Europe
CETIAT Is Co-author of Two European Reports on Building Perf
National legislations implementing the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) in Europe require calculation of the energy performance along with an energy rating on the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). The input data used for such calculations must be compliant, i.e. must be obtained using the definitions and procedures laid down by the legislation, and must provide evidence ...
Fritec Tours France
For the first time, the French distributor Fritec has toured France in order to present its heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) products. Fritec was on the road from April 9 until May 19...
CIAT Expands Geothermal Product Range
With a view to raising the company’s visibility on the European geothermal market, CIAT has broadened its range of geothermal heat pumps with capacities below 30 kW and has grouped them together under...
Refrigerator Sales Rise in 2015
Statistics released by GIFAM, the French federation of household appliance manufacturers, show that sales of refrigerators in France in 2015 increased by 4.7% and total sales reached 2.62 million units. The market is mature, with a penetration rate of 98% in 2013, and most sales are therefore replacements. French consumers have a marked preference for combined refrigerator/ freezer models (...
The Potential for UV
‘Millions’ of ultraviolet (UV) sterilization units have been sold in the United States over the last ten years says Michael Stensbejerg of Fresh Aire Europe/Airvention (Denmark) but have made little impact in Europe so far. However they are said to be gaining interest in the United Kingdom for applications in healthcare buildings, schools, offices, and hotels. Skepticism remains the position of th...
Key Role for Leak Detection
With mildly flammable refrigerants destined to become the norm for most residential air conditioning systems in the near future, a more effective means of leakage detection from pipework and components is becoming essential - not only for the environmental impact (GWP) of the escaped refrigerant but from the point of safety. A recent development by A-Gas in the United Kingdom uses a tracer ...
Positive Future for Heat Pumps in France
New renewable energy initiatives announced by the French environment ministry appear to guarantee future certainty for the heat pump industry. According to the trade association AFPAC, air-to-air units will remain the principal solution at around 400,000 units per year but this level will only be sustained if more encouragement is given to the use of heat pumps in renovation: currently only one th...
Fan Coils Take-over
One of the UK’s leading manufacturers of fan coil units, Ability Projects, has been bought up by Glen Dimplex - said to be the world’s largest supplier of electric heating products with an estimated turnover of 1.5 billion Euro (US$ 1.7 billion). Ability Projects makes a range of fan coil units and fan packages with heat recovery. The company is expanding its current manufacturing space and h...
Gree in UK
Newly launched as Gree UK, this Chinese air conditioning industry giant aims to reinforce its existing presence with a range of products from splits and variable refrigerant flow (VRF) systems to heat...
A New Environmental Index
The Well Building Standard, a concept which originated in the United States, is another attempt to quantify the interrelation between a building and its occupants in terms of health, comfort, and job satisfaction. Unlike previous indices, this seeks to be allinclusive taking into account seven principal attributes: indoor air quality (IAQ), water quality, nourishment, light, fitness, physical comf...
