Air
Curtains
Mitsubishi Electric Air Conditioning Systems - Takes proactive stand on co2 emissions
Company announces a dramatic vision for sustainable heating & cooling
Mitsubishi Electric is using
the heating, ventilation and air conditioning trade’s biggest
shows (RAC and H&V ‘07) to ask the industry to pause for thought
and question whether a growth in comfort cooling for the UK’s
homes is in the best interest of the consumer, the industry, the
country and the environment.
In addition, the company has shared its initial strategy on how
the commercial sector can actively respond to growing
legislation and the ambition of corporate customers to reduce
their own carbon footprint.
“The Stern Report has highlighted the catastrophic danger to
businesses of ignoring climate change, and we are responding to
this by announcing our own 100-day plan which will review our
operations and highlight ways in which we believe the industry
can act to reduce CO2 emissions, rather than increase them,”
explained Donald Daw, Air Conditioning Divisional Commercial
Director for Mitsubishi Electric.
“As a major industry player, we want to grow and sustain our
business as much as any other manufacturer, but to do this
without a fundamental review of the sustainability of this
approach is highly inappropriate and out of step with our core
values as a business,” he added.
Mitsubishi Electric estimates that the splits and VRF air
conditioning sector could account for up to 1,600,000 tonnes of
CO2 emissions per annum for cooling and that this figure could
increase to 2,400,000 tonnes of CO2 per annum (even with
increasing efficiency) by 2016 if current behaviour isn’t
changed.
The Company also estimates that through the active replacement
of older equipment, appropriate maintenance measures, better
informed equipment buying decisions and free cooling & heat
recovery, a considerable saving of CO2 can be made every year –
Mitsubishi Electric predicts this could reach as much as 482,000
tonnes of CO2 per annum in ten years time.
“We are aware that ‘Greenwash’ is everywhere and that some will
question our motives, but we simply believe it is time to start
reviewing fundamental and engrained thinking about what is
healthy for the industry’s future and develop new approaches,”
said Daw. “We plan to back our words with action on 7 June, when
we will announce our own plans for combating increased levels of
CO2 after we have concluded our 100-day review.
“We believe that air conditioning is a fact of life in the
modern world and that the commercial sector will continue to
grow, but we also know that the industry can deliver improved
sustainable technology to meet the heating and cooling needs of
the country,” added Daw. “We need to start by removing our
industry’s obsession with domestic air conditioning and act
responsibly by looking at what is actually needed rather than
simply trying to drive up sales.”
The country needs an ambitious growth in housing but at the same
time the building sector will have to respond to increased
pressure from Government to achieve zero carbon housing by 2016.
Daw also expects existing housing stock to become a key focus
for policy makers with 75 per cent of these properties still
expected to be in use in 2050.
“Space heating and hot water account for over 80 per cent of
each household’s CO2 output, and this is where I believe the
industry should focus and develop advanced heat pump technology
that can challenge the 1.6 million domestic gas boilers that are
sold each year in the UK,” explained Daw.
Mitsubishi Electric has developed heat pump boiler technology
that delivers a 30 - 52 per cent saving in CO2 emissions over
even the most modern and efficient gas boiler.
“It sounds a little extreme, but if every UK gas boiler sale was
replaced by a heat pump boiler, we could reduce emissions by
16,888,000 tonnes of CO2 by 2016,” said Daw.
The company recognises that domestic over heating is an issue at
certain times of the year and also accepts that air conditioning
may be necessary in some homes, such as in inner city hot spots.
However, until the industry has actually reviewed what the need
is, the most sustainable way to cool is through ventilation and
free cooling.
“Of course we want a healthy and growing market, but we realise
that traditional heating and cooling has to be challenged. We’ve
started to challenge our own thinking and we would encourage
others to do the same,” he ended.
Email:
pr@garnett-keeler.com