946 – part 4 – for hospital applications

2) Ask for manufacturer’s declaration of conformity for the delivered units

3) Specify manufacturer to provide third party-certification of conformity from independent accredited laboratory, specialised in tests such as ILH – Berlin or equivalent

4) Specify material quality, suitable for environment and use

Experts talk of how buildings can be made to consume 29% less energy, at little or no cost

Buildings account for about 40 per cent of all energy consumed on Earth, and making even small changes, or retrofitting existing structures, can triple savings in energy and water costs, as well as create healthier environments for residents, experts at the ‘Green Retrofitting’ forum said. The forum took place on October 6 in Dubai.

The panel of speakers

The second in a series of Green Brunch events, organised by The Energy and Environment Park (ENPARK), a sustainable community model for commercial and residential use and a member of TECOM Investments’ Sciences Cluster, the forum gathered several regional experts who shared their insights with the delegates.

Countering the misperception that retrofitting is a costly, laborious and, hence, a dispensable process in the backdrop of economically strained times, speakers at the event underlined that making a building green need not be expensive, and for every minor retrofit the returns on investment can be tangibly significant –  ecologically, economically and socially. As much as 29% of energy consumed by buildings can be reduced at little or no cost, the experts pointed out, quoting the fourth assessment report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

Ahmed Lootah, Senior Business Development Manager, ENPARK, said: “It cannot be sufficiently emphasised that retrofitting remains an attractive proposition even in a tough economic scenario, and ought to be seriously considered by owners and residents of all buildings, whether residential or commercial. Here is one activity where the return on investment is guaranteed to be significant in terms of saving maintenance costs and improving the living conditions for the tenants.”

Ahmed Lootah

Jagath Gunawardena, Manager-Projects, Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, spoke on the topic, ‘Is Greening an Existing Building Costly?’ The headquarters of Dubai Chamber, on Dubai Creek, was the subject of an extensive retrofitting exercise. In 2009, it became the first LEED-Certified Existing Building (EB) in the Arab world.

Gunawardena noted that initiatives, such as capturing condensate water from the building’s air-conditioning systems; installing smart CO2 sensors, which regulate and maintain the ideal flow and quality of fresh air into buildings; and optimising elevator design went a long way in saving water and power. Capturing condensate, he said, if practised by malls, airports and factories, would result in the recycling of substantial amounts of water. Likewise, changing the thermostat by one degree would impact an energy bill by nine per cent, he added.

Sougata Nandi, Executive Director of Asset Management and Sustainable Development for TECOM Business Parks Operations, spoke on the topic, ‘Making Green Retrofitting Work: A Developer’s Perspective’. He said, “Making a building green is no more a technical challenge but increasingly a leadership and commercial one, as we are required to provide an economic justification for doing the right thing.”

The ‘Green Buildings’ Green Brunch follows the first of the series, themed ‘Energy Efficiency’, which ENPARK conducted in July 2010. The third and the fourth events will discuss water and waste management. The ‘Green Brunch’ series features presentations and open debates to help raise awareness of new energy and environment-related technologies and solutions available in the market.

Abu Dhabi seminar to focus on risk analysis with a view of financing solar-cooling projects

As part of the TREE project (Transfer Renewable Energy & Efficiency), the Renewables Academy Berlin (RENAC) will on November 7 and 8 organise a seminar on the financing of projects on solar thermal, solar cooling and energy efficiency in buildings, at the Hotel Crowne Plaza Yas Island.

The seminar is for investors, project developers, decision makers and engineers. According to the organisers, participants will receive an overview of the technology and in-depth knowledge of their costs. There will be a focus on risk analysis and evaluation in order to make intelligent financial decisions. Participants are expected from the United Arab Emirates and MENA countries, the organisers added.

RENAC will, from November 2 to 4, conduct another seminar, on solar thermal plants.

Since the TREE project began in 2008, it has been providing support to build a sustainable energy supply through capacity building and transfer of expertise in developing and emerging countries. Participating countries in 2010 are the signatory countries to IRENA, and the 14 participating countries from TREE 2008 and 2009. According to the organisers, so far, the project has trained more than 600 participants from various ministries, research institutions, companies or NGOs; including many participants from the UAE and the MENA region.

According to the organisers, the aim of the seminars in Abu Dhabi is to impart key stakeholders with the relevant knowledge for the rapid expansion of clean energy. The UAE have set itself the goal of producing seven per cent of electricity from renewable energy sources by 2020. To achieve that objective, the organisers feel, it is particularly important to train local professionals who are involved in the development and implementation of projects.

The TREE project is funded by the International Climate Change Initiative of the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU), following a decision of the German Bundestag. The project was awarded in the framework of the UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development and is a partner of the Sustainable Energy Europe Campaign of the EU.

For details, contact…

Anja Haupt
E-mail: haupt@renac.de
Tel: 030-526 895 8 – 73
Fax: 030-526 895 8 – 99
URL: www.renac.de

DuPont to provide consultation and coaching to supervisors and top management

In a recent communiqué, Aggreko, has announced its collaboration with DuPont Sustainable Solutions (DSS) to further improve its safety standards at its international headquarters in the UAE.

According to the announcement, DuPont will provide comprehensive safety management consulting and coaching for all Aggreko supervisors, as well as representatives from top management. Starting with its staff in Dubai, approximately 180 people will undergo behaviour-based training that focuses on safety observations and the management of on-going dialogue with employees to encourage safe work practices, Aggreko added.

The DuPont engagement is an integral part of the commitment by Aggreko management to constantly and consistently improve its safety management system to ensure the safety of employees, processes and equipments, said Aggreko.

Expressing his thoughts on the collaboration, Colin Gaston, Operations Director, Aggreko International Projects, said, “DuPont is globally recognised as one of the safest companies in the world. Based on its know-how, expertise and established methodologies gained from advising hundreds of manufacturing companies worldwide, we trust DuPont can provide our company with solutions to help us achieve world-class safety standards.”

Wael Mansour, Project Manager at DuPont Sustainable Solutions Training Solutions, Middle East, added: “This is a challenging project, considering the wide range of activities within Aggreko. However, the full commitment and high level of enthusiasm across the organisation, from top management down to shop-level workforce, serve as key drivers that allow Aggreko to implement the right changes in order to achieve best results.”

DuPont Sustainable Solutions, which has been operating in the region for over 10 years, implements safety programmes as an owner/operator, the communiqué added.

Supplier seminar an addition to the building and construction industry conference

According to a news release from the organisers, some of the construction industry’s influential spokespeople are lined up to present and discuss burning issues, challenges and predictions for the market at The Big 5 Conference 2010, that will take place at the Dubai World Trade Centre from November 22 to 25. C-suite executives, including Thomas Barry, the CEO of Arabtec; Abdul Majeed Al Fahim, the Chairman of Pearl Dubai and Samer Afra, Executive Vice President and member of the board at Al-Arrab Contracting, are few of the speakers who will participate.

 The Big 5 has created a series of conference sessions and supplier seminars to address key issues for the industry, said the announcement. The topics include The Global Construction Market: Returning to Business; Managing Price Fluctuations and Lowering the Cost of Construction; and Human Resources, Developing Skills and Retaining Staff.

 According to the organisers, the Supplier Seminar is a new addition to this year’s conference, aimed directly at the supply market, and will have the following topics on the anvil: New Products and New Sales, Developing Contracts and Managing Relationships and Quality Standards and the Integrated Supply Chain.

Speaking about the conference, Simon Mellor, Senior Vice President of construction at DMG events, the organisers, added, “We have a fantastic line up of speakers this year, with some of the most knowledgeable professionals from the industry facilitating debate and discussions about real business challenges and best practice.

 “The new suppliers’ seminar is the first time The Big 5 has had a dedicated programme for the supply sector, and is a direct result of feedback from exhibitors and visitors, who felt that there was a need for this kind of forum.”

For further information, visit www.thebig5exhibition.com.

Royal Gulf appointed as its UAE distributor

Francesco Boaro

Mekar, a central air conditioning company, has announced that it has opened its own dedicated sales and service centre in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and will soon be opening similar offices in Qatar and Abu Dhabi. Aliseo Group, the Italian company, which owns Mekar, has said that it has recently appointed Royal Gulf, which was part of the regional conglomerate, Koohiji Group, as its distributor in the UAE.

According to the announcement, Royal Gulf will now be selling various HVAC products like chillers, ventilation fans, insulation materials, cooling towers and filters in all the GCC countries.

In this context, Francesco Boaro, President, Aliseo Group, said: “The objective and efforts behind making further investments in the GCC region is based on the perception that the long-term outlook for the construction industry in this region is positive, and likely to remain so in the future. The recent acquisition of Royal Gulf will enable the Aliseo Group to spread its sales network across the GCC countries and bring an array of high-quality HVAC products and solutions from Italy.”

Arun Tuli, Managing Director of Mekar and Royal Gulf, added: “Now customers can buy Mekar products directly from Mekar rather than dealing through distributors. This not only provides price competitiveness, but also gives confidence to the customer about after-sales services and warranties directly from the manufacturers.”

Tuli further said that the company has expanded its product offerings with the introduction of a new range of Eurovent- certified AHUs, hygienic AHUs and green fan coil units.

Mekar claims that it has supplied air conditioning products to many of the region’s iconic properties, including Burj Al Arab, Burj Khalifa and the Yas Marina hotel in Abu Dhabi, among others in the Middle East.

Urges Arab real estate developers at Cityscape Global to emulate Dubai by switching to district cooling

According to an announcement by Emirates Central Cooling Corporation (Empower), it has urged Arab real estate developers participating in Cityscape Global 2010, which took place at Dubai World Trade Center to switch to district cooling solutions, following the example of major Dubai-based developers. The event took place from October 4 to 7.

Empower reportedly stressed the importance of district cooling, which according to it is regarded as an ideal and economical solution, to be used in residential areas, businesses and hotels, due to multiple benefits such as reduced operating costs, cheaper maintenance, energy conservation and environment protection.

The report quoted Ahmad Bin Shafar, CEO of Empower, as saying: “The adoption of district cooling in the UAE is gaining great momentum. We are looking forward to the day when we will stop using conventional air conditioning and totally switch to district cooling solutions, especially in the major real estate projects in the UAE.”

Empower said that it is providing district cooling service to a range of projects in Dubai, including Dubai International Financial Center, Dubai Healthcare City, Jumeirah Beach Residence, Business Bay and City Of Arabia.

According to Empower, it is building a district cooling infrastructure in Dubai because the company firmly believes that district cooling has huge potential in the region as an alternative to conventional air conditioning systems.

The operational savings percentage in a residential unit compared to conventional air conditioning technologies ranges between 40% and 45%, empower said.

In this context, it needs to be remembered that Empower was established to provide energy-efficient district cooling services to large-scale real estate developments. Empower, therefore, obviously believes that district cooling service achieves economies of scale by using centralised plants instead of individual cooling units in each building. The centralised system results in lower capital and operating costs, thus reducing air conditioning set-up and energy costs per building, believes Empower.

Nearly 66% of the participants at Cityscape Global were from the UAE, and 12 Arab companies exhibited at the show, the report stated.

Hassan Youness second engineer in the UAE and third in the Middle East to receive HBDP certification

According to a recent announcement by DC Pro, Hassan Youness, an engineer with the organisation, has earned a High-Performance Building Design Professional certification from ASHRAE. He is the second person in the UAE to receive HBDP Certification, the third in the Middle East and the 155th worldwide, the announcement added. DC Pro further noted that the certification programme identifies individuals who demonstrate that they have the necessary training and tools for the design of high-performance buildings that live up to their performance capability.

In this context, ASHRAE President Gordon Holness said: “An ASHRAE certification benefits building owners, employers and individuals. Firms who employ ASHRAE-certified engineers are better able to promote their services, and individuals who are certified, approach their design responsibilities with greater confidence. ASHRAE certification helps professionals demonstrate that they have mastered a certain body of knowledge and can provide outstanding services in their area of expertise.”

According to DC Pro, the content of the exam includes sustainability concepts, HVAC and sustainable processes and environmental improvement programmes and rating systems, as also, energy analysis; indoor environment; controls and monitoring; benchmarking with performance metrics; water conservation, commissioning in sustainable construction; and operation and maintenance of high-performance buildings.

Emerson optimistic about its ZX units, making a mark with it in Saudi Arabia

Globally speaking, 37% of Emerson’s business in 2009 came from new products, revealed Amitesh Singh, Manager Business Development for the MEA region of Emerson. Singh said the figure represented a significant milestone for the company, as it indicated the company’s sharp leaning towards investment in R&D.

In the region, Singh said, Emerson was equally active in its product-development initiatives. Taking cognisance of local conditions, the company has brought about changes to products, in effect “glocalising its products”. Case-in point, the company’s ZX condensing units, which are applied in the region in restaurants, cold stores, supermarkets, small cold rooms and bakeries, all of which require precise temperature control, in Singh’s words.

“The ZX, which uses scroll technology, saves 20% of energy bills,” Singh said. “In addition, there is its low-noise characteristic. New customers do like the ZX.”

Added K Jayakumar, the company’s Director of Sales and Marketing for the MEA region: “The ZX has broken barriers. The region is used to semi-hermetics but has accepted scroll for refrigeration. The ZX is gaining traction in the region. At the same time, you can’t do away with semi-hermetics, especially for low-temperature applications.”

Generally speaking, the digital scroll technology is picking up in the region, said Tarundeep Singh, the company’s Assistant Marketing Manager. “The digital scroll modulates the capacity of the compressor to meet load requirements and, so, gives energy savings,” he said. “It offers precise temperature and humidity controls of +/- 0.5C.”

Emerson is now striving to make a mark with the scroll in Saudi Arabia, which follows a 60Hz cycle. The company, Jayakumar said, has a strong market participation involving its semi-hermetic units. “We are now trying to protect that brand equity by taking things to the next level by going with the scroll,” he added.

Company showcases sustainable high performance building solutions at its Abu Dhabi conference

Carrier introduced innovative new products and services during its Middle East HVAC Engineering Conference, with a focus on sustainability and high-performance building solutions. The conference took place in September. Sixteen speakers presented solutions for improving energy efficiency to an audience of nearly 300 building professionals, demonstrating how to drive sustainability forward in the Middle East.

In his welcoming remarks, Carrier President, Geraud Darnis discussed Carrier’s intent to work with owners, design consultants and contractors to tackle the issue of energy consumption. “Few innovations shaped modern life more dramatically than the ability to control indoor climate, with buildings and cities throughout the Middle East made possible by this invention,” said Darnis. “As remarkable as Willis Carrier’s invention of modern air conditioning is for our society, today we are presented with a challenge and a new reality. We must all work together to shape the sustainable buildings and cities of the future.”

At the event, Carrier formally launched the latest addition to its portfolio of water-cooled chillers, the Evergreen 19XRD, Carrier’s largest single-piece chiller employing non-ozone depleting refrigerant HFC-134a. The company also launched Aquaforce 30XW, a new generation of water-cooled liquid chillers, which according to the company, offers flexible, energy-efficient solutions for commercial building owners in high-ambient conditions.

During the conference, Carrier also organised a series of 12 engineering workshops, focusing on the application of new products and technologies to achieve the Middle East region’s goal of sustainable development.

The company said that with a strong focus on sustainability, it is committed to developing new products, technologies and resources to help the HVAC industry satisfy the growing demand for environmentally-responsible, high-performance buildings. John Mandyck, Carrier’s vice president for Sustainability & Environmental Strategies, explained, “At Carrier, we believe green products must start at a green company, which is why we have incorporated environmental stewardship into our products, services, operations and culture over the past two decades.”

A natural evolution of Carrier’s approach to sustainability is the AdvanTE3C Solutions Center, a new global group of Carrier Experts in Efficiency and Environment focused on developing sustainable building solutions. Michel Grabon, director of the Center, introduced the new AdvanTE3C engineering capability, which applies today’s technology in an innovative fashion to achieve even greater energy efficiency and environmental benefits for sustainable buildings.

Speaking on the occasion, Paul Fraipont, Managing Director of Carrier Middle East, said: “We see governments, customers, and industry stakeholders across the Middle East paying increasing attention to the sustainability of buildings and communities. Carrier shares this environmental commitment and is bringing to the region new high- technology products consistent with this vision.”