Construction World March 2016

ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY

This is according to Leon Laubscher, HVAC engineer at Energy Part- ners – a leading energy solutions provider in South Africa, who says that heating via electrical elements is outdated and highly inefficient. “Heat pumps are a mature and reliable technology that has become much more affordable than pure electrical heating, especially in light of the rapid rise in electricity costs. This enables energy solutions providers to ‘lease’ heat pumps to consumers or business owners at a cost below the actual monetary savings that are achieved” Laubscher says that it is reassuring to see that more South Africans are beginning to invest in heat pump technology and says that the organisa- tion saw a massive spike in demand for heat pumps in 2015. “The wider installation of heat pumps in the country will result in significant pressure being taken off the national energy grid due to the decrease in electricity usage required for water heating applications.” While all industries and households with hot water requirements can benefit from the installation of heat pumps, organisations with large hot water requirements stand to benefit the most. Processes such as electro- plating, clean-in-place (CIP) processes and industrial cooking are just some examples of where these savings can be realised by replacing electrical heating with heat pumps, adds Laubscher. “We are also now developing centralised plants for high density housing, which will have more benefits for the developer and end-user.” Laubscher warns however that heat pumps must be well maintained to yield optimum results and that many users do not have the resources or expertise to maintain these systems for the duration of their life-cycles. “Many suppliers and installers also take shortcuts and provide an inefficient solution that requires significant upfront capital investment.” By outsourcing the heat pump solution, the client only pays a monthly outsourcing fee (which is exceeded by the monthly savings), no upfront capital is required and the heat pump is maintained by the supplier, he explains.“Outsourcing hot water requirements is therefore an ideal solution for companies or consumers to test the waters in a risk and hassle free manner, while maintaining the option to purchase the heat pump solution at any time.” Laubscher explains that a single industrial heat pump solution – including pipework, tanks and pumps – typically takes about five days from start to end As old and inefficient technologies, like electrical geysers are still being used, hot water production in the industrial and residential sectors accounts for a large portion of national energy demand. Heat pumps that have the potential to provide hot water at the same temperature while utilising up to 70% less electricity could replace this technology. > INCREASED USE CAN EASE SA ENERGY CRISIS

> A total of 25 Green Building Councils from around the world unveiled national commitments to transform the sustaina- bility of their buildings to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and ensure that the building and construction industry plays its part in limiting global warming to 2 degrees. Buildings currently account for around one third of global emis- sions. But green building is one of the most cost-effective solutions to climate change, which generates significant environmental, economic and societal benefits. Brian Wilkinson, CEO of Green Building Council South Africa, explains its commitment to introduce a Net Zero/Positive building certi- fication will cover energy and carbon emissions, and possibly also cover water and waste. It will leverage and be built upon the GBCSA’s current Green Star SA and Energy Water Performance certification schemes that already can assess whether a building is water or energy neutral or positive. However, it will also allow for specific recognition and acknowledgment of this net zero/positive aspect only, so as to elevate its importance. GBCSA also committed to six further significant goals by 2020. They are: • To secure statements of commitment in respect of the green building principles and practices for 60% of 50 of the leading and largest property owners in the country. GBCSA commits to introduce The Green Building Council South Africa (GBCSA) has made an ambitious commit- ment to introduce a Net Zero/Positive building certification scheme by 2020, and six more meaningful goals, at COP21 in Paris recently.

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of commissioning. “For residential applications this is reduced to less than a day and ‘down-time’ of only half a day can be expected.” “In light of the option to outsource hot water production now being available for industrial and residential users, this is an ideal time for South Africans to invest in the technology in order to s ave mone y and lessen the energy de- mand in the country,” concludes Laubscher. Leon Laubscher, HVAC engineer at Energy Partners.

CONSTRUCTION WORLD MARCH 2016