The potential of Honeywell’s Genetron Performax LT refrigerant (R407F) to reduce energy consumption for medium-temperature refrigeration applications has been demonstrated by a long-term replacement trial at ASDA’s Hunts Cross store in Liverpool. The tests confirm results obtained by other European supermarkets of 13% less energy than systems using R407A and up to 20% less than R404A.

Marshall-Tufflex Energy Management reports growing interest in its power-saving/metering systems for installations ranging from hospital to a prison, library, council offices, motorcycle showroom and an ice-cream manufacturer. The company’s Voltis voltage optimisation system has been specified by local authorities — including Redbridge, Reigate and Dartford. It has also been specified by two universities in London, a major UK airport and a leading entertainment and conference venue.

Rather than just control heating and cooling to achieve comfort levels, Gary Perry advocates also using energy efficiently — and has lots of suggestions

How informed are you on voltage optimisation and how to benefit from it? Jim McIlfatrick has the answers.

Boilers are not fit-and-forget items. Big savings can be achieved by improved controls, regular maintenance and attention to boiler insulation, flues and dampers — particularly on old installations. Mark Northcott gives some pointers.

Replacing poorly performing boilers with high-efficiency condensing boilers is achieving energy savings of up to 35% for healthcare provider Spire Healthcare. The new installation comprises two Imax Xtra boilers from Ideal Commercial, and the energy savings they are achieving means that Spire Hull & East Riding Hospital is already well below its 2015 energy-saving target.

One of the earliest Mitsubishi Electric R2 VRF air-conditioning systems using R22 has been successfully replaced with minimal disruption at Heyn Handling in Belfast. The work was carried out by Air Cool Engineering (NI), which identified a number of energy-saving opportunities to help make the replacement and upgrade realistic.

The ‘quick’ in ‘quick-fix’ energy-saving projects should apply to the savings and the payback, not the decision-making process, says Tony Willis.

Installations with large pumps running at constant speeds stand to benefit from being controlled with variable-speed drives. Steve Ruddell explores the potential.

Payback periods of less than 18 months are claimed by Electrical Installation Services (EIS) by using induction lighting for warehouses in use for 24 h a day. Managing director Steve Neeves says, ‘Much has been made of LED lighting systems in recent years, but this technology has its limitations, particularly in larger-volume buildings commonplace in the industrial sector. EIS has been working closely with manufacturers of induction lighting, which provides more suitable light spread for higher level installations, to develop cost-effective and energy-saving lighting solutions.’

BSW Timber has slashed £700 000 off its annual energy costs by using its waste products as a saw mill processing timber to heat drying kilns and receive payments from the Renewable Heat Incentive. The installation is thought to be the largest biomass hot-water plant in the UK and has two 3 MW boilers, which will reduce CO2 emissions by over 2800 t a year.