Associations
Durban
Chairman,
Neeraj
Ramkissoon
and speaker,
Wayne Muller.
efficiency ratio (ESEER) which is controlled (among others) by the
Eurovent Certification Company.
Residential, retail, light commercial, shipping centres,
industrial systems can all benefit from the energy rating tool.
Muller then looked at different systems that offer different
energy ratings like variable refrigerant flow (VRF) systems which
offer a saving of between 40 and 45%. He further broke down
34
RACA Journal I April 2020
how such a system works. Other systems he looked at where
chilled water / hot water system and thermal storage which
he called ‘a game changer’. Thermal storage provides off peak
cooling, it reduces the size of chillers, and has the advantage of
using off peak electrical rates. “Thermal storage has a four- to
six-year payback on capital cost, its maintenance free, easy to
install and monitor, and can be added to existing plant chiller,” he
said. Capitec in Stellenbosch, Novartis South Africa in Midrand and
La Mercy Beach Hotel in Tongaat are a few of the projects that
installed some of the systems he shared.
To end off, he shared some pointers that professionals should
consider when choosing an HVAC system:
• Professional assessment of the building or area’s needs
• Holistic approach to selecting the system
• Benefits for the client in the short- and long-term
• Possibly changing the system in a few years
• Life span of the plant and service and maintenance
• Capital cost and return on investment
• Cost of running the system – tenant, developer, user
• Select the right system for the application
• Put yourself in the client’s position and give them the options
• Integration of different systems and services. RACA
www.hvacronline.co.za