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Cutting the cost of staying cool.

 
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10 Aug 2009

A Middle East company is now claiming household air conditioning savings of 15% to 30% with green technology that cuts the cost of staying cool in the region’s blazing summer heat.

The technology has already been installed in supermarkets, restaurants, hotels, schools and hospitals where it is saving energy on air conditioning without affecting temperature or humidity, say Farnek Avireal, a leading regional facilities management company based in the United Arab Emirates. The latest model of the system is also suitable for residential units.

“Rather than replacing existing equipment, the Smartcool ECO3 software does the job by reducing the electricity consumption and maximum demand of air conditioning and refrigeration compressors,” said Raj Dhanjal, Operations Director of the company. Farnek Avireal, a winner of the Emirates Energy Award 2007 is also a member of the Green Building Council.

Cutting the cost of staying cool.

Last month Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) launched a major campaign to educate the general public about peak load – 12 noon to 5 pm when there is the highest demand for electricity - and encourage consumers to reduce consumption during those hours. Average individual electricity usage is said by Dewa to be 20,000 kilowatt hours per annum, one of the highest consumption figures per person in the world.

Dewa says that during peak periods in the summer energy consumption in Dubai registers a dramatic increase, with air conditioning alone accounting for nearly 60% of the total power intake by residential and commercial users. The authority is encouraging consumers to set air conditioning temperatures to a moderate 24 degrees Celsius in occupied areas and 28 degrees Celsius or even switch off in unoccupied areas.

The Smartcool ECO3 system works in conjunction with existing air conditioning controls to ensure that compressors work at their maximum efficiency while maintaining preset temperatures. The system, which is fitted between the existing air conditioning control device and the compressors, is now suitable for residential and businesses units.

“The energy consumption of the compressors is reduced without any impact on the temperature or humidity of the controlled space, leading to reductions in electricity usage of 15% to 30% and providing substantial environmental benefits,” said Dhanjal.



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