Air Conditioning - Energy Efficiency Good Practice

Good Practice Guide for Energy Efficiency - Air Conditioning
Faq's - Frequently Asked Questions about Air Conditioning Inspection procedures and techniques. See What Systems Require Inspection as part of the EPC for commercial property. This section explains effective energy saving measures to help make your air conditioning more energy efficient.

Operating your air conditioning system more efficiently
Maintenance is essential:

Note that regular maintenance checks will help ensure your air conditioning system is operating as efficiently as possible and will also be more reliable. Energy consumption for air conditioning plant can increase by as much as 60 per cent as a result of poor maintenance procedures and dirty components and blocked or partially blocked ductwork and air intakes. Any maintenance checklist should include the following that require inspection on regular intervals:

• Air Conditioning condensers. Check condensers are unobstructed and always ensure condensing and evaporating devices are clean and well maintained at regular intervals.

• Air Conditioning refrigerant charge and leakage. Check the refrigerant charge for air conditioning and comfort cooling plant regularly and examine joints etc for signs of leakage. Some refrigeration systems may also be subject to routine leakage testing requirements under the F-gas regulation (EC Regulation No. 842/2006 on Certain Fluorinated Greenhouse Gases).

• Air Conditioning pipework insulation. Damaged or non-existent insulation on refrigerant pipe work will consume more energy to  maintain the required temperature set by controlling instruments. It is advised that you replace any damaged sections and pay specific attention to pipe work located outside a building which may be more prone to damage through weathering.

• Air Conditioning fans, filters and air ducts. Blocked or partly blocked  filters can create reduced airflow and increased operating costs. Check and clean fans, filters and air ducts and consider fitting gauges that indicate when the replacement of filters is required on plant and equipment.

• Air Conditioning thermostat calibration. Calibrate thermostats annually to ensure they respond correctly to actual temperatures. Be safe. Keep heat exchangers and cooling towers clean and treated to save energy and prevent health problems such as Legionella disease.

• Note that regular overhaul and upgrades to components will increase system reliability and reduce energy usage for your business.

Operating an air conditioning system efficiently

The following recommendations will help maintain an efficient system

• Set controls correctly and reduce the need for cooling this will reduce the operating cost of your air conditioning system.

• You should turn cooling thermostats up. Set the temperature switch "ON" to around 25–27°C and ensure heating switches off at around 19°C so that the two systems do not operate simultaneously to prevent a conflict in the settings.

• Ensure that you match air flow rates to demand. Excessive draughts can cause joint stiffness, headaches and a dry nose and throat for occupants of the building. Check with your maintenance technician for options to improve the internal environment for your premises.

• Remember to switch off unnecessary electrical equipment. It is advisable to shutdown computers and lighting when not in use by occupants.

• Allow the building temperature to drop overnight. Ensure blinds are closed at the end of the working day and open secure vents overnight, where possible.

• Ensure to place heat-emitting equipment in a separate, naturally ventilated area. Colder areas on the north side of buildings are ideal.

• Ensure that you service computer server rooms separately from the main system and cool only to the maximum temperature at which the equipment can operate effectively, check manufacturers guidelines.

• Building personnel should be able to override these temperatures settings but make sure such controls can be reset when the area is vacant.

• It is important to keep windows closed when air conditioning is in operation. Window blinds can be angled to reduce solar heat gains whilst reflecting light on to walls and ceilings to reduce demand for lighting.

• Consider using external shading to reduce the amount of light/heat entering a space within the building, this will help reduce the demand for cooling.

• Consider fitting louvres to buildings that do not have them, to provide shade during summer months, whilst allowing lower winter sun to penetrate the conditioned area.

• Staff involvement should be encouraged by demonstrating how they can be more in control of their own environment. Provide explanations on how thermostats operate and provide guidance on recommended operating temperatures and on how to set heating or cooling
  units correctly in the premises. Another solution is to display instructions on individual units and ensure that remote controls are accessible to users.

• Maintain a log book detailing control settings, maintenance information and any records of the commissioning process. A comprehensive logbook helps users to develop a better understanding of a building’s operation and management and will also assist an inspector if conducting an energy assessment survey of the building.

Monitor your energy usage

Your business or company should monitor your energy consumption by noting your energy bills and any other meters which may have be installed. Some energy suppliers are able to provide “real time” energy consumption data for your building. See also Switching Energy Supplier, for information on reducing your electricity and gas utility bills.

Investment in new air conditioning equipment

See also Grants and Funding for new equipment.
An investment in new energy efficient equipment can be a big decision for most businesses investing in new plant. Tax relief may be available in the form of Enhanced Capital Allowances (ECAs). Businesses need to consider whether any proposed improvements mean you will need to make more decisions about upgrading older air conditioning plant, as part of the consequential improvement requirement in the Building Regulations in the UK.

"The Consequential Improvement requirement applies to proposed work in buildings over 1000m2 which includes:

• a building extension.

• the initial provision of any fixed building services, which include heating, air conditioning, and mechanical ventilation or air handling plant and equipment.

• an increase to the installed capacity of any such fixed building service.

If any of the above applies, then you will have to carry out such further improvements to the building as a whole are necessary to ensure that it complies with the requirements of Part L, Conservation of Fuel and Power, of Schedule 1 to the Building Regulations 2000, as long as they are technically, functionally and economically feasible. For more information if you think you may be affected, see Approved Document L2B at www.planningportal.gov.uk."

Current Capital Allowance Scheme

The Enhanced Capital Allowance (ECA) scheme encourages businesses to invest in energy-saving plant or machinery. The ECA scheme provides certain businesses with 100 per cent first year tax relief on their qualifying capital expenditure. To qualify the equipment must be specified on the Energy Technology List (ETL) which is managed by the Carbon Trust on behalf of Government. The scheme allows businesses to write off the whole cost of the equipment against taxable profits in the year of purchase. For further information visit: www.eca.gov.uk/etl 

Interest Free Energy-efficiency Loans

The current energy-efficiency loans of between £5,000 and £100,000 are available to qualifying small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) In England and Scotland and any sized business in Wales, looking to invest capital in energy saving projects. All businesses based in Northern Ireland may now be eligible to apply for an interest free loan of up to £400,000. The loans are repaid over a period of up to four years and businesses must have been trading for at least 12 months. Loans are subject to terms and conditions and eligibility. Go to www.carbontrust.co.uk/loans for more details about these allowances. Certain criteria regarding your requirements must be met to qualify for a loan or funding under the agreement.

Find an Assessor (Inspector)

Companies, Contactors and Surveyors of Air-Con Systems for energy assessment purposes as part of an EPC certificate can be located in our Directory, in many cases you can locate a suitably qualified assessor near to your local area. If you are in doubt as to whether an inspection is required as part of the legislation seek professional advice. You may be subject to a penalty or a fine for non-compliance with the regulations.

Air Conditioning Service and Repair

Refer also to Air Conditioning for further details regarding Refrigeration, cooling, design, engineers, service, installation, maintenance, repairs, inspection, installers, Refrigeration and Cooling, Variable Refrigerant Volume/Flow Systems VRV VRF, Heat Recovery, Ducted Systems, Climate Control Systems, upgrades of New and Existing Air Conditioning HVAC Heating Ventilation plant (AHU) Air Handling Units and controls.