FANSIEQ
fossil fuel boilers today, this also has a negative impact on the direct emissions of greenhouse gases and local air pollution. Modern, energy-effi cient ventilation and air conditioning systems are an eff ective lever for sustainably reducing a building’s energy costs and carbon footprint. And just as importantly, air handling units (AHU) are the ‘lungs’ that help buildings breathe better.
Integrating the best of AHU and heat pump technology For buildings requiring fully centralised AHU systems, opting for an air-handling unit with an integrated heat pump package can be a more cost-eff ective solution. Heat pumps are highly versatile units which provide mechanical heating or cooling. They are ideal for any range of comfort applications and can be three to four times more effi cient compared to a modern boiler. The technology has improved signifi cantly over the past decades and is today a no-brainer alternative to fossil fuel technology, and a critical step to help owners decarbonise their building stock.
An air handling unit can be paired with an air-sourced heat pump featuring R290, a natural refrigerant with zero GWP, an inverter scroll compressor and EC fans to provide better temperature control, maximum effi ciency, and quieter operation. With variable speed technology and the excellent thermodynamic properties of R290, such a system can have a wide operating map, providing reliable operation down to –20°C ambient and delivering hot water up to 78°C. Talk to any planner, engineer or architect, and they will say that there is no one project that is the same, because no two buildings are the same. Renovation projects usually have even more constraints like weight, size and compatibility with the existing infrastructure. That’s why modularity and confi gurability are becoming more prevalent in equipment design. Modern ventilation units can comprise over 100,000 diff erent components. This lends to its highly customisable design, adaptable to virtually any building or architecture, another important factor for renovation projects. While replacing old machinery with high-quality equipment is core to achieving effi ciency and IEQ goals, it is not enough.
Assess, mitigate, manage The phrase ‘you can’t manage what you can’t measure’ is often associated with management philosophies in business and quality control. However, it also applies to buildings. As mentioned earlier, ventilation strategies which require
high fresh air intake can quickly become very energy-intensive. Whether it’s a new build or renovation project, incorporating sensor technology and HVAC plant controls will go a long way in enabling energy savings, without compromising on indoor environmental quality.
Sensor technology and system-level controls allow the HVAC system to work in a more energy-effi cient way, for example, by controlling fresh air ventilation based on occupancy levels (or CO2
concentration) and outdoor air temperatures. Thanks to variable speed technology and smarter control systems, ventilation units can deliver the ‘right’ amount of air needed to maintain IAQ, reducing the need for additional heating or
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cooling systems to kick in in order to maintain comfort. While sensors are a must-have requirement to improve
energy effi ciency in buildings, they are useless if not combined with a high-effi ciency air handling system – and vice versa.
Understanding HVAC carbon footprint to make sustainable choices Nowadays, with so many diff erent technologies and competitors in the marketplace, it is easy to become quickly overwhelmed. How do you know you’re choosing the right technology that will help you deliver your environmental and economic goals? Failing to demonstrate the environmental impact of an
HVAC system is no longer a nice-to-have for planners and engineers. In fact, failing to do so can stand in the way of obtaining construction permits to advance with a project, and even prohibit access to additional decarbonisation funding often made available by national and local bodies. Understanding this need, facility managers should consider
products under the Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) framework. EPD is a third-party verifi ed document in accordance with the ISO 14025, which transparently reports the environmental impact of a product or material, based on a product life-cycle assessment (LCA). There are LCA tools on the market which combine economic and environmental assessments into a single report and can compute operating and maintenance costs throughout the entire product’s lifecycle, taking into account the impact of waste heat recovery when applicable. It also takes into account location-dependent factors such as electricity price, energy sources, and grid factors. The goal is to make these interdependencies transparent and support decision-making around technology and design as early as the planning stage. In conclusion, investing in modern, energy-effi cient HVAC systems with sensor technology and smart controls isn’t just good for the environment – it’s good for your bottom line, the planet and society.
"According to the UK
Green Building Council, 19% of the UK’s carbon footprint comes from operational emissions
resulting from the energy required to heat, cool, and power buildings."
www.acr-news.com • April 2026 13
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