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Modern heating and cooling technologies increasingly popular

15th February 2013

By: Sashnee Moodley

Senior Deputy Editor Polity and Multimedia

  

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The installation of energy efficient, sustain- able and integrated heating and cooling systems is becoming increasingly common and is set to gain popularity in 2013, says The Building Centre information office’s Rene van Tonder.

A permanent exhibition space situated at Northgate Estate, in Cape Town, The Building Centre offers the building trade (architects, builders and renovators), as well as homeowners, an opportunity to view available building products and services before making purchases.

“Because the cost and use of electricity has become a major factor, there is greater focus on the advancement of technology within the heating and cooling industry to ensure that environment-friendly and renewable products are available to the consumer,” mentions Van Tonder.


Modern ice-based cooling systems, central heating and cooling systems, as well as electric, wood burning and portable bio-ethanol fireplaces, are environment friendly and, as a result, popular, notes Van Tonder.

She also highlights the use of inverters in modern cooling systems, which control the speed of compressed motors, allowing continuously regulated temperature.

Integrated systems that incorporate air conditioning, underfloor heating and hot water are also trending.

Korean electronics company Samsung Air is a prime example of sustainable and integrated heating and cooling multisystems, says Van Tonder.

She explains that these products are highly efficient and offer low running costs.

Meanwhile, a new thermal-energy storage system, developed by French company Cristopia Energy Systems is being distributed by local air conditioning specialist Skyshot Climate Solutions.

The technology shifts electricity consumption from peak hours to off-peak hours, thus, reducing energy consumption.

“Most air conditioning systems are sized to meet the highest level of demand, even if these peak periods are short. Peak demands on cooling systems only last a few days a week and vary greatly over the course of the same day,” explains Van Tonder.

She says thermal-energy storage makes it possible to adjust peaks to demand. Energy is stored during off-peak periods and transferred for use when demand exceeds the installed cooling capacity.

This technology emits low levels of carbon dioxide and has energy optimisation savings of up to 15%.

Van Tonder explains that closed combustion fireplace heating systems, centrally heat homes by pumping air, heated by the fireplace, into a room. These systems can also heat water for domestic use and for spatial heating, using water-based underfloor heating or radiators.

Combustion fireplace heating systems generate heat using wood logs or wood pellets, which burn at about 75% to 90% efficiency.

This translates into high heat outputs, low fuel consumption and low running costs.

Van Tonder points out that this heating system is said to be carbon neutral, as wood logs and wood pellets are a form of biomass energy. The amount of carbon released by burning wood biomass is the same amount that is absorbed by a tree during its lifetime.

Another interesting technology that has caught the eye of The Building Centre is ecofriendly fireplace company Beauty Fires, which manufactures biofuel fireplaces.

“Fireplaces that use biofuel are flueless, as they do not need ventilation. No harmful by-products are released and the fireplace does not rely on a power supply,” says Van Tonder, who highlights that, despite the energy efficiency of heating and cooling systems, homes or buildings also need to be properly insulated and sealed.

Edited by Tracy Hancock
Creamer Media Contributing Editor

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