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Dr Marcus George , CEO and Partner, Engineering Consortium Consulting Engineers (ECCE): ‘It is possible for the UAE to effectively mitigate the threat and severity of damage’ THE ECCE TEMPLATE FOR RAIN- RESILIENT INFRASTRUCTURE June 2024 US$ PUBLICATION LICENSED BY IMPZ US$ PUBLICATION LICENSED BY IMPZ US$ PUBLICATION LICENSED BY IMPZ US$ PUBLICATION LICENSED BY IMPZBuilding construction industry stakeholders discuss strategies and solutions for a rain-resilient region REGULATION ROUNDUP ENERGY-LABELLING PROGRAMMES Dalip Singh, AHRI LICENCE TO CHILL AIR-COOLED VS WATER-COOLED SYSTEMS Dan Mizesko, U.S. Chiller Services International FILTER FOCUS THE FUTURE AND PROSPERITY OF SUSTAINABLE CITIES Dr Iyad Al-Attar, independent air filtration consultant ON THAT DAY IN June 2024 EMPOWER RECEIVES ‘LEADING DISTRICT COOLING COMPANY’ RECOGNITION FROM DUBAI SUPREME COUNCIL OF ENERGY ASHRAE, GSO SIGN MoU NEWS • Daikin celebrates its 100th anniversary • EIA sets out key Green Policies for the next British government • European associations unite to launch IAQ manifesto US$ PUBLICATION LICENSED BY IMPZ US$ PUBLICATION LICENSED BY IMPZ US$ PUBLICATION LICENSED BY IMPZ US$ PUBLICATION LICENSED BY IMPZVOL. 19 NO. 06 JUNE 2024 LICENCE TO CHILL CONTINUING THE DEBATE: AIR-COOLED VS WATER-COOLED SYSTEMS It is important to factor in the cost of water in chilled water plant efficiency, says Dan Mizesko, U.S. Chiller Services International REPORT UAE'S AIR CONDITIONING MARKET SHOWS SIGNIFICANT GROWTH IN 2023 Packaged Air Conditioner (PAC) segment has reached nearly 526,650 units, with a value of approximately USD 594 million, reflecting a 4.3% increase from the previous year, says BSRIA Q&A LCACs Tugrul Kumal, Hisense Middle East, emphasises the importance of ongoing training, monitoring and maintenance TRANSITIONING TO LOW-GWP REFRIGERANTS HFOs often offer lower Total Cost of Ownership than ammonia and CO 2 , says Matt Spalding, Honeywell Energy and Sustainability Solutions REGULATION ROUNDUP POLICY FRAMEWORK FOR APPLIANCE ENERGY EFFICIENCY Energy-labelling programmes are highly effective and economical for conveying information, enabling people to make more efficient decisions when buying, says Dalip Singh, AHRI FILTER FOCUS THE FUTURE AND PROSPERITY OF SUSTAINABLE CITIES With the onset of each dusk come warnings about the consequences of rising anthropogenic emissions, says Dr Iyad Al-Attar, independent air filtration consultant 06 28 52 44 46 32 www.ccme.news 3 COVER STORY BUILDING RAIN RESILIENCE REGULARS 56 Regional News 62 Global News 66 Quoteyard 04 eDItor'S note 12 page ‘Thunder The impact of the April 16 rains in Dubai, and strategies and solutions in the age of climate change rattled the windows’June 2024 4 A BOUT 7-8 years ago, I was driving near one of the then newer developments in Dubai with Sougata Nandi, who many of you would know as the author of the well-received book, Energy Management in Real Estate: The Secrets to Success, when he pointed to a commercial mid-rise and said, “That’s a LEED Platinum building.” Then, after a momentary sigh, he added, “Well, it used to be Platinum; today, it wouldn’t even qualify as silver.” I was reminded of the drive during a relatively recent interaction with another industry associate, who questioned the long-term sustainability credentials of quite a few buildings in the region and pointed to the decline in the performance of HVAC and electric equipment in them. He bemoaned the fact that the pumps and chillers installed in them had deteriorated in performance and that worryingly enough, many of them remained unattended, simply because their owners had not bothered to renew energy- saving contracts. He called them myopic, negligent and lazy enough not to explore viable low-cost means to maintain the energy efficiency of their buildings. It's not just pumps and chillers, though. What about leaking ducting systems, which for want of proper installation, to begin with, followed by years of ill maintenance, in many cases, are wreaking havoc on the environment through triggering heightened indirect greenhouse gas emissions. It would be no exaggeration to say that billions of UAE Dirhams or Saudi Riyals are being lost owing to lack of air duct tightness in buildings in the region. Again, are there solutions available to ensure that the valuable thermal air reaches its intended destination of the built environment? Yes, there are, and by neutral accounts, they are not expensive, as a cost-benefit analysis would quickly reveal. So, what are we doing about our poorly performing buildings? No doubt, there are well- meaning building-retrofit programmes, but the overriding ‘business as usual’ mindset is counter-intuitive in an ideal eco-world, which is conducive to climate change mitigation. The climate change-induced April 16 floods in many parts of the UAE and Oman ought to be a strong wake-up call that no country is insulated from the threat of global warming. April 16 is the topic of the cover story in this issue, and it has opened two fronts of action – legacy issues like energy efficiency and IAQ and, now, rain resilience. We are up against it, but consolingly so, have the means to minimise the damage. Jeremy McDonald Principal of Guth DeConzo Consulting Engineers, in New York, writes on IAQ and building tracing. He served as the technical consultant to the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority in development of an IAQ guideline for Higher Education in NY: “Covid-19 Response Guide, State University of New York”. Dan Mizesko Managing Partner/President, US Chiller Services International, writes on issues relating to chilled water systems, including operation & maintenance. Dalip Singh Senior Technical Analyst, AHRI MENA, writes on HVACR-specific regulation issues. Dr Iyad Al-Attar Independent air filtration consultant, writes on specific science and technology issues relating to Indoor Air Quality, including airborne particles. Kandasamy Anbalagan Managing Partner, Proleed Engineering Consultants, writes on the need for upholding time-tested engineering principles, which would only serve to complement advances in technology. Omnia Halawani Co-Founder & Co-CEO, GRFN Global, writes on MEP consultancy- related issues. Krishnan Unni Madathil Auditor, Bin Khadim, Radha & Co. Chartered Accountants, carrying out an analysis of the market, writes on business opportunities for the HVACR industry. Editor Surendar Balakrishnan surendar@cpi-industry.com Features Writer Hamna Sheikh hamna@cpi-industry.com Advertising Enquiries Frédéric Paillé +971 50 7147204 fred@cpi-industry.com Judy Wang Our representative in Asia (except India) +852 307 80 826 judywang2000@vip.126.com Deep Karani Our representative in North America +1 365 885-6849 deep.karani@cpimediagroup.com Design Head Ulysses Galgo uly@cpi-industry.com Webmaster Chris Lopez chris@cpi-industry.com Database/Subscriptions Manager Purwanti Srirejeki purwanti@cpi-industry.com Published by Founder, CPI Media Group Dominic De Sousa (1959-2015) Co-Founder & Commercial Director Frédéric Paillé fred@cpi-industry.com EMPANELLED COLUMNISTSCo-Founder & Editorial Director Surendar Balakrishnan surendar@cpi-industry.com Head Office PO Box 13700, Dubai, UAE Web: www.cpi-industry.com Printed by: Jaguar Printing Press L.L.C © Copyright 2024 CPI Industry. All rights reserved. While the publishers have made every effort to ensure the accuracy of all information in this magazine, they will not be held responsible for any errors therein. REGRESS, REGRET Visit our website: climatecontrolme.com/digital Also available at Get the next issue of Climate Control Middle East early! Surendar Balakrishnan Editor @BSurendar_HVACR Climate Control Middle East magazine proudly supports the UAE President’s initiative of extending the ‘Year of Sustainability’ to the whole of 2024. EDITOR’S NOTEUNBEATABLE EFFICIENCY. REVOLUTIONARY DESIGN. The unique square design, combined with the exclusive patented refrigerant distributor, makes the SQD the most efficient dry-expansion evaporator available on the market. Learn more at bitzer.de/SQD_en // mail@bitzer.ae SQD SERIES June 2024 6 A PPLIANCE Energy Efficiency Package, in the context of energy efficiency, typically involves regulations for setting energy efficiency standards for appliances, raising awareness on the importance of energy conservation, and providing incentives for manufacturers and consumers to adopt more energy-efficient technologies. The second article of this series, in the April 2024 issue of Climate Control Middle East, covered the regulation in detail. This article focuses on detailing out information – raising awareness, and the need and role of incentives. Information policy instruments help reinforce the public understanding of more efficient products and help with comparing among products. Energy- labelling programmes are the most effective and economical means of transmitting information. It is information that helps people make more efficient choices in what they buy and how they use energy. Incentives, in the forms of rebates, grants and other financial offers, encourage consumers and manufacturers by making investment in and development of efficient appliances more attractive. Incentives also drive innovation and the adoption of new technology and practices. Objectives of an energy- labelling programme Energy labels provide a clear and simple indication of the energy efficiency and other key features of products at the point of purchase. They makes it easier for consumers to save money on their household energy bills and contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emission. The labelling of appliances works best as a complement to appliance standards such as MEPS. The main objectives of energy labelling include: • Helping consumers make informed choices on energy use and savings among the labelled products • Creating impact on the energy savings in the medium and long run • Competing in international markets, where norms for energy efficiency in many countries are mandatory • Helping consumers understand which products have the lowest total cost Types of labels There are two main types of labels: 1. Comparative 2. Endorsement APPLIANCE ENERGY EFFICIENCY POLICY Saying that energy-labelling programmes are the most effective and economical means of transmitting information, Dalip Singh adds that information helps people make more efficient choices in what they buy and how they use energy Dalip Singh is Senior Technical Analyst, AHRI MENA. He may be reached at DSingh@ahrinet.org. REGULATION ROUNDUP EES&L Comparative labels A comparative label enables consumers to compare the energy consumption of the specific product with defined rating slabs, and allows the consumer to compare multiple models of the same product, such as RACs. For example, a comparative label varies from 1-star to 5-star, where 5-star- labelled products are the most efficient and 1-star-labelled products are the least efficient. Mandatory comparative labels are more common, globally. Comparative labels usually communicate in two ways: o A quick visual rating o Detailed data (to cite some examples, actual kilowatt- hours (kWh), running costs and capacity/size) Endorsement labels This label only indicates whether the product is energy-efficient or not and does not include details such as the product’s energy consumption, energy efficiency ratio or any other parameter to compare with other products. An endorsement label: • Identifies the energy efficient models • Generally, shows no product- specific information PART 3www.ccme.news 7 • Is part of a voluntary programme but has rules around its use, which must be complied with • Can be updated more rapidly than a comparative energy label • Is often linked to High Efficiency Performance Standards, or HEPS, which are, in turn, used for incentives Label design principles People must be able to easily read and understand the content to make informed purchasing decisions. From illustrations and colours to word choice, all elements of a successful energy label must work together to support the consumer experience. Raising awareness Energy labels are an important public-facing tool used in more than 80 countries to promote efficient appliances and stimulate technological innovation. Through strategic designs and rating scales, energy labels help consumers differentiate more efficient appliances and equipment, leading to long-term cost and energy cuts. Once the label is designed, strategic dissemination and communication ensure widespread understanding and acceptance. • Effective label programmes require buyer awareness-raising campaigns • Buyer purchasing decisions that favour energy-efficient and high-quality products ultimately provide a “pulling” force in the market • Encouraging consumers and others to buy products at the high end of efficiency and quality creates market demand • Retailer training programmes have been successful in many countries Consumers also count on retailers to explain differences among products bearing different star ratings. However, it is important to ensure that the salespeople have accurate information. For example, they must have the ability to inform consumers about more efficient types of air conditioners, which may not be clear from the label. The success of energy-labelling programmes depends on the ability to connect with people purchasing appliances. By collecting intentional data, regulators and other label stakeholders can amplify the label programme – allowing technical implementation to run in parallel with growing consumer trust. Expanding these best practices across the globe would support countries to realise the full benefits of energy-efficiency programmes, and ensure customers are able to access high-quality energy- saving appliances and equipment. Incentives Incentives make efficient options more attractive and hasten the upgrade and replacement of appliances. They also The most effective labels are visually intuitive Pick one label design and stick to it Labels work in different ways to reflect cultures and different perceptions It takes years for buyers to become familiar with labels Letters vs numbers, language, left to right ranking Clear and easy to understand Less information is betterJune 2024 8 encourage the use of new technologies and practices. Promoting energy efficiency investment and financing has been one of the key priority areas of governments, globally. Rapid upscaling of investment in energy efficiency also depends on enhancing access to low-cost financing, particularly in emerging and developing economies. The cost of capital provides a critical benchmark to assess the risk and return preferences of investors and the pricing of money in the wider economy and can act as a lever for financial flows to influence prices and choices in the real energy economy. Incentives have long been used to promote energy efficiency through traditional demand-side management (DSM) programmes. However, over the years, the role of incentives has changed. The goal is no longer simply to increase the market penetration of energy-efficient products in the current programme year, essentially buying load reduction. Instead, the goal of energy efficiency programmes is to establish sustained market share of products over time, even after incentives are discontinued. Incentives can play an important role in market transformation, essentially acting as a catalyst to jump-start markets and overcome initial barriers. Incentives serve many important functions in overcoming market barriers typically targeted by market transformation programmes, including: ■ Reducing risk for market actors ■ Creating a marketing impact on consumers ■ Acting as a temporary market support until economies of scale reduce product costs Incentives are often used to reduce the costs of efficient appliances for consumers – these drive the market for more efficient appliances and can lead to economies of scale, which in the longer term, reduce the price of products. Successful incentives programmes are designed in a way to limit the negative potential while stimulating CPI Industry accepts no liability for the views or opinions expressed in this column, or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided here. REGULATION ROUNDUP EES&L the markets through a catalytic effect. To use incentives effectively in market transformation, administrators must use long-term planning, develop individual strategies for each technology, use an integrated market- transformation strategy, and set market-based rebate levels. One option for identifying market- based rebate levels is to use an auction process to encourage manufacturers to provide information that leads to a market-clearing result. In summary, each element of the energy efficiency policy package – regulation, information and incentives – plays a crucial role in isolation as well as when put together to achieve greater energy efficiency gains. Careful design and implementation will deliver efficiency’s full potential to enhance energy security, create jobs, increase living standards, cut energy bills and reduce emissions. Next >