Building Management - News
The German government has made the use of new oil heating systems considerably more difficult. In addition, oil – compared with other energy sources - has by far the highest CO2 emissions and thus, the highest CO2 tax burden. In many cases, gas is therefore currently the preferred energy source for the heating market because gas is more climate-friendly than other fossil fuels, and the required heating technology is proven and cost-effective. Gas solutions can be used directly with renewa...
A survey ordered by Vaisala, a measurement technology company, shows that people would feel safer with more data on Indoor Air Quality (IAQ). The survey, which included over 4,000 respondents in the USA, France, Germany, and Finland, was conducted in the summer of 2021, studying people’s concerns regarding indoor air during the COVID-19 pandemic. More than one-third of the respondents are concerned about the indoor air quality in their place of work, and more than half said that concerns...
Mitsubishi Electric Trane HVAC US (METUS), a supplier of ductless and ducted Mini-split and Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) heat-pump and air-conditioning systems, announces the launch of the expanded Building Connect+, a new version of the cloud-based controls and monitoring platform. Building Connect+ is a pre-engineered, cloud-based secure controls and monitoring platform for controlling and managing CITY MULTI® systems as well as third-party devices with BACnet® connectivity. Well-s...
Johnson Controls-Hitachi announces the addition of five regional companies to its roster of North American distributors for the Hitachi Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) systems and SmartFlex Mini-Split systems. The new distributors strengthen the North American distribution footprint for these popular Johnson Controls-Hitachi products. Sustainable heat pump The new distributors are: Johnstone Supply of Waltham, Massachusetts, serving Massachusetts, and New Hampshire Engineered Building Sys...
Armstrong Fluid Technology announces new features for calculating and tracking energy-savings that are now available with its pump manager asset management solution. Design envelope pump The new ‘base case KW’ feature now allows users to determine the cumulative energy savings of a design envelope pump since it was commissioned. The utility rate feature allows users to enter local utility rates for accurate calculations of the financial savings. The local currency feature now s...
NovoCon® digital control valves are smart devices that provide precise control and communication with the Building Management System (BMS). Building managers can access system feedback and data remotely to continuously optimize HVAC system performance. With the new NovoCon® M, L, and XL digital actuators, Danfoss extends its range of smart actuators combined with pressure-independent balancing valves (PICVs) to achieve digital control for hydronic heating and cooling systems. The new di...
NevadaNano, the globally renowned innovator in gas detection sensor technology, has announced its partnership with Emerson, to jointly develop refrigerant gas detector products, which will provide a solution to the heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration (HVACR) industry, for refrigerant leak detection. NevadaNano - Emerson partnership “We are proud to partner with Emerson to develop essential solutions that can help lower the impact of existing HVACR equipment on the gl...
Producing green hydrogen calls for efficient water electrolysis. Reduced current ripple and grid harmonics increase water electrolysis efficiency; however, this often requires flexibility from power electronics. SEMIKRON offers extensive expertise to support power supply development for efficient green hydrogen production Key Take-Aways Following are the Key Take-Aways: What are different topologies and practical assemblies for green hydrogen generation? How do power electronics impact th...
Ofgem has appointed EDF to take on supplying Utility Point’s approximately 220,000 domestic customers. This follows a competitive process run by Ofgem to get the best deal possible for customers. EDF is offering customers a competitive tariff. Outstanding credit balances, including money owed to both existing and former customers of Utility Point, will also be honored. For existing Utility Point customers, energy supplies will continue as normal as they switch over to EDF on 18 Septe...
Though the end result may be the glow of a light bulb or the click of the kettle, the journey energy takes to reach homes is a long one that involves many people in a myriad of roles around the world. This means that the price of wholesale energy - the energy that people buy to supply their homes - is prone to fluctuation. While SO Energy and most energy suppliers will pass any savings on to the customers, and absorb rises in wholesale costs, in order to keep things affordable for them, there a...
EDF has stepped in to help customers left without a supplier after Utility Point ceased trading on 14 September 2021. EDF will take on approximately 220,000 Utility Point domestic customers. EDF has agreed to protect any money a customer may be owed and existing customers’ credit on their accounts will be transferred to their new account with EDF. Energy supply Customers will be matched to standard variable prices to provide a guaranteed rate through winter and protection against the ex...
Tanks are a vital part of so many processes and many of them need to be heated. There are almost as many ways to heat a tank as there are types of tanks. Steam coils, heat transfer systems, direct immersion, tank wraps or heat trace; the list goes on and on. Knowing that there are many different types of heat that can be effectively applied would drastically improve the best selection for the application. Tank heating systems What are the different types of tank heaters? They are going to dis...
The European Space Agency (ESA) has signed a contract with Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL) for communications services from Lunar Pathfinder, due to launch in 2024. Commercial Lunar Mission Support Services The Commercial Lunar Mission Support Services contract was signed between ESA’s Director of Human and Robotic Exploration, Dave Parker, and SSTL’s Managing Director, Phil Brownnett, on 15 September 2021 at The Royal Society in London. Amanda Solloway, UK Government Scien...
The latest round of financing from the UK Government’s Green Heat Network Fund (GHNF) will be key to ensuring that low-carbon district heating schemes are delivered from 2022, according to polymer pipework specialist, REHAU. Green Heat Network Fund (GHNF) The Green Heat Network Fund (GHNF) is the latest funding scheme, launched by the government’s Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy, building upon 2018’s Heat Networks Investment Project (HNIP). As part o...
Although air conditioner filters are often overlooked, they play an essential role. Filters keep the indoor air quality healthy by blocking dust, dirt, and debris from getting into the air that everyone breathes. And, as residents start to spend more time indoors as the season changes, keeping healthy indoor air quality becomes a necessity. When the filter is clogged, the AC unit will likely work much harder to pump air, using more electricity and reducing the unit’s lifespan. This means...
On September 6, Hami 50MW tower CSP station developed by Dongfang Electric Corporation (DEC) achieved full load power generation. The outlet salt temperature of the heat receiver reached the design value of 565℃, the main steam temperature is 535℃, and the grid-connected load was 50 MWe. The project was located in Hami, western China, one of the regions with the best solar energy resources in China. Heat collection system DEC has developed for this project a concentrating heat collection syst...
Panasonic Heating & Cooling Solutions is delighted to be returning as Silver Sponsor at ATMOsphere Europe 2021, 28th – 29th September. Organized by Shecco, ATMOsphere Europe has become the forum to discuss and drive the business case for Natural Refrigerants. Event topics Over the two-day event, Panasonic will highlight solutions that support a sustainable cold chain, particularly focusing on its CR Series of CO2 Condensing Units which deliver reliable and sustainable refriger...
Johnson Controls, the globally renowned company for smart, healthy and sustainable building solutions, has announced that it has joined the Digital Twin Consortium (DTC), an association dedicated to continued development of digital twin technology. Digital Twin Consortium (DTC) The DTC association’s membership includes dozens of technology leaders, such as Autodesk, Microsoft, Lendlease, GE Digital and Northrop Grumman. Johnson Controls joins a collaborative organization that pools resou...
The Phasedown of Hydrofluorocarbons - HFCs is upon us, and it will change how refrigerants are handled, transported, and stored. While a great deal of information has been shared concerning the safe use and transport of flammable refrigerants, little attention has been given to the new storage requirements. Standards and codes for the safe storage of flammable refrigerants will require more space, more sensors, and more safety protocols. Transitioning to Refrigerant technologies When the US P...
Following a year of disruption for the plumbing and heating sector, it is now more important than ever that industry professionals are doing their bit, in order to ensure gas safety is still considered first and foremost in UK homes. Gas Safety Week 2021 Marking Gas Safety Week 2021, Chris Riley, the National Operations Manager at Baxi Heating, commented “With many people making changes to their homes and servicing schedules being disrupted, it is vital that installers explain the reason...
Trane Technologies, a global climate innovator, has announced that it has signed an agreement to acquire Farrar Scientific, an internationally renowned company in ultra-low temperature control for biopharmaceutical and other life science applications. Farrar Scientific’s proprietary technology fills an unmet need for flexible, modular and efficient ultra-low temperature process and storage, including cooling and heating/thawing. The solutions can provide an alternative to large-scale free...
Trane Technologies plc, a global climate innovator, has been named to the Fortune 2021 list of the Best Workplaces in Manufacturing & Production. The list is based on more than 220,000 employee surveys conducted by Great Place to Work, a global authority on workplace culture. The survey captures overall employee experience, including sentiment about growth and development, as well as company values, innovation, and leader effectiveness. Manufacturing and prioritizing safety “Ou...
Hydrogen in the here and now family businesses as innovation drivers: this was the topic of the major hydrogen conference with medium-sized companies from Germany at the Machine Room in Berlin. Result of the hybrid meeting, in which more than 1000 visitors participated: Hydrogen will become increasingly important for many industries and all sectors in the future. Hydrogen Another important finding was that hydrogen, which is produced in a CO2-neutral manner, should be available for all areas...
After three successful Viessmann daheim shows in 2020, the company invites to the Viessmann daheim Summer Edition on September 13, 2021. The content will focus on the German Championships of the biathletes on the Arber. The show starts at 6:30 pm. Speakers on the panel As usual, moderator Tom Meiler will guide the viewers through the show. This time the guest in the studio is biathlete, Maren Hammerschmidt. Viessmann brand ambassador and former biathlete, Sven Fischer will be joining the panel...
A report published as part of the PROTECT COVID-19 National Core Study on transmission and environment assesses the UK construction sector’s efforts to build ‘COVID-secure’ workplaces. Evidence collected by the report’s authors at the Thomas Ashton Institute will be used to support efforts to keep the UK building safely as the economy unlocks. Using survey and interview data from four principal construction contractors, the Keeping the UK Building Safely report highlight...
QM Power and Purdue University announced findings from part one of a two-part study on the impact of QM Power motor technology on the efficiency (SEER) in residential HVAC systems and heat pumps. The result was a significant SEER increase of 1 on the 21-point scale. This announcement was made at the 12th International Conference on Compressors and their Systems by John Brehm of Purdue University and Dave Augustine, VP of Product Management and Engineering for QM Power. two-part study The focu...
Heater power control can be performed with one of three methods: Mechanical Contactor Solid State Relay Silicone Controlled Rectifier Many are not aware of the difference between the last two methods, Solid State Relay (SSR) and Silicone Controlled Rectifier (SCR) Power Control. Each of these methods has its advantages and disadvantages. Typically in a desire to have finer or more efficient control of an electric heater in a process, system owners will switch from an old-fashioned...
Frontier Service Partners (Frontier), a newly launched residential services company, is pleased to announce its acquisition of Haley Mechanical, which is headquartered in Dexter, Michigan. Haley Mechanical is one of the pre-eminent residential HVAC companies, based in Michigan and servicing the Ann Arbor area. Strategic partnership This partnership marks the inaugural acquisition for Frontier Service Partners, which was founded earlier in 2021, on the philosophy of putting people first, delive...
Trane® by Trane Technologies, a global climate innovator, has launched the “K-12 Playbook,” a new online resource center for parents and schools to help them create a more comfortable and efficient classroom environment for millions of children in the U.S. this school year. Trane also introduced its “Get Smart” webinar and podcast series featuring the nation’s foremost authorities on school environments, including scientists, school administrators, experts...
CoolSys™, the refrigeration, HVAC, engineering, and energy solutions company, announced it has acquired T&O Refrigeration, one of the largest independently owned refrigeration services companies in the Southeast region. With this acquisition, CoolSys expands its market presence throughout the Southeast with significantly increased market share in Georgia and Nashville, Tennessee. “As CoolSys continues to grow its market presence across the country, we’re excited that T&...
