AIR CONDITIONING REFRIGERANTS
The demand for air conditioning is rising as people continue to work from home post pandemic.
work from home despite the end of restrictions, as Covid-19 caused a paradigm shift in work culture. After converting a spare room into an offi ce – decked out with heat-generating electrical equipment including computers and printers, or even building a new offi ce in the garden, people are keen to be as comfortable working at home as they were in their air-conditioned offi ce building. Simple fans and portable air conditioning units may not
provide adequate cooling, leading to growing interest in more effi cient and eff ective cooling solutions based on heat pump-based split systems. Fixed systems can maintain consistent temperatures throughout the day, contributing to enhanced comfort and productivity for remote workers. Decarbonisation On the legislative front, the UK is committed to achieving
net zero by 2050 and was one of the fi rst countries to include the target in
legislation.This is driving change at an accelerating pace. The government aims to have 600,000 heat pumps a year being installed by 2028, and in May 2022, launched a £450m scheme off ering heat pump installation grants of £5,000 as part of the UK’s Heat and Buildings Strategy. Sharp rises in energy costs are also focussing
people’s minds and stimulating interest in renewables. The government has signalled its intention to reduce the disparity between the cost of electricity and gas, to stimulate take-up of heat pumps and reduce the attractiveness of traditional gas boilers, which are being phased out in the UK.
Eventually fossil fuel boilers will be phased out, transforming the way people heat their homes. If heat
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pumps become a mainstream solution for domestic heating, it would signifi cantly lower the barrier for adopting residential air conditioning. With an outdoor unit discreetly sited in the garden,
homeowners would already be well on their way to having a fully functional air conditioning system. Coupled with this, more attractive indoor units are now available, which chime with interior décor, helping to overcome another barrier to adoption.
Smart technology
Air conditioning and heat pumps are also becoming an integral part of smart technology systems in people’s homes.
In the Cheshire home of renewables consultant Dave Meseck, high performance Toshiba heating and cooling equipment has been used in combination with solar photovoltaic (PV) and battery storage systems as part of a project to help future-proof the fi ve-bedroom property. Two 11kW Toshiba ESTIA air-to-water pumps operating
on lower global warming potential (GWP) refrigerant R32 were installed alongside two Toshiba MiNi VRF systems. David Meseck says the property is now ‘energy- neutral’ during the summer months, with generated and stored energy off setting electricity consumed from the grid.
After many years of the industry’s rising expectations, the nascent UK domestic air conditioning segment appears fi nally to be coming to fruition. Companies such as our own have the high effi ciency, thoughtfully-designed products to meet the requirements of homeowners seeking a comfortable, high quality indoor environment.
www.acr-news.com • September 2023 27
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