HVAC industry meets in Dubai to plan path to sustainability

Business Bureau, Gulf Today

DUBAI: Over 300 professionals from the Middle East’s HVAC industry have gathered in Dubai on Wednesday to plan out the sector’s path to sustainability with global experts outlining how technological disruption can aid the region’s energy and water conservation drive.

The one-day think tank - ‘Shaping the Future of the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) Industry’ - was jointly organised at the Address Marina hotel by four of the biggest HVAC players who came together to tackle underlying gaps and address local market demands and pain points. They are: actuator and valve technology pioneer Belimo; Danish water and climate business leader, Grundfos; high-performance insulation experts Kingspan; and the water-bearing building systems and technology provider Reflex.

“The industry is ready to innovate and take up a role in assisting the region’s drive towards sustainability with energy savings and improved efficiency to deliver better buildings to live and work in,” said Hassan Younes, President of The American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning (ASHRAE) Falcon Chapter who moderated the event.

Adding to need for such a platform, Colin Bridges Business Development Director at Belimo said “with fast growing urbanisation, finite natural resources and increasing global warming, it is clear that buildings are going to have to become smarter in every way. This will mean harvesting ‘real time’ data and its’ autonomous use by building management systems to continuously maintain efficiencies. This means doing things differently, not tomorrow, but today.”

All four of the organising parties asserted that the adoption of new digitally-driven technologies was key to ensuring sustainability and a minimal environmental impact in the region where 80 per cent of energy is consumed by buildings, and almost a third of this is down to HVAC systems.

“It is vital that we move the market towards the adoption of innovative and energy saving water solutions in HVAC. Digitalisation is opening new opportunities to optimise systems and integrate different components, allowing them to operate in better synergy,” said Ronak Monga, Segment Development Manager for Building Services at Grundfos Gulf, Levant & Pakistan.

Live digitalised demo stations and working innovative solutions were up on display for attendees to interact and engage with. The think tank partners say intelligent digitisation is changing the face of the industry with integrated technology delivering optimal performance, enhanced energy efficiency, and ultimate reliability leading to lower power consumption, less system noise and overall improved environmental comfort.

“The HVAC industry, particularly the ductwork market, has traditionally been reluctant to change. It is time to embrace new types of materials that help save energy in buildings. This starts by honing of skills & training of HVAC contractors on the new technology, whilst updating specifications and introducing the best performing systems” said Paul Barnard, Head of HVAC for Kingspan Middle East.

The four partners say this first sustainability gathering should spur momentum for fast tracking innovation and collaboration to tackle crucial energy conservation challenges.    

Without action to address energy efficiency, energy demand for space cooling will more than triple by 2050 - consuming as much electricity as all of China and India today.

“To maximise operational efficiency, it is critical to consider all HVAC system components. System water, one of the most important components is usually underestimated. The water quality has an enormous influence on the efficiency of the HVAC systems. Modern control and measurement technology help us guarantee the maximum functionality, at minimal energy losses.” Moustapha Fahmy, Regional Sales Director IMEA at Reflex.

The enormous savings potential in the building sector has prompted legislators worldwide to continuously adapt the standards and laws on indoor air quality and energy efficiency of HVAC systems.

Belimo actively participates to shape these changes and constantly further develops building technology. The Company is an active member of numerous professional associations including, REHVA (Federation of European Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Associations) and ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers). These organizations aim to develop sustainable, energy-efficient building technology and corresponding standards

At Grundfos, sustainability is the core of our business. Grundfos is a pioneer in water and climate solutions. It sets the standard for innovation, efficiency, reliability and sustainable solutions that improve quality of life for people and care for the planet.

The company strongly advocates and is engaged in UNs Sustainable Development Goals 6 & 13. Connecting with millions and millions of people every day, Grundfos’s energy efficient solutions help move water to where it is supposed to go; providing drinking water for the smallest villages and the highest skyscrapers, treating and removing wastewater and bringing heat and comfort to the world - or cool it down if needed.

With over 19,000 employees in 56 countries, Grundfos provides energy efficient pumping solutions for various applications across diverse segments including domestic, commercial buildings, industries, water utilities (water & wastewater management) and pumps running on renewable energy.

Kingspan Insulation LLC is part of Kingspan Group. The global leader in high-performance insulation and building envelope solutions. Improving building performance, construction methods and ultimately people’s lives - that’s what drives our teams across the world. Kingspan is on a global journey, beginning at a small Irish family business in the 1960s, and now operating in 70+ countries, with over 100 manufacturing facilities and employing 14,000+ people globally. Kingspan was founded with a vision; to lead the way in creating energy-efficient buildings. Innovation and sustainability are at the heart of the business, creating the products of the future today.

Reflex Winkelmann GmbH is a consistently forward-thinking company that is committed to sustainability and supporting the climate-policy goals agreed by the German Federal Government.

As a medium-sized company, we are already making our contribution towards providing energy efficient and sustainable products with tried-and-tested technologies and pioneering innovations at the heart of what we do. With our comprehensive product range of vacuum spray-tube degassing systems in combination with sludge and dirt separators, we are already offering you-our customers-a product solution for optimally conditioned heating and cooling water.

The results and savings potentials listed here have been officially certified by German TÜV Nord and are based on the simulation carried out by the Energy simulation institute ifes GmbH. Reflex Winkelmann GmbH belongs to the Winkelmann Group with 4,200 employees worldwide. The company is a leading brand manufacturer and solution provider for the smooth operation of water-carrying systems in supply engineering and modern building services.

In addition to expansion vessels, we develop, manufacture and distribute innovative HVAC components and complete solutions for pressure-maintaining, water make-up, degassing as well as heat exchangers.