In a bid to contribute to energy conservation in South Africa, car manufacturer Ford has installed the first counterflow indirect evaporative cooling system in the country at its Action Ford dealership, in Krugersdorp, says dealership dealer principal Hartogh Streicher.

The system is functioning better than expected, he tells Engineering News, a month after it was installed.

“When we started with the planning, we wanted to build a structure that was greener than most other dealerships and, from our initial planning, we wanted to run the whole facility from solar power,” Streicher explains.

The dealership was commissioned a year ago and has been functioning as the car manufacturer’s pilot project for its greening initiatives in the country. A study is currently under way to look at the viability of installing solar panels.

Large windows, strategically placed around the building, allows for natural illumination throughout the day using sunlight, he adds.

“After construction was completed, we looked at ways of powering the air-condition- ing plant for daily functioning. Our biggest challenge was running the plant from solar power.

“We considered viable options and after discussions with various people who work with solar power, we realised that we would not be able to generate the amount of power required to cool the dealership using solar power,” elaborates Streicher.

He notes that the company then contacted Turbovent Africa, which understood their vision.

Turbovent Africa manager Jonathan Snow says they were excited when Action Ford approached them, as it was an opportunity for the company to venture into indirect evaporative cooling.

“Turbovent has been selling evaporative cooling in this country for more than 20 years, so it is not completely new. What is new, however, is the indirect aspect of it, where the Australian-manufactured system does not add any additional moisture to the air, as is the case with direct evaporative cooling; therefore, avoiding making the environment humid.

“Because we installed a cooling system from scratch at Action Ford Krugersdorp, that system is a standalone indirect evaporative cooler, but there is also the option of installing the cooler to supplement an existing air-conditioning system,” explains Snow.

He adds that when installed to supplement an existing system, the cooler saves up to 30% in energy consumption, while a standalone system saves between 80% and 90% in energy costs.

“The nice thing for an automotive group is that this type of technology is also a statement – it shows the company’s commitment to preserving energy; it says the company cares about the environment and is keeping its dealerships energy efficient,” asserts Snow.

Further, Streicher highlights that, despite the energy cost saving being recouped in just ten years, Ford group is closely monitoring the system to see if it would be viable for other dealerships.

“A lot of things get tested and tried at this dealership and if it works, the system could be implemented at other dealerships. Ford, as a company, is very green orientated – we are manufacturing green cars and vehicles with less carbon emissions.

“Some of the executives of the Ford group are coming to visit us to look at what we have done here and if what we have done is good, they will consider incorporating it at other dealerships,” explains Streicher.

He maintains that the company is more interested in using electricity efficiently than in saving money.

“We are looking long term – we feel that we must protect the environment and it is not a question of how much money will be saved, as we regard ourselves as custodians of the environment for future generations. If we can save a few trees and a few people by doing the right thing, then we want to do it,” asserts Streicher.

However, Snow adds that Turbovent Africa still has to work on creating awareness in the country about indirect evaporative cooling and its benefits for the environment.

“We’ve got a strong marketing team that is mostly out on the road, speaking to architects, developers and engineers about the system,” he says.

About Indirect Evaporative Cooling

Indirect evaporative coolers have several environmental benefits, says Snow. They emit less greenhouse gases when compared with refrigerated cooling. The system also uses fresh air, sucking air into the system and releasing it without moisture, which subsequently does not contribute to humidity.

“What sets the system apart from air conditioners is that it cools the air by evapo- rating water and it uses 80% less energy to create the cooling effect. It achieves signifi- cantly better cooling results than that of direct evaporative cooling and discharges air below wet bulb temperatures.

“In addition, you can leave the doors and windows open while it is functioning, making it ideal for houses, bars, restaurants, car dealerships and many other business buildings,” elaborates Snow.

Streicher adds that they have noticed that the system does not disturb a working environment. “The system is not only energy effi- cient but extremely quiet and comfortable. Most of the other evaporative systems give off that hot, clammy feeling because there is too much moisture in the air.

“Further, we have found that the building creates a healthy atmosphere for our employ- ees, who are showing fewer allergic reactions because the air gets filtered through the system and then pressured out through the doors,” he boasts.

Snow adds that more companies in the country are looking for energy efficient ways of cooling their business space.

“There is a lot of interest in green products – this interest is driven by the high cost of energy and the regulations on energy use.

“Typically, the biggest contributor to high-energy use is the air-conditioning system and Turbovent is ready and well on track to provide clients with world-class energy-conserving methods of cooling buildings,” he concludes.