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I N D U S T R Y N E W S
Winter tests prove credentials Top honours for engineering
Live trials of Mitsubishi Electric's award-winning Ecodan systems over
the past winter have clearly demonstrated that the low-carbon heating
excellence
system lives up to expectations and is more than capable of dealing A new footbridge in Aylesbury – the Bourg Walk – has been named
with whatever the British weather can throw at it. Overall Winner at the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE)
All three different models in the range have been put through their Engineering Excellence Awards 2009, the highest honour for civil
paces using state-of-the-art monitoring equipment to record the live engineering excellence in the Thames Valley region.
performance in four different locations around the UK. The three award categories included Large Projects, Small
The properties included a 3-bed terraced house, a 4-bed semi, a large Projects (under £5 million) and an Environmental category. All
5-bed detached home, and the BRE Visitor's Centre in Watford. Of the entries were required to have been substantially completed in the
houses, only the 3-bed property was newly built, with retro-fitted last twelve months. The awards were presented by Scott
Ecodan units replacing the traditional heating system in the other two. Steedman, vice president of the Royal Academy of Engineering, at
"We saw temperatures drop to -9ºC and -10ºC at times throughout the ICE Thames Valley Summer Ball in Egham.
the country which is exactly what we were hoping for as it meant we Howard Larkin, chair of the ICE’s judging panel, said: “The
were able to put theory into practice," explained Max Halliwell, product recipients of the ICE Engineering Excellence Awards 2009 have
manager for Mitsubishi Electric Heating. excelled in delivering projects which combine a commitment to
"All too often, different heating systems manufacturers make innovation, creativity and social value with a culture of safety and
different claims based on technical data or lab tests under very sustainability. I congratulate them all for demonstrating the
favourable conditions and this presents a confused message to the important contribution that civil engineers make to the Thames
public. Valley.”
"What we are now able to do is categorically state that Ecodan will Judgements on engineering excellence were based on criteria
deliver the performance necessary to cope extremely well throughout such as creativity and innovation, sustainability and environmental
the British year and show that this has been achieved in a variety of sensitivity and benefits to the client and wider public.
different properties and configurations."
The tests involved different combinations of hot water, and space
heating via both radiators and underfloor heating. The units in the
properties delivered COP's ranging from 3.0 to 3.33, despite some of
the lowest recorded outdoor temperatures for decades. A level of 3.33
shows that 2.33kW of renewable energy is being harvested from the
For all the latest job vacancies, see our
surrounding air for every 1kW of electricity used and Ecodan is Recruitment section on pages 36-39
therefore operating at an efficiency level of 333%.
"All four of these units have hit much higher COPs at some point over
Advertisements are also placed on our
the winter, but we wanted people to be able to trust the figures we use to support our marketing activities and that's why we have averaged
them out over the whole period," added Halliwell.
dedicated online recruitment site
"We are delighted with these results, especially as we know that we will be able to improve on them and they all go to help reinforce
our belief that Ecodan really is the most viable, mass-market alternative to gas and oil-fired heating," ended Halliwell.
jobs.bsee.co.uk
Unlike many other air source heat pump systems, Ecodan has been specifically designed for the UK market and deliberately tailored to
be easy to install by a suitably qualified plumber or installer who has been on the one-day course.
a71 Simple & Rapid Installations - in Minutes
a71 Joins plain-end Pipe - No Prep Required
a71 Reusable in Pipework Dis/Assembly
a71 Stress-Free Joining with Misalignment
a71 Problem Solver in Restricted Spaces
a71 WRc/WRAS Approved for Potable Water
Email: info@mvfh.co.uk • www.mvfh.co.uk
Reader Reply No 9 Reader Reply No 10
VISIT OUR WEBSITE: www.bsee.co.uk
JULY 2009 BUILDING SERVICES & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER 9
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