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Mitsubishi Electric’s Living Environmental Systems (LES) Division (UK) draws a simple conclusion on the current debate surrounding CO2 emissions and sustainability; in the UK we have to fundamentally change the way in which we heat and cool our homes, schools, factories, shops and offices.
In the words of the UK Government’s DEFRA; “Climate change doesn’t discriminate. Whether you’re a business, a Government, or an individual, it is a threat to us all and therefore a challenge for us all.”
If the UK Government is to be supported in meeting its targets for CO2 reduction then we have to accelerate change in ‘heating’ and address ‘cooling’ in a responsible manner. Managing the internal temperatures of the environments in which we live, work and learn has to keep pace with the new technologies that are available and the incremental savings in CO2 that are eminently achievable.
As the UK moves more quickly towards being a low carbon economy the ‘yoyo’ practices of using gas boilers for heating and air conditioning for cooling, is no longer sustainable in light of future legislation and the continued growth of carbon generation.
Using low-carbon technologies and increasing the use of renewable energy to deliver targets for reducing carbon dioxide is what the future holds for every citizen of the UK. To collectively meet this challenge corporations like Mitsubishi Electric LES need to empower individuals to make the right choices.
Whether sourced from fossil fuel, nuclear or renewables – the optimisation of grid electricity is key to the future of any sustainable policy. Mitsubishi Electric LES’ Green Gateway Initiative is focused on 4 distinct sectors and the best use of grid electricity within each:
1. To-be-built Environment Residential
2. The Built Environment Residential
3. To-be-built Environment Commercial
4. The Built Environment Residential
Energy efficient heating and cooling are of prime importance. 40% of Europe’s energy is spent on heating, lighting, cooling and running our homes and offices, and the EU estimates that by 2010 we could save 22% of the energy that is currently being used in buildings. Forecasts show that by 2030 Europe will import 70% of its energy – the UK’s own supply of gas will cease within a relatively short period.
The engrained thinking of using ‘wet systems’ (gas boilers with water heated radiators) for heating needs to be revisited both environmentally and economically. The efficiency of gas boilers pales when compared to that of a heat pump boiler – this technology is readily available today.
Heat pumps are movers of heat energy – they upgrade naturally occurring low temperature heat into useful high temperature heat (and vice versa) to provide cooling. This technology is already well known in the air conditioning market and in countries such as Sweden and Switzerland, heat pumps are often used as a primary source for heating and hot water. Heat pump technology is very flexible, with excellent energy efficiency and CO2 reduction potential.
When it comes to cooling building environments ‘Free Cooling & Heat Recovery’ strategies are of significant importance. The use of fresh air and natural ventilation when combined with an air conditioning system reduces energy consumption. Re-use of the warm air being expelled from a building to provide heat back into the building is better than warming-up the outside.
The Green Gateway Initiative has been created by Mitsubishi Electric LES. It is the Company’s proactive response to climate change. The point of difference is that Mitsubishi Electric LES will actively use its market footprint to influence people’s buying decisions and help businesses and consumers make the right choices. The Green Gateway Initiative is a formalisation and acceleration of the practices that the Company already employs.
Not to be confused with ‘greenwash’ – it is the ambition of Mitsubishi Electric’s Living Environmental Systems Division to implant change proactively and rapidly. These things are easy to say, but doing is much harder – that’s why Mitsubishi Electric LES has proactively set targets to reduce CO2 emissions both directly itself and indirectly – through the customers that purchase heating and cooling products.
If the principles of the Green Gateway Initiative were adopted across the whole market, the potential savings from the commercial sector would be 148,000 tonnes of CO2 in year one – rising to annual savings of more than one million tonnes of CO2 by 2016. In the residential sector the opportunities for CO2 savings are more significant - if a heat pump was installed in all new build residential properties and 10% of the gas boilers sold each year in existing properties were replaced with heat pumps, the potential annual saving would be over two million tonnes of CO2 by 2016.
The old adage that “…our first responsibility is to our shareholders…” has now changed. In the carbon generation, every company’s responsibility is to its stakeholders. Stakeholders include the individuals that purchase goods and services from companies and the fellow citizens that are both directly and indirectly affected by those purchasing choices.
Mitsubishi Electric LES’ Green Gateway Initiative is a first for the heating & cooling industry sector. The overall initiative breaks down into 10 component parts:
Initiative 1: Replace Old Equipment
Initiative 2: Affect Purchasing Behaviour
Initiative 3: Heat Pumps for Heating
Initiative 4: Free Cooling & Heat Recovery
Initiative 5: Improved Specification & Design
Initiative 6: Decision Support Tools
Initiative 7: Installation & System Commissioning
Initiative 8: Better Maintenance
Initiative 9: Controls
Initiative 10: Residential
Some of these initiatives are technological developments and new thinking. Some are simple, behavioural changes. All are focused on creating a significant impact on CO2 reduction.
The Green Gateway Initiative is not definitive – it represents a first proactive push and a significant statement of intent.
The report for the Green Gateway Initiative is available to download from the right hand menu:
